HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-13 96-28 RESOLVECOUNCIL ACTION
Date: 11-13-95 Item No 96-28
Item/Subject: RESOLVE, Expressing Support for the Establishment of
a Regional Dispatch Center
Responsible Department: City Manager
Commentary: There have been ongoing discussions for the last year
or so regarding the feasibility of combining law enforcement and
fire dispatch services in Penobscot County. Randy Rarrisan, our
Police Chief, has been deeply involved in these discussions and
also in developing cost benefit information on such a center. Much
of this discussion has been driven by the upcoming implementation
of Enhanced 911 Service throughout the State of Maine.
More recently, the Penobscot County Commissioners have written to
all of the municipalities in the county requesting that each
community take a position on a regional dispatch center. The
County Commissioners provided a draft resolution for this purpose.
This resolution has been discussed with the Municipal Operations
Committee which supporta a regional center. The Municipal
Operations Committee did note, however, that the letter from the
Commissioners indicates that a Board of Directors from
participating towns would be appointed to operate the center with
the director appointed by the Penobscot County Commissioners. in
general, the Committee felt that the Director of the Center should
be appointed by the Board of Directors to ensure adequate
accountability and responsiveness to the needs of the various law
enforcement and emergency personnel who would be serviced by the
Dispatch Center. This recommendation has been included in the
attached Resolve.
Dept. Read
Manager's Comments: I recommend that the Council support this
Resolve. A regional dispatch center can provide significant cost
savings to all the communities throughout the Counjy. . _ � ,/
Associated information: Resolve, Letter
Budget Approval:
Legal Approval:
!'iTY SOLICITO�I
—Introduced For
X P
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_ Passassage
First Reading _ Page—
of-Referral '
Assigned to Councilor Woodcock November 13, 1995 96-28
Iv CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE) IbTExp wing Support for the Establishment of
f... _............... ....I.......... ---- .._ I . _.
a Regional Dispatch Center
By Ne sty ComuU of Me aty of Bangor.
RESOLVED,
WHEREAS, Maine voters have approved a referendum to upgrade
existing phone technology to Enhanced 911 Emergency
Service; and
WHEREAS, municipal officials from many towns and cities
throughout Penobscot County have been meeting with the
Penobscot County Commissioners and the Penobscot County
Sheriff's Department; and
WHEREAS, the Penobscot County Commissioners and the Penobscot
County Sheriff wish to determine the amount of support
from towns and cities for a regional dispatch center
and have requested that each town and city in the
County take a position on the desirability of
establishing such a regional center and indicating how
they would prefer that center to be funded; and
WHEREAS, officials from the City of Bangor including the City
Manager, Fire Chief, and Police Chief have been
involved in these discussions and have concluded that a
regional dispatch center can achieve in cost savings
for the City of Bangor and other participating entities
and may also provide a method for improving overall
dispatch services throughout the County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BANGOR, THAT the City of Bangor supporta the
establishment of a regional dispatch center and
supports the funding of that center through the County
Budget; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT the City Council also Calle upon the
County Commissioncers and representatives of the various
affected municipalities and agencies to continue to
work cooperatively toward the implementation of such a
center and urges all parties to recognize that the
organization and governance of such a center is
essential to its BusCOSS. To this end, the City of
Bangor would support the establishment of a Board of
Directors representing participating towns and
communities which would be appointed to operate the
center and to select and oversee the activities of a
center director.
IN CITY COUNCIL 96-28
November 13, 1995 R E S 0 L V E
Passed
Expressing Support for the
CITY CLERK Establishment of A Regional Dispatch
Center
—�✓ 96-26
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COUNTY OF PENOflNOBSCOT
COURT OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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BANGOR. MAINE
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RICHARD D.NCHAw Im195)5
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MEMORANDUM
TO: All Municipalities RECEIVED
FROM: Penobscot County Commissioners pCr I v 1945
CITY hM'ua:NSUFFICE
GATE: October 3, 1995
RE: REGIONAL DISPATCH
Currently there are discussions underway regarding the feasibility of combining law
enforcement and fire dispatch services in Penobscot County. A series of meetings.
regarding this issue and the upcoming 911 Enhanced phone system have been
sponsored jointly by the Penobscot County Commissioners and Sheriff's Department.
The regional dispatch discussions have been well attended by public officials and thus
far there appears to be sufficient interest to further explore this regionalized dispatch
Concept.
M.S.R.A. 30-A §453 allows for counties to establish a regional dispatch center.
Depending on the participation, there is potential for a significant savings by the
combining of existing dispatch centers. A Board of Directors from participating towns
would be appointed to operate the center with a Director appointed by the Penobscot
County Commissioners.
A resolution is being forwarded along with this memo to you for review which would aid
us and various sub -committees to consider during the discussion process. We would
request that your town respond back to us with your tentative opinion as to whether or
not you favor the regional dispatch concept
Certainly any approval would only be preliminary, and would aid in the planning
process. The subcommittees will propose a regional dispatch center based upon your
interest, with the funding and potential costs/savings figures to be presented to you as
they are determined. -