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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-25 10-360 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION y Item No. �. �' 6 Date: October 25, 2010 Item/Subject: ORDER, Directing City Staff to Enter into Negotiations with Penobscot County and Teamsters Local 340, Police Support Staff, Regarding the City of Bangor Use of Communication Service, Including Emergency Dispatch, from the Penobscot Regional Communications Center Responsible Department: City Council Commentary: For several years, the City has discussed whether to disband its own emergency and non -emergency dispatch center and join the Penobscot Regional Communication Center. More recently, the City Council held a Workshop to again discuss this topic. At the workshop, a majority of Councilors expressed interest in having an Order on the Council Agenda formally directing staff to begin negotiations with Penobscot County and Teamsters Local 340 to move this function from the City to Penobscot County. This Order sets forth that direction and the plan to move to PRCC, subject to final review and approval of the City Council. Interim Department Head Manager's Comments: M City Manager Associated Information: Order Budget Approval: finance Director Legal Approval: City Solicitor Introduced for X Passage First Reading Page _ of Referral g60 Assigned to Councilor _ Palmer October 25, 2010 y DF BANG S CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) ORDER, Directing City Staff to Enter into Negotiations with Penobscot County and Teamsters Local 340, Police Support Staff, Regarding the City of Bangor Use of Communication Service, Including Emergency Dispatch, from the Penobscot Regional Communications Center ORDERED, THAT: WHEREAS, the City of Bangor currently staffs and operates an emergency and non -emergency communications center at the Bangor Police Department for the Bangor Police and Fire Departments; and WHEREAS, Penobscot County provides similar regional communication services, the cost of which is included in the County tax; and WHEREAS, the City of Bangor pays a substantial sum in taxes to Penobscot County; WHEREAS, a portion of those taxes are expended to provide call taking and communication services for police, fire and emergency medical services like those provided in Bangor by the City, and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered for some time the option of whether to join the Penobscot Regional Communication Center or to retain the City's communication center; and WHEREAS, the Council has determined that the City should not continue to have its citizens and taxpayers pay for its own communication center while contributing to the cost of the Penobscot Regional Communication Center; and WHEREAS, the Council has determined that it is appropriate to develop a plan to ensure that any increase in County tax and City of Bangor operating costs will not exceed current costs; and WHEREAS, prior to making any such change, additional information is needed and negotiations are required with Penobscot County and with Teamsters Local 340, Police Support. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT; City staff is hereby directed to enter into negotiations with appropriate officials of Penobscot County to clarify any issues regarding how call taking and emergency communication services now provided by the City of Bangor's communication center will be handled by the Penobscot Regional Communications Center and to make the necessary arrangements for such a change in a timely fashion agreeable to the City and PRCC, subject to final review and approval by the City Council; and BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, THAT: City Staff is directed to enter into negotiations with Teamsters Local 340, Police Support Staff, to meet, discuss, and bargain over contractual and other issues related to such a change, subject to final review and approval by the Bangor City Council; and BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, THAT it is the intent of the City Council that following the conversion, the Bangor Police Department front desk will remain open twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days per week to continue providing Police related assistance to citizens and visitors and performing such other duties as may be necessary or required. IN CITY COUNCIL October 25, 2010 Motion Made and Seconded for Passage James Morrill, Charles Birkel, Trisha McLennan, Ken Eaton and Mark Hathaway spoke in opposition Vote: 6-1 Councilors Voting Yes: Bronson, Gratwick, Nealley, Palmer, Stone & Wheeler Councilors Voting No: Weston Councilors Absent: Blanchette & Hawes P sed 126 A"&XI ctii"HiW (TiTLEInirPering City Staff to Enter _4 -to Npaotations with Penobscot County Teamsters Local 340, Police Support Reizarding the City of Bangor Use of Communication Serv' e, Inc u zng y Dispatch, from th nobscot Regional Communications Center /� Assigned -to Conncuor mr-l"