HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-08-22 05-282 ORDERItem No, 05-282
Date: 08-22-2005
Item/Subject Order, Directing the Continued Operation of the City of Bangor's Public Safety
Dispatching System.
Responsible Department City Council
The Cry Council has periodically reviewed the issue of joining Penobscot Regional Communications for a
number of years. Most recently, the Coal has been engaged in a comprehensive review of this option
in an effort W reach a final conclusion and to put this Issue W rest Into at least the mid-term future. This
review has Included dlscusslwts with the County Commission on those issues Mat remain outstanding
from the original comprehensive list of equipment, management, and operational issues identified by Clry
staff; a details! evaluation of the budgetary impact on the City of Joining/non joining regional dispatch;
consideration of the potential impact on Me City's ISO rating; and evaluation of numerous less
quantifiable factors including the continued operation of the City's fire alarm system and the overall level
of public safety service provided W citizens, property owners, and vlsRom.
primary findings resulting from MIs review Include: Joining reglonal dispatch will not result in significant
budgetary savings in FYOI; several issues relating W management and operation of the regional dispatch
system remain unresolved; Joining regional may Jeopardize Bangor Fine's ISO rating, which could result in
an Increase In the insurance premiums paid by home and business owners In Bangor; and Me City's fire
alarm system, which provides a response time benefit W high risk properties, would have W be eliminated
as a part of the transidon to regional.
At a Council Workshop held last week and based on this comprehensive review, Me Council requested
that a Council Order be drafted that would direct the continued operation a the City's own public safety
dispatching system and Remaining Me Council's dedslon W not Join Penobscot Regional Dispatch. Such
an order is attached for your review and action.
Department Head
Recommend approval.
City Manager
Assodated Information:
HNoee OireRor
Legal Approval:
City Iki
Introduced for
X Passage
_ First Reading Page _ of
Referral
AssignedroCoundlor Cashwell August 22. 2005
CITY OF BANGOR
(Ml Order, Directing the Continued Operation of the City of Bangor's Public
Safety Dispatching System.
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor does not currently participate in the Penobscot County regional
dispatch for its public safety dispatch services; and
WHEREAS, Penobscot County provides dispatch services for public safety departments within
Penobscot County and has expressed an interest in providing dispatch services for
the City of Bangor; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been engaged in evaluating the benefits and costs of pining
Regional Dispatch for some time', and
WHEREAS, as an element of this evaluation, various City officials have met with County
representatives and the City Council has met with the County Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, all of these meetings were positive and productive, with both the City and County
clearly expressing their views and positions; and
WHEREAS, the Council has concluded tliat there will be no significant budgetary savings to the
City as a result of Bangor joining regional dispatch; and
WHEREAS, if the City joins regional dispatch, the current hard -wired fire alarm system would be
eliminated resulting in a loss of revenue and the potential for increased response
time to incidents involving the properties currently serviced by this system; and
WHEREAS, joining regional dispatch could affect the Bangor Fire Department's ISO rating,
Potentially resulting in an increase in private insurance costs; and
WHEREAS, the City has recently awarded a construction Contract for a new downtown Police
Building, and it is appropriate that a decision on the future of the City s dispatch
service be made in conjunction with the construction of this building; and
WHEREAS, we have concluded that the level of emergency services that Bangor provides can
best be maintained by continuing to operate our own dispatch system and that to
do so is in the best interests of the dozens and taxpayers of Bangor.
NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Ordered by the City Council of the City of Bangor that
the Dry N Bangor shall continue to operate and maintain Its own fire and Police dispatching
systen and shall notpin the Penobscot Regional Communications System.
IP Un WDMCIL g _
August 22. 2005 'E
Motion Made and Seconaea':.-
for Passage
Motion Doohtaa
Vote; ]-2
Councilors voting yea: Allem.
Caeheell. D'Mrrico. Farrington,
Green, Scone
Councilors voting no: Gcatefck.
wembeI
Is �
x os -282
(PITLF) Directing the Coatlnned Operation of
CM City of Beogor-g Public Safety Dlspatch
tSYstem
h
>x
g Aelgnedto CouncHor /44l{AA.I'.1
i