Decision on Dispatchers Won't Be Made in Haste
Borough manager Tom Metzler said a recommendation to council on whether to outsource Fair Lawn's dispatch system is two to three months away
A Record article on the county's attempts to unify municipal dispatch services under one roof at the Public Safety Operation Center in Mahwah has elicited mixed responses inside and outside of Fair Lawn.
Fair Lawn Dispatcher Joe Cecere and Fair Lawn Policemen's Benevolent Association President David Boone voiced their opposition to the idea of consolidating the borough's dispatchers in an op-ed last week, citing the potential difficulties that dispatchers unfamiliar with the area might have deciphering Fair Lawn's unique address system.
Two days later, Bergen County Police Chief Brian Higgins responded in his own op-ed that the county's dispatch system was up to the task, and even speculated that if the borough had contracted its dispatch services earlier, the cost savings might have been enough for the borough to have retained the four police officers it laid off in 2010.
Borough manager Tom Metzler said Friday that when it comes to maintaining or consolidating Fair Lawn's dispatch services, he wouldn't rush to recommend one course or the other.
"We're in the very, very early stages," said Metzler, who met for the first time last week with both the county and Chief Erik Rose about the prospect of merging Fair Lawn's dispatch services. "At a minimum, I'm sure we're 60 to 90 days out [from making a recommendation]."
Metzler said the dispatch consolidation issue had only come to his attention recently when the police department made a request in this year's capital improvement budget for major upgrades to its communications center.
"If you're going to spend a quarter or half-a-million dollars in new equipment, we certainly have an obligation to look and see -- can we save that money and offer the same service by going up to the county?" Metzler said. "If the borough is going to look into a shared service agreement, now would be the time to do that."
Whatever the ultimate recommendation, it isn't something that will be made haphazardly, Metzler assured.
“There’s a process here. This isn’t something that’s done in a void,” he said. “There will be a committee formed. There will be representation from the police department, the administration, the dispatchers, the different department heads… And we’ll work on this together and make a determination whether that’s a good move or not.”
At this early stage, Metzler said he was uncertain how much consolidating dispatch would save the borough.
MoneyisNOtALL
5:36 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I would remind all Fair Lawn politicians this quote; Money is not everything. When you go to a steakhouse, are you not willing to not pay the price for that juicy steak and not consume chuck steak? It is the boro's responsibility to offer the best services, even if it costs alittle more, Fair Lawn deserves the best! We have all seen what happens when you spend cheaply!
Tommy P
8:31 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I am all for waiting to see Metzler comes up with. Hopefully he publishes the report prior to council meeting its brought up at.
The Most Interesting Man in the World
4:09 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Reality in this case appears to be that all the towns that are serviced by the county dispatch system are spending less on better technology that can render better service. This seems to be a winner for Fair Lawn residents and taxpayers for a service that is easily consolidated. Does it make sense to invest big dollars just to duplicate what the county has already invested in? Is the county the only alternative? Maybe there is even better, how would we know? Is it better to spend more on dispatch service and less on police or vice versa? Other towns in Bergen County have already studied this and made choices, inquiring minds might call them up and ask them why...
delgado
10:43 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Haste? Really? Fair Lawn Republicans pledged smaller government and now when it is time to act, they DONT do the right thing. Merging dispatching creates smaller government..... The Fair Lawn Republican and Bergen County employees have let down the Fair Lawn taxpayers. It makes no sense these Republicans are telling other towns to merge and are not in their own town, this is an outrage.
The Most Interesting Man in the World
11:34 am on Thursday, March 8, 2012
This option has been around for many, many years and this new council has only been around since January, so let's be thankful that a smaller, more cost effective service is finally being considered. The only valid complaint is why was this not considered by previous administrations and management. It is wise to take an inventory of all the options, because the county option and the status quo are not the only ones, and see what is chosen in a timely manner.
Gerard
5:53 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Cutters 76, would you be considering merging
services if it was your husband, wife, son or daughter being laid off? We put our lives in their hands as much as we do the officers. They know our town better than anyone. Keep them where they are
The Most Interesting Man in the World
1:17 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Of course I would not want a close relative to lose their job. Personal connections, no matter what the circumstance, always change the one's perspective. So if that is your circumstance, I can see your leaning to the status quo and do not fault you for your opinion. However, from a service standpoint, if the phone is answered in a place with a trained dispatcher using better technology with better resources, is that a worse option? Conversely, if your loved one was suffered a tragedy, which I hope never happens, would you want the best availble resources seeing to this emergency or just knowing which building the phone is being answered with an antiquated system and more limited resources answering the call? Depends on what you want to accomplish...I would like the better service thet uses better technology, that also happens to be the smaller government and more taxpayer friendly option.
Tommy P
6:20 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
I'd be for it if it were me.
The money that is paid to those dispatchers and every other municipal employee is taken under threat of force. Every decision to spend money needs to be looked through that prism first. When these services are merged, the saving comes from efficiencies, but not every position is eliminated. There is still a person answering those calls. The only thing that changes is the entity making payroll and the number of people paying for it.
Just because its a love one who works for the town, or even if it's you, that should have no bearing on the necessity of the position. I don't want to see anyone loose their job, but every employee in this town adds to our tax bill. Every unneeded/extra employee represents a cut to everyone's budget in this town.
johnduran
3:22 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Fair Lawn Police Dispatchers are NOT trained in emergency medical call dispatch. Having dialed 9-1-1 for a medical emergency before I was transfered to a separate "EMS Dispatcher" in god knows where. After researching this a little I've found that other towns have their police dispatchers give CPR and emergency medical instructions on a 9-1-1 call. Why isn't Fair Lawn up to speed with this? I'm sure Bergen County PD is up to speed with emergency instructions. Perhaps one dispatcher is on the phone giving the instructions while another dispatches the paramedics and another dispatches police? There will be no delay if that happened
The Most Interesting Man in the World
10:01 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
johnduran I did not know that. So what you are saying is that FL could save both lives and taxpayer dollars or choose the status quo? Being that this is a government decision, you still have to wonder which interest they will choose?
Beware
11:49 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
Fair Lawn Dispatchers are trained in Emergency Medical Dispatch.
The Most Interesting Man in the World
12:34 pm on Monday, March 12, 2012
Mr. Beware, there seems to be a conflict of facts with Mr. Duran's real world experience of being transferred. On face value you seem to have some knowledge of training standards, what is your opinion of which is better and why? Is the county dispatcher less qualified than a FL one?
Beware
10:59 pm on Monday, March 12, 2012
Cutters, i just went on the town website and did a little research. Straight from the website Fairlawn.org under employment.
PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR – Suburban Bergen County community of 32,500 seeks experienced, qualified applicants to assume position immediately. Responsibilities include receiving telephonic or other electronic requests for emergency assistance; determining the nature of the call and utilizing radio, telephonic and other electronic equipment to dispatch law enforcement, fire, rescue and medical assistance units to an emergency scene.
The successful candidate shall be citizen service oriented; and must possess the following training / certifications:
Emergency Communications Officer: (40 hour course)
Emergency Medical Dispatching : (EMD-32 hour course)
Knowledge of the Criminal Justice Information System: (NCIC, CJIS, ATS/ACS, NJLETS, NJWPS, CCH/III)
Send completed application (download job application above), resume and interest letter to: Thomas M. Metzler, Borough Manager, Borough of Fair Lawn, 8-01 Fair Lawn Avenue, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410.
Requirements for the position that they hold is Emergency Medical Dispatch which is what i believe Mr. Duran is referring too. If the department or town chooses to not have them do it then that's on them not the dispatchers.
The Most Interesting Man in the World
2:07 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Good info, thanks. Mr. Metzler comes from a Emergency Management background, so it is good that FL is seeking a qualified employee for the future. However, we don't know how qualified someone currently holding the job is. Maybe that might explain why some have experienced transfers because some or all dispatchers are not currently certified. Maybe it is just a management decsion not to handle that type of call like you refer to. I have not seen any further info that makes the status quo seem like the best choice. I just hope I don't get too old and need the service before a decision is made....
Marty Cone
7:48 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I guess the decision wont be made in haste , it will just be made.
stevengerber
10:47 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
they transfer to a ems dispatcher for medicals!
stevengerber
10:48 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
apparently they aren't trained enough or trusted enough to handle their own 911 calls for cpr instructions?