By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The decision to privatize the 911 dispatchers at the Lawrence Township Police Department, which was expected to be made this week, has been deferred to Township Council’s Jan. 22 meeting to allow the dispatchers’ union to respond.
Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun recommended the delay after meeting with union representatives. He told Township Council Tuesday night that they had asked for time to respond and to possibly make changes to their existing contract.
”Let the union present changes to me,” Mr. Krawczun said.
The Cranbury-based iXP Corp. submitted a bid last week to take over the 911 dispatching services at an annual cost of $719,400 for five years. It was the only bidder that replied to township officials’ request for proposals under competitive contracting, which allows the township to accept the best but not necessarily the lowest bid.
The iXP Corp. had said it would make efforts to hire the six civilian dispatchers, Mr. Krawczun said. There are nine dispatcher positions, but three of the nine slots are vacant. Police officers are frequently called to fill in for the dispatchers.
In a comparison chart displayed for Township Council and the audience, the cost to staff the Police Department’s 911 dispatching center is $3,634,063 for five years, assuming the nine civilian dispatcher slots are filled. The iXP Corp. said it could do the job for $3,651,922 or $17,859 more, if it is privatized.
But when the cost of the annual “built in” overtime for the dispatchers’ 12-hour shifts and the use of police officers to fill in for three of the nine dispatchers is considered, the price tag is $4,807,679 for five years, according to the chart.
Mr. Krawczun said he had spoken to the city manager in Sandy Springs, Ga., which has hired the iXP Corp. to staff its 911 dispatch center and who praised the company. The corporation provides emergency dispatch services for three communities, including Sandy Springs.
Frank Herrick, the staff representative for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 73 and which represents the dispatchers’ union, said the emergency dispatching service was never intended to be privatized.
Mr. Herrick said the company does not have any contracts for emergency dispatch services in New Jersey, because “you don’t privatize police and firefighters. (The service) is too critical.” He told the council that the company installed an emergency communications system for the New York City police and fire departments, but it is not staffed by the company.
”I think two years from now, you’ll be sorry (that you hired the company),” Mr. Herrick said.
Detective Scott Caloiaro also cautioned Township Council against privatizing the 911 dispatchers. The police officers consider it to be “a huge public safety issue,” he said, because the employees of a company are not as familiar with Lawrence Township as the current civilian dispatchers.
The dispatchers know who has had numerous calls for domestic violence incidents and the demographics of the township, Det. Caloiaro said. The dispatchers are “excellent,” he said, adding that it would take a year or two for the iXP Corp.’s dispatchers to become familiar with the community.
Dispatcher Ellen McGinley disputed the assertion that police officers who are assigned to the dispatch center are working on overtime. The police officers have been assigned to that duty, and they also are available to help people who walk in with complaints or reports.
Officer Andrew Lee, who is the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 209, said he understands the need to save money, but jumping to hire a private company without looking at alternatives is not a good idea.
Mr. Krawczun replied that he never said the proposal to privatize the 911 dispatching services was a reflection on the dispatchers. He said township officials recognize there should be an opportunity for the dispatchers union to come back with an offer, and that’s why the decision is being postponed.
”We do have to look at things differently,” Mr. Krawczun said. There were objections when the custodial staff was privatized, but there have not been any complaints since then, he said, noting that “it works quite well.”
”Change is hard,” he said. “I was asked to come up with a new way of doing business. I will work with the union. I will recommend something (in two weeks).”

