Municipal officials in Keyport have authorized the transition of emergency dispatch services from local control to Monmouth County control.
During a Borough Council meeting on Dec. 4, members of the governing body decided to make the transition from local to county dispatch services after discussing the logistics of transferring control.
Dispatch services are used when fire, police or medical emergencies occur and emergency numbers are dialed by individuals who need assistance.
Previously, Police Chief Mark 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.
Hafner also said 911 calls that are placed with county dispatch personnel aid in a faster response time and said “if it’s going right to county, the county is then giving it right to the (police) cars. There is no calling the local dispatch first.”
Municipal officials and residents discussed the matter prior to the vote.
Councilwoman Collette Kennedy, who will succeed Harry M. Aumack II as mayor in January, asked current and former emergency responders who were present about the nature of the transition.
“You guys are 100 percent confident and you are aware that the bigger picture is for more emergency services to be undertaken by the county and not just dispatch services. If we start here, it’s going to continue,” Kennedy said.
Council President Michael Goode said, “I don’t think that’s a fair statement.”
“I’m not agreeing with that either,” one emergency responder interjected.
Councilwoman Sophia Lamberson asked how long the contract term would be if municipal officials switched to county dispatch.
Hafner said the contract would be for three or five years.
“The mayor would like to just add some things,” Aumack said. “The mayor has a couple of reservations on this (resolution), there are too many to enumerate right now.”
Aumack expressed a concern with the Spillman Flex Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system he said was needed for emergency responders, saying, “That’s got to be another expense.”
Hafner said the expense would be covered by the county.
The police chief previously said that if Keyport retained its local dispatch services, a CAD system would need to be obtained for a one-time cost of $215,500 and that the annual maintenance fee would cost $27,000. If Keyport switches to the county, the CAD system and its maintenance would be included in the contract.
Richard Ely, a former fire chief, said, “Just the police department and the first aid department are going digital … All the fire departments in Monmouth County are still on the VHF radio.”
Kennedy said the Keyport Police Department phone number (732-264-0706) would transfer to county control if the dispatch services were turned over to the county.
“There are a lot of people who don’t know (that number),” Goode said, noting that if an emergency occurs, some residents would automatically dial 911 if they need emergency assistance.
Finally, Aumack took issue with the idea that Keyport’s fire whistle would be going off at all hours when an emergency occurs.
“I have been told everything will be a general alarm; someone put my mind at ease that the whistle is not going to be blowing at 1, 2 and 3 a.m.,” the mayor said.
Although his concern was not directly addressed, Aumack said, “The day is probably going to come when we are required to do this anyway. If you get on board now and get it straightened out maybe it will be better.”
At the end of the discussion, the council members voted to approve the transfer of the borough’s dispatch services to Monmouth County.