Ithaca Community Police Board elects chair, approves minutes and annual report

The Ithaca City Community Police Board elected its chair at the start of the meeting and unanimously approved the minutes from its Jan. 22, 2025 meeting, the board said. The board then accepted its annual report and voted to distribute it to city officials including the mayor, the chief of police, the city manager and members of common council.

The vote to approve the minutes was moved by Meryl Bursick and carried unanimously. The annual report was moved for acceptance by Meryl Bursick and seconded by Richard (last name not specified); that motion also passed unanimously. The board directed that the accepted report be sent to the mayor and the chief of police and that copies be provided to the city manager and members of common council for broader visibility.

During public comment the board received a written submission from a community member identified as Zach Wynne, described by a board member as a periodic commentator. A board member asked that Wynne—s letter and attachments be appended to the meeting record and the board agreed without objection.

Board members reiterated that reappointments for the board will appear on the March 5 meeting docket and that commissioners must attend re-swearing if their appointment lapsed. Staff noted that the board—s annual report will be sent to the mayor and chief as required by the charter and that staff will prepare distribution copies.

The board also welcomed Dave Shapiro, the newly introduced common council liaison (Ward 3), who briefly introduced himself and said public safety was a frequent constituent concern in his campaign.