Municipal officials in Keyport are discussing the pros and cons of transferring emergency dispatch services from local control to Monmouth County control.
During a Keyport Borough Council meeting on Oct. 16, Police Chief Mark Hafner presented details pertaining to the annual cost of local dispatch services versus the annual cost of contracting for county dispatch services. Council members did not take action on the matter that evening.
Dispatch services are used when fire, police or medical emergencies occur and emergency numbers are dialed by individuals who need assistance.
Hafner said making the transition from local to county dispatch services would save Keyport $159,025 each year. He said the annual recurring cost for local dispatch services is $402,525 and the annual recurring cost for county dispatch services would be $243,500.
“If we stay the way we are, it will cost that much more to stay with the borough,” he said.
Hafner said if Keyport retains its local dispatch services, a Spillman Flex Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system would need to be obtained for a one-time cost of $215,500 and an annual maintenance fee of $27,000. If Keyport switches to the county dispatch, the CAD system and its maintenance would be included in the contract, he said.
Borough Administrator Stephen J. Gallo said making the transition from local to county dispatch could be an opportunity for Keyport to save money. He said state officials are encouraging municipalities and counties to examine entering shared service agreements.
Following Hafner’s presentation, Councilman Michael Good asked, “Is there any difference in response time?” between the local dispatch and the county dispatch.
“That is a tough question,” Hafner said. “There is a difference in response time. If anyone dials 911, say we have a bad accident, that 911 call goes to county dispatch. The county dispatch takes all the information. Then they call our dispatch. They give our dispatch the information. Our dispatch then calls a (police) car and gives the (officer) the information.
“In the 911 aspect of it, it is quicker to be with county dispatch because you are cutting out that middleman. If it’s going right to county with that 911 call, the county is then giving it right to the (police) cars. There is no calling the local dispatch first,” he said.
Hafner said there are two full-time dispatchers currently employed by Keyport. He said one employee will retire in December and the second employee would be placed in another position in town if officials decide to move to the county dispatch service.
“No one would get laid off,” the police chief said.
Councilwoman Collette Kennedy asked Monmouth County Undersheriff Robert Dawson, who was present, about the nature of the potential conversion that could be carried out by the municipality.
“Is this a step to try and get police departments to lose their own power and fall underneath an umbrella?” Kennedy said.
“No. We have enough work. Thank you,” Dawson said.
Sal Costanza, who said he represents local dispatchers, said local dispatch personnel have submitted reports which indicate county dispatch personnel sometimes do not respond to phone calls that have been placed. He said there have been instances when emergency responders arrived at an incorrect location.
“I would ask the council to review the amount of complaints that were submitted by the current dispatchers,” Costanza said. “My job as an attorney is to protect the employees here … No one knows the town like the employees who have been here. They know the town. They know the residents … I’m asking the council, before they vote, to look at the complaints the dispatchers made.”
Gallo said officials will look into the issue.
Dawson said locating individuals who place calls to county dispatchers has become easier. He said a system called RapidSOS “has been installed … We are getting real time information and it is working out very nicely.”
Jonathan Borsari, 3rd Assistant Chief of the town’s volunteer fire department, said, “we would get the same level of service every day” if officials make the move to a county dispatch service.
“Some people will or will not agree with me, but we have no consistency in service for the fire department,” Borsari said. “For instance, if anyone saw (a specific accident that occurred), that is something the fire department should have been notified for immediately.
“… It took 20 minutes for a police lieutenant to ask one of our dispatchers to page out the fire department. We were never notified. It kind of turns into a pick and choose as to what (volunteer firefighters) get sent to and that’s more dangerous than not getting called at all … We are very much for going to the county,” he said.
Municipal officials said the matter will continue to be discussed at future meetings.
“We might not make a quick move, but we will make a move,” Mayor Harry Aumack said of the potential transfer of dispatch services to Monmouth County.