Central Dispatch Study Released to Freeholders

CREST HAVEN – Will the prospect of saving $16 million over five years make centralized dispatching of emergency services to Cape May County a reality? Fewer dispatchers would be needed to handle calls from a single facility. Savings would also result from participating municipalities not having to expend upward of $25,000 each to upgrade system technology.
Freeholders, at the Jan. 28 caucus, heard highlights of a study performed by Freehold-based Intertech Associates explained by Lisa Weinthal, vice president.
Martin Pagliughi, county emergency management coordinator, said the study was to be six months, but extended to nine in order to address the county’s “seasonality.”
At present there are 12 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) serving the county. Operating them are 59 full-time and 40 part-time dispatchers and three full-time supervisors, said Weinthal. They handle 427,000 calls yearly.
Most are police related, with fire dispatching as a “secondary role,” she noted. Some of those 12 centers are staffed by one person. Thus, if a large-scale emergency takes place, that dispatcher can become overburdened.
At present, there is no direct interconnection between those centers, nor do most centers have their own mapping system, “They are not integrated into a CAD system or see what the next town’s incidents may be, Weinthal said.
“Cape May County has a wonderful resource, microwave connectivity in every town that could be accessible for voice, data and image transmission with minimal investment,” said Weinthal.
While the benefits seem many, Weinthal warned the board, “Don’t expect full participation. Ocean City has expressed their concern moving into an environment that is different or less than what they have.” She also noted that municipality’s “alliances with Atlantic County.” Other communities expressed a sentiment that “Dispatch was too important to give up those resources.”
The study focused on areas, such as offshore municipalities that have a relatively stable number of calls to calculate volume and staffing.
Weinthal cited the present alliance between Avalon and Stone Harbor, which is estimated to save $180,000.
A six-position, barrier island, mid-county center, used as an example, could trim the present staff of 31 full-time and 24 part-time dispatchers to 13 and eight, respectively. Such a move could consolidate seven existing PSAP locations, a reduction of $1 million in personnel costs over present expenditures.
She estimated a savings over five years of $ 8 million.
After a one-time outlay of $1.3 million for radio equipment upgrades, spread over five years, and a facility renovation of a 6,000-square-foot facility spread over 15 years, could result in an estimated five-year cumulative savings of $7 million or $24 million over 15 years.
Many factors would have to be considered, including labor contracts with dispatchers in the present centers and location of such facility. One concept Weinthal voiced was to use the present library building, since much equipment and a large hurricane-proof tower is already in place.
However, with an impending renovation of that building as a library, such an idea was speculation.
What’s next? According to the study:
• Transition Avalon and Stone Harbor to county for fire, EMS dispatch. Develop initial governance, financial parameters, equipment requirements and procedures. And engage with other interest parties through regular updates.
• Redefine the role of the county Emergency Operations Center to include consolidated police and fire communications.
• Establish preliminary advisory committee to develop parameters for staffing, back-office support systems, document transition strategy, equipment procurements, and inter-local agreements. Work with other county stakeholders on facility options. Expansion of present center, relocation of library. Erect new facility.
• Development of long-term financial strategies, bonding and countywide tax assessment.
To read the complete report visit:
http://www.capemaycountygov.net/FCpdf/Final%20Report%20-%20Cape%20May%20Co%20PS%20Dispatch%20Consolidation%20Study%201A.pdf