Security Committee Suggestions for the Town Council Post-Security Committee Report (11/02)

1.      The Town Council should appoint a Standing Security Committee, for at least one year's duration, comprised of the current members of the Security Committee.

2.       The tasks of the Standing Security Committee should be educational and oversight in nature:

a.        Maintain an ongoing database of criminal activity in and around Somerset. This would include:

(1) reviewing information on criminal activity in Somerset and surrounding areas that comes into Town via police reports and resident calls to the Mayor,

(2) gathering additional information on each criminal act which occurs in Somerset by interviewing the victim and/or police, in order to maintain a comprehensive database;

(3) summarizing and organizing criminal activity in Somerset on a monthly basis, in a format that will be helpful in highlighting Town security needs;

b.       Distribute crime data to the Town through a monthly column in the Town Journal and online. The column would include a monthly tally of crime in Somerset, security tips, and any other information thought to be helpful or interesting to residents. The column would be written by the Committee and edited by the Mayor.

c.       Maintain a liaison/oversight relationship with security-related committees established by the Town Council, made up of Somerset residents, on issues that have been recommended by Somerset residents as stated in the Security Survey (see Section 3 below).

d.      Organize a Crime/Security Day in spring 2003 for Town residents, bringing into Somerset an assortment of individuals with information on home alarms, crime prevention techniques, etc.

e.      Conduct meetings on an "as needed" basis to evaluate crime trends and security needs in Town, based on accumulated data, and be pro­active in making recommendations to the Town Council and residents.

3.       New committees should be created by the Town Council, which focus specifically on recommendations supported by Town residents (as reported in the Report of the Somerset Security Committee, June 25, 2002, pp. 32-35). The committees suggested should focus on issues that are broader than those of crime and security. The following issue-specific committees are suggested:

• Neighborhood Watch Program/Citizen Observer Patrol Committee (or other community-wide prevention program)
• Street Lights Committee
• Town Signs Committee
• Resident Parking Committee
• MCPD Home Security Inspection Committee

4.       The Mayor and Town Council should take steps to increase the likelihood of achieving additional MCPD patrols in Somerset, as well as working with the MCPD to encourage their use of the Town Hall. Progress reports to the Town should be made at each Town meeting.

5.     The Town should distribute "Security Tips" that the Security Committee has identified as particularly helpful, twice per year, as a separate packet within the Somerset Journal mailing.