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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-12 11-309 RESOLVE COUNCIL ACTION C1 Item No, `' Date: October 12, 2011 Item/Subject: Resolve, Opposing the Referendum to Retain the City of Bangor Emergency and Non-Emergency Dispatch Center Responsible Department: Council Commentary: Approval of this Resolve will indicate Council support for the continued discussion of the possibility of the City of Bangor joining the Penobscot Regional Communication Center for dispatch services with Penobscot County and the employees' union. A "yes" vote on the pending referendum question will mean that the City will not be able to continue those discussions and be prohibited from joining with the Penobscot Regional Communications Center. This Resolve supports a "no" vote on the pending referendum question. Department Head Manager's Comments: C4(4)/kt Ca.jajl City Manager Associated Information: Resolve Budget Approval: Finance Director Legal Approval: Ci Solicitor Introduced for X Passage First Reading Page_of_ Referral : r. is c l Assigned to Councilor - Palmer October 12, 2011 �s;0( BApCosr SS 9\r ti �,-; �1J . ) CITY OF BANGOR N LOW (TITLE.) Resolve, Opposing the Referendum to Retain the City of Bangor Emergency and Non- Emergency Dispatch Center BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT: WHEREAS, the City of Bangor staffs and operates an emergency and non-emergency communications at the Bangor Police Department for the Bangor Police and Fire Departments; and WHEREAS, the City of Bangor pays approximately $562,000 to operate an emergency and non- emergency dispatch center in Bangor; and WHEREAS, Penobscot County provides regional communication services at a cost of $480,126 to Bangor taxpayers; and WHEREAS, those taxes are used to provide emergency and non-emergency communication services for police, fire and emergency medical services like those provided in Bangor by the City; and WHEREAS, The City hired McGrath Consulting Group to evaluate operations in the Police Department; and WHEREAS, McGrath concluded in their report that PRCC offered a safe and reliable alternative to Bangor Dispatch and that the City should consider PRCC as a viable alternative; and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the options of whether to join the Penobscot Regional Communications Center (PRCC) or retain the City's communications center; and WHEREAS, after careful review of the services, it has been determined by the Police Chief and other staff, that a change to PRCC would not pose a safety issue for Bangor residents; and WHEREAS, PRCC is located in downtown Bangor, not far from the Police Station, and has roughly the same proportion of Bangor "resident employees"vs. "non-Bangor resident employees" as the City of Bangor Dispatch; and WHEREAS, PRCC has agreed to dedicate two full-time dispatchers to Bangor and backup from the other dispatchers on duty; and WHEREAS, Penobscot County has offered to hire qualified employees from Bangor Dispatch;, and 1 c 9 WHEREAS, the implementation of technology has enhanced the capabilities of PRCC and diminished the need to have city centered dispatch operation; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the City should consider the merits of continuing to have its citizens and taxpayers pay for its own communication center while contributing to the cost of the Penobscot Regional Dispatch Center; and WHEREAS, group of citizens secured the signatures required by the City of Bangor's referendum ordinance to send the question of whether the City should retain its emergency and non- emergency communications center; and WHEREAS, the election on the referendum question is scheduled for the November 2011 municipal election; and WHEREAS, the referendum question seeks to prevent the City of Bangor from negotiating the possibility of the City of Bangor joining the Penobscot Regional Communications Center with the employees' union and Penobscot County; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Bangor to continue to negotiate the virtues of joining Penobscot Regional Communications Center with Penobscot. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT the City of Bangor is in favor of engaging the employees' union and Penobscot County in discussions regarding the possibility of the City of Bangor joining the Penobscot Regional Communications Center and, therefore, supports a "no" vote on the referendum question that seeks to prevent the City of Bangor from negotiating the possibility of the City of Bangor joining the Penobscot Regional Communications Center with the employees' union and Penobscot County. IN CITY COUNCIL October 12, 2011 Motion Made and Seconded for Passage Roll Call Vote Requested Vote 8-1 Councilors Voting Yes: Blanchette, Bronson, # 11-lO9 Durgin, Gratwick, Hawes, Nealley, Palmer & Weston RESOLVE • councilors Voting No: Longo Passed • /�'1 (TITLE,) Opposing the Referendum to Retain the `if V_ � ..yy pity of Bangor Emergency and Non-Emergency CITY CLERK I 1�- 9ac - `� Dispatch Center Assigned to Coundlor C"1_ C VM,4- • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •