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1997-08-25 97-371 RESOLVE
LAM Item No. 9)-3)1 Date: 1135-97 Item/Subjech RRSOLVE: Supporting Continuing Efforts to Join Penobscot County Regional Dispatch Responsible Departmeth City Almager Commentary: For approximmely the last eighrern months, the City ofBangm has been involved in the process of dig ssicgmdevalumtigaproposalwestablishmdjoinaregiomlpublicsaktydispawhopmmim. Foravgigyof reasons, the City must determine how it wishes to proceed Prior to Omober 1, 1997. After that date, conditions for joining, which would primarily affect my dispatch employees washing transfer to the County, will most likely change. The anached Resolve, tf approved, will indicate the Comcifs support hardness ¢Bons. As has also been discussed, an actual binding decision cannot ti made until or if am discussions with voioni edemployees are successful in reaching an agreement. We Resolve stringed an the last lvhmicited Operations Comminee agenda at which time summons individuals addresses] the Committee. Many who spoke are currently, City public safety employees. 'These individuals generally opposed We Resolve, and scorcher suggested as an altemmivethat City Police and Fire Dispatch be consolidated. This alternative would also be subject to union negotiation and agreement. At Itis poor, it is in the best moment of the City, our employees, and the regional dispatch operation that a clear Positron be established. In internal, there is no reason that a well equipped, stated, and managed regional dispatch center cannot meet the oasis of the City ofBengor. Themajority of the concerns expressed revolved around questions as to whether the regioml dispatch operation meets these criteria and whether we would lege some immediacy and effectiveness o response and communications if we join a regional operation ropy of memo from Chief Damages is manchml which addresses some of Nese issues. I would anticipsw dust many of those who spoke at Committee level will be present st the meeting to address their common to the full Counoil. Information: Resolve, Memo from ChiefHenimm Budget Approval: r FoanceDhavor LogalApprovak City Sotioitdf V A Passage _ Pont Reading Page _ of Referral 97-371 Assigned to Councilor Soucy August 25, 1997 CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE) PWOVIUC, Supporting Continuing Efford to Join Ford obamt County Regional Dispatch By ted Ory Co ssi/ of Ge atx ofBoston. "WLVM, WHEREAS, the State ofhlaine will be implementing Enhanced 911 emergency dispatching in 1999, which will require that all telephone calls fier emergency service he directed to certain dispatch facilities called Public Safety Answering Points or PSAP's; and WHEREAS, the increased cast ofeguipping and operating these PSAP's encourages the establishment of regional dispatch mcilifies so that available funds can be used to eroure one well-equipped and rained dispffich facility instead of several facilities then are minimally equipped and rained; and .WHEREAS, the population of the Greater Bangor Area is similar in size to that ofPortland, a city which does not have difficulty handling emergency calls fiord one dispatch facility; and WHEREAS, athe present tame, the City of Bangor already supports regional dispatch through the County Tax while also budgeting more then $400,000 annually for our own dispatch operations; and WHEREAS, regional dispatch offers the opportunity for annual savings in the City of Bangor of up to St60,000; and WHEREAS, while common concerns have been raised regarding regional dispatch, we believe that a well-equipped, staffed, and managed regional dispatch center can meet the needs of the City of Bangor and also improve the coordination of the responses of various agencies, allow others to respond when personnel of other agencies are already committed, and improve interjmisdictional communcations; and WHEREAS, we believe it is n the best long-term interests of our employees to join regional dispatch at this time in order to offer them the opportunity to compete for supervisory positions and take advantage of certain benefits which may not be available after October 1, 1997; and IN CITY COUNCIL August 25, 1997 Vote on Conflict for Councilor- Blanchette 5 no, 3 absent, 1 abstaining Councilors voting no: Aube, Baldacci, Parnham, Soucy d Tyler Councilors absent: Leen, Sullivan 6 Woodcock Councilor Ah staining: Blanchette Members of the Bangor Police and Fire Departments and residents including, James Owens, Joe Savoy, Tom Duren, Darrell Webb, Anita Linaeott, Arv111a Verceles, Larry Ellis, Elizabeth Whitehouse, Ward Gagner, Wendy Findley, Frank Dinsmore, John York, Don Clark and Gloria Owens, as well as Teamster's Business Agent. Ken Eaton urged that Council not approve this resolve. Tom Davis. Chairman Of the Penobscot County Commissioners informed Council that the funding for Regional Dispatch would be on a continuing Basis regardless of Bangor's joining. Motion to Table Passed Vote: 4 yes, 2.n , 3 absent Councilors voting yes: Aube, Parnham, Soucy 6 Tyler Councilors voting n Baldaccl 4 Blanchette Councilors no: Lean, Sullivan 6 Woodcock Tabled until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Bangor City Council Y ERR IN CITY COUNCIL September 8, 1997 Tabled until the Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the Bangor City Cover ice/� s LEM a 97-371 EE50LVE 7 Supporting Continuing Efforts to Join Penobscot County Regional Dispatch -N /v IN CITY COUNCIL September 22, 1997 Tabled until the next regularly scheduled meet- ing of the Bangor City Council LEM IN CITY COUNCIL October 15, 1997 Indefinitely Postponed WHEREAS, we believe our participation in regional dispatch will be beneficial by providing to regional dispatch the qualifications and experience of our personnel and the expertise of our emergency services as they work to develop policies, procedures, and operations; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR. THAT: we fend membership in the Penobscot County Regional Dispatch Facility to be in the long-teuu beat interest of our employees, our tazpayers, and regional dispatch operations. City staff is hereby authorized to continue in pursue the necessary actions in carry forward this Resolve. \ 97-371 35 Cam sica Ream, Mam 01401 Bangor Police Department 237.9474334,aa2% Paz fir -9956824 Memorandum T0: All Personnel FR Randy Hamman, Chlal'ofPolice Dr.. July2, 1991 RE: Regional Despaech Center Survey, 1 would like to thank everyone who participated in this survey. Your comments have helped me to understand where your concerns are in moving to a regional dispatch facility. The regional dispatch issue has been very diBrcalt hecaure the needs of the employees have to be balanced against the needs of the taxpayers to receive cast -effective services. Many ef the comments on the surveys had previously been addressed at committee level, in union discussions, and m the monthly meetings that I have with 0 personnel. In the fellowing pages I will address these issues again an that everyone will have one document to refer to when questions are asked. Background In 1995 the Some Enhanced 911 program called for six PSAPs (Public Safely Answering Points) to be located in the Greater Bangor area. These PSAPs would be located at the Bangor Police Department, Penobscot Sheriffs Department, Brewer Police Department, Orono Police Department, Old Town Police Deportment, and the Stam Police barracks in Crone. The ami©pated cost for the Stam to equip these PSAPs war approxinmtely 310,000 each. The Commissioner of Public Set* had proposed that for each PSAP that was combined with another PSAP, the State would provide $30,0001 to there agencies to assist with the local start-up costa. In the Bangor area the potential was that $150,000 would be available 9A the mw PSAPs were combined. The police chiefs and fire chiefs of the area were directed by their city officials to hold meetings to determine if combining these PSAPS would be feasible. To conduct an appropriate study, an activity in a dispatch facility would have had to be documented for a least a year. Since there was no time to conduct a year-long study, the chiefs decided to use existing statistics about the number of incidents handled. A two-day survey of dispatch activity showed that the ratio of total activity to incidents handled was mailer in all departments Pon incidents for a fall year were analysed and the following information was developed. The average number of calls handled per dispatch hear by all dispatchers in Penobscot County (except the State Police) was .74 per hour. This ranged from a low of.11 calls per hearer a high of 22 calla per hour. The dispatchers handling the highest number of calls per hour were the Bangor dispatchers with an hourly average of 1.57. If dispatchers in a combined dispatch count were expected to handle at least 1.5 calls per hour then 27 employees would be needed. Since there were 45 dispatchers employed by all dispatch facilities there was a potential annual savings of approximately $0.50,000. Subsequent meetings between the police climb, fire chiefs, city managers, and county commissioners allocated that the idea was financially feasible. For Bangor, the combined cost of dispatching was about 5400,000 in 1994. The cost of belonging to a regional dispatch center was approximately $160,000. The maximum annual savings was approximately 5249,000. Hiring additional personnel to perform the non-dupetch duties that the dispatchers had performed (switchboard operation, processing handgun purchasing applications, alarm billing etc.) would reduce the savings to approximately $120,000 annually. What la Inst? • The most obvious loss is that them would net be a dispatcher available within the building 24-hours a day to speak to a penton coming into the police station. This might require placing a telephone in the police "ion lobby to contact the dispatch center. This is not dissimilar to how things aro done now. liarm By the dispatcher does not speak face-toface with a person, but only through an intereem. A police officer would be caged in to speak directly to the person at the counter. One major concern has been that of a pursued person coming into the police station for help. Currently there is not always a police officer in the building. A dispatcher is not allowed to take law enforcement action and can only call for a police officer. If we go to a regional dispatch system, the number of officers available in the Wilding should not clange. Ren officer is in the building they can still Intervene as they do now. • The police and how supervrsms would not have direct supervision of the dispatchers. Currently, most of the Bangor area dispatch centers do nes have dispatch supervisors. The dispatchers are supervised by a police supervisor. The The regional center would have dispatch supervisors who would answer to an adminiatmtive dirsome. The administrative director would answer dbetdy to the regional dispatch board of directors made up of representatives from each municipality. • Dispatchers would not attend roll call with the officers and would not be as aware of potential problems within the community. While this practice is net common within the police community, it is a practice used by the Bangor Police Department. Other forme of communication such as "hot sheets" or a-mail could be used to keep both dispatchers and police officers up-to-date on issues which are of concern. What Is Gained? • Communication between law erdomement offieere in rhe Bangor area would be gremly improved. Critical n©dents which require the services of multiple agencies could be handled without the telephone calls or additional radio traQa currently needed. Dispatchers and police officewould be much more aware of events taking place in other municipalities. This is important becomes crime does not stop at the town or city line. • Dispatchers would be supervised by dispatch supervisors and would not be subject to intimidation by police officers who do not Eke being sent on cartefin calls. This is cusently a problem expressed by dispatchers in ail agencies. • All dispatchers will be performing their duties in a similar manner. information that is regarded as critical will be retarded by all dispatchers, regardless of which cogency they are handling. • All dispatchers will be trained to a higher level of competency ricer any current dupetchers. These new standards will be required by Enhanced 911 and upgraded training will begin immediately. F4 • Currently all municipalities that have their own police departments and dispatch centers help tojury for the Penobscot County patrol deputies and dispatch center costs through the county tax. Although Bangor pays 22.9%($1.19 million) of the raves assessed by county government, Bangor does not receive any police or dispatch services from the County. By funding the dispatch center through the County, Bangor (and all the other agencies that join) would receive dispatch services at a greatly reduced rate ($160,000 verset $290,000). Answers To Other Questioners • All emergency and non -emergency calls will be handled by the regional dispatch center. Calls for specific divisions will be transferred as they are currently. Calls fm commanding officers will be transferred to their offices or to their vehicles. People in the Bangor arae will only have m make one phone call to find out about an incident rather than having to call multiple ageneses. • Department of Motor Vehicles, SCIC, and NCIC information wiB all be available on a query -only basis at each of the individual agencies. Administrative messages and other non -query activities will be done by the regional communication center. Officess will be able to contact the dispatch supervisor by phone m make the request. • The number of dispatchers in the regional center wifl vary depending upon historical data. During some historically slow times there may only be 2 dispatchers and a supervisor on duty. The supervisor will be able to dispatch when things get busy. During peak demand times there will be 5 dispatchers and a supervisor on duty. net is the same number of dispatchers that are currently on duty in the Bangor area a peak times. • The dispatchers handling Bmgoe's calls would initially be current Bangor dispatchers (if they choose to work in the new center.) Eventually all dispatehere would become familiar with each others areas which would make coordination of police, fire, and EMS services more efficient. The implementation of Enhanced 911 will make dispatcher knowledge ofthe service area less critical. • Each agency will have their own frequency. At least one frequarry will be available for communications which require multiple agencies. • Regional dispatch will be able to view the some monitors currently used for building security. • The Board of Directors will have one person team each of the represented agencies. The Sheriff's Department will have one vote, just like everyone else. Final Comments In this memo I have tried to answer the questions that were round in the survey. There may be other questions out there which I have not addressed. If you have questions, please get hem to me in writing or by voice mail, and 1 will address them. I believe that a regional dispatch center will be a great asset for the Bangor area. This can ray be accomplished if the new crow is pmpere managed and all agencies work together. Whenever I see potential problems I will point them out to both city and county adminurraters. Your comments are appreciated.