HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-25 10-360 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION
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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
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(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"