HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-12 11-309 RESOLVE COUNCIL ACTION
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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
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(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-
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