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County May Order Study for Central Dispatch Center
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CREST HAVEN — In response to a question asked Tue., Feb. 14 by Court House resident Peter Jespersen regarding progress made to study a central emergency dispatch center in the county, Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton said that several meetings had been held locally and in Trenton.
Thornton said a resolution would be considered by the board Feb. 28 to award a consulting contract to Tetra Tech to study all phases of a possible county central dispatch center.
That study is to be completed by Memorial Day 2012. Part of the unknown is how many municipalities would join such a central dispatch center.
Jespersen told the board he had talked with the Somerset County central dispatch director and learned that all dispatchers there are rotated to all desks so they are familiar with agencies.
He said that the system was soon to include Bridgewater and Franklin.
“They provide incentives for municipalities to join,” Jespersen said. He was told that the decision to form a central dispatch unit there had been made “years ago,” and that the unit was funded by county taxes.
Jespersen said that person was willing to meet with anyone from Cape May County government to learn more about that system. That communications could be via telephone or in person, he added.
Thornton told Jespersen that Vice Director M. Susan Sheppard had addressed the county League of Municipalities about the central dispatch concept.
On Oct. 6, 2011, the county Office of Emergency management met with Verizon and county “stakeholders” in the system to discuss the future 9-1-1 in the state and also about incorporating equipment, much of which has become antiquated.
On Nov. 18,, another meeting was held in Trenton with representatives of the state office of telecommunications and Department of Community Affairs. On Jan. 18, county officials attended a meeting concerning the prospect of central dispatch.
Thornton cited the likely awarding of a contract at the board’s Feb. 28 meeting for the consultant’s study.
Once completed, all stakeholders will consider the study and freeholders will look into providing a cost benefit ratio and staffing levels that would be required, year-round and seasonally.
A factor to consider, Thornton said, was the capital investment cost of hardware and software and facilities projections in five-year increments.
“There are a lot of players,” said Thornton, “I can tell you it will not be an easy task to get everyone to agree.”
He noted that field trips would be arranged March through May that would include visits to Cumberland and Gloucester counties. Once Jespersen mentioned Somerset, Thornton said that, too, would be included.
“We have to have a really solid idea how much it is going to cost and be prorated if not everybody joins,” Thornton said.
“The only way it will work is if all municipalities contribute toward it, and the consultants will have to work that out,” said Administrator Stephen O’Connor.
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Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:18am - Posted by: John F
The comments seem to have gotten way off track, and I was actually hoping to see some mature discussion on the subject. The fact is, that total consolidation of services as seen in other states is highly unlikely in the social and political environment of Cape May County. However, regional (county-wide) 9-1-1 dispatchs services are a common thing, even in places where overall consolidation is not even being considered.
It works, it saves money, it is more efficient and there are no logical reasons to oppose it. Modern computer aided dispatch programs take most of the guess work out of the business, and well managed 9-1-1 centers across the country handle routine and emergency radio/phone traffc for multiple agencies. If calling a central 9-1-1 center in New York City can get you an ambulance, police car or fire truck, what makes you think that it can't get you one in Cape May County?
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:37am - Posted by: LTLocal
Last time I waste my time responding to you barracuda. Yes I do have relative works for the county who makes next to nothing. So how much would central dispatch really save, a couple of dollars a month in taxes? I'll stick with the quality services those of us who appreciate them enjoy. Now go back to your argueing on all the other spout-offs about your mistruths and misinformed comments
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 5:15am - Posted by: barracuda
Well that explains a lot LTLocal. You were born and raised here so either you, or relatives probably work for the largest employer in Cape May County...which is government... and of course you don't mind paying all the different taxes for your paycheck. Most people in all of NJ, who do not work for government, would like to see their overall property taxes reduced through shared services or consolidation.
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 7:47am - Posted by: LTLocal
And one more thing Barracuda. I'm born and raised here, been living in the same house raising my family for almost 40 years. How bout you?
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 3:06pm - Posted by: LTLocal
Barracuda with that kind of response to my post I can see why you have so many arguements with posters on spout off.
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 5:41am - Posted by: barracuda
Great LTLocal since you don't mind picking up the extra taxes for local dispatching in Lower Twp.; please post your address so the township can bill you for the entire cost.
Tue, 02/21/2012 - 5:59pm - Posted by: John F
A lot of the concerns expressed by other writers are completely unfounded. The City of Philadelphia provides Police and Fire Communications from a consolidated 9-1-1 center and provides adequate service to the 5th largest city in the US. The surrounding Counties, Montgomery with over 800,000 people and Delaware with over 600,000 people, Bucks and Chester all use a county-wide 9-1-1 centers that work amazingly well.
The only significant failures in Philadelphia are equipment related not the system or personnel. Computer Aided dispatch systems, like all 9-1-1 centers work from, automatically bring up cross street and local landmarks when an address is typed into the computer. The dispatch consoles are regionalized. So there is little likelihood that the Lower Township console dispatcher is going to be dispatching calls to ocean city. And Upper and Dennis Townships already are fire/EMS only dispatches, as they are police by NJSP.
Instead of complaining about this, people should look at the success it has been in the rest of the "real world." True, it takes some planning and organization. And it costs a bit to start up. You can't run a successful system with junk hardware and software. But, it is the only sensible way to handle 21st century public safety communications.
Tue, 02/21/2012 - 9:46am - Posted by: LTLocal
I'll pay the extra few dollars in taxes to keep my home town dispatchers. They know every officer personally that they work with and know the town they all live and work in
Tue, 02/21/2012 - 5:36am - Posted by: barracuda
It sounds like the County is still dragging their feet over consolidation. As small as Cape May County is we should have been the leader in consolidating/centralizing services. Instead we are 10 to 15 years behind other counties. Wait until the shared services bill goes into effect, the municipalities will be screaming with the increased taxes due to lost state aid because we haven't consolidated services. Other counties have been adding more and more consolidated services for years. Obviously it can be done. The Freeholders need to get it done quickly.
Mon, 02/20/2012 - 10:57pm - Posted by: marmoracat
Keep it the way it is. It works. KISS. A dispatcher from Cape May is not going to have a clue as to where Evio-John Court is in Marmora. And a dispatcher from Ocean City might have a clue where Benton Ave in Cape May is. When officers/EMS/firefighters ask where an incident is at or for a cross-street, dispatchers are going to be stumped, and have to take the time to look it up. A dispatcher from Ocean City might know off the top of their head where Evio-John Court is. It helps to have dispatchers that know the area's in which they cover, it helps to have dispatchers who know who they are talking to on the other side of the radio.
Mon, 02/20/2012 - 3:37pm - Posted by: tpmick
Great idea County is moving as they should to save residents money. Only point is they may have to make this a must move for all communities. If not many would not join. We must stop this home rule lookout. It is becoming entirely to costly for towns in N.J.
Mon, 02/20/2012 - 2:37pm - Posted by: bmcusnr
The only way this would work is if the county makes 1 police dept instaed of every town having thier own. Do like they do in alot of states have the Sheriffs Dept. Take Over the police. That will save each town $500,000.00 because they can get rid of all the senior officers that make over $100,000.00 a year.
Mon, 02/20/2012 - 12:55pm - Posted by: whitespider
Again, this concoction sounds all community oriented but the equipment updates, the hiring of what will then be part-timers (no benefits etc.), and the "cost ratio" of paying developers to update facilities will all be put onto the taxpayers shoulders. .