Report favors retaining local public-safety dispatch center
for near future
While technicians work to bring 9-1-1 emergency communications for Portland,
South Portland and Cape Elizabeth into one Portland location, Cape Elizabeth
is looking to keep its every-day dispatching services right here in Cape
Elizabeth.
At their January meeting, the Town Council received a report from the town
manager saying that further consolidation of dispatching would cost most
more than having part-time, local dispatchers to serve the needs of
the community. The council voted unanimously to affirm its commitment to
having a local dispatch center through July 1, 2011, at which time a further
review of dispatch consolidation is encouraged.
Early last year, the council voted to enter into an agreement with South
Portland to use the city's public safety answering point (PSAP) facilities
and equipment for responding to 9-1-1 emergency calls, effective Jan. 30,
2007. Calls originating from Cape Elizabeth are transferred to Cape Elizabeth
dispatch.
Merging with a PSAP fulfilled Cape Elizabeth's part in meeting state legislation
requiring a reduction in the number of PSAPs statewide.
Later in the year, South Portland opted to combine their services with
Portland's, meaning that emergency 9-1-1 calls made in Cape Elizabeth
will be answered in Portland, beginning next month, and then transferred
to Cape Elizabeth dispatch.
One of the Town Council's goals for 2007 was to review the feasibility of
consolidating dispatching with a neighboring community or Cumberland County
and receive a cost benefit analysis on the potential options.
The report submitted by Town Manager Michael McGovern, however, concludes
that consolidating dispatch services with another community, at least for
now, would be inefficient.
"Previous reports have identified all of the other duties that are performed
by our dispatchers and I will not reiterate those duties at this time," McGovern
said in his memo to the council. "These reports have shown the many
responsibilities that would need to be addressed by new personnel other than
the current dispatchers," if consolidation were to occur, he said.
While McGovern did not go into detail on what other duties dispatcher perform,
he has noted that dispatchers provide clerical support to police officers
and personnel, issue permits, greet the public at the front counter, maintain
departmental records and serve as an information center around the clock.
"Previous reports have also identified that our costs would increase if full
consolidation occurs as we would be paying for the consolidated system and
we would still have a significant expense to otherwise handle all of the
other duties handled by our dispatchers," McGovern said.
In his report, McGovern said a problem with the current PSAP system occurs
when calls are heavy, such as the Town experienced during last year's Patriot's
Day storm. McGovern said he is unsure whether consolidation would be more
responsive in those times. Even under the current system, the town has little
backup if one dispatcher is away or sick.
"It is my conclusion that the issues we have with the current system can
be addressed affordably and efficiently through an aggressive effort by the
police department to recruit several individuals to serve as backup dispatchers
to serve after collective bargaining provisions have been adhered to," McGovern's
report says. "Providing more effective backup internally is less expensive
than the consolidation proposals, until such time that we need to make major
investments in our dispatch system."
McGovern said most equipment was replaced in 2002 when the police station
renovation, so the town will not likely be looking at a major, locally funded
investment in the dispatching system for another five years.
Although the council may raise the possibility of consolidation at any time,
McGovern said affirming the town's intent to continue with local dispatching
for now could help retain employees.
These are the recommendations that were approved by the council:
-
Receive the report of the town manager regarding the potential of further
regional consolidation of dispatching.
-
Affirm that dispatching services for Cape Elizabeth shall be provided in
the most affordable manner without any compromise to public safety.
-
Affirm that it is the current policy of the Town Council to continue with
a local dispatch center through July 1, 2011 at which time a further review
is encouraged.
-
Request the town manager to administratively develop with the chief of police
an enhanced protocol for providing local dispatch services during major
emergencies and during time of employee absences. The protocol shall take
into account provisions in the collective bargaining agreement relating to
dispatch personnel.
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