County May Order Study for Central Dispatch Center

CREST HAVEN — In response to a question asked Tue., Feb. 14 by Court House resident Peter Jespersen regarding progress made to study a central emergency dispatch center in the county, Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton said that several meetings had been held locally and in Trenton.
Thornton said a resolution would be considered by the board Feb. 28 to award a consulting contract to Tetra Tech to study all phases of a possible county central dispatch center.
That study is to be completed by Memorial Day 2012. Part of the unknown is how many municipalities would join such a central dispatch center.
Jespersen told the board he had talked with the Somerset County central dispatch director and learned that all dispatchers there are rotated to all desks so they are familiar with agencies.
He said that the system was soon to include Bridgewater and Franklin.
“They provide incentives for municipalities to join,” Jespersen said. He was told that the decision to form a central dispatch unit there had been made “years ago,” and that the unit was funded by county taxes.
Jespersen said that person was willing to meet with anyone from Cape May County government to learn more about that system. That communications could be via telephone or in person, he added.
Thornton told Jespersen that Vice Director M. Susan Sheppard had addressed the county League of Municipalities about the central dispatch concept.
On Oct. 6, 2011, the county Office of Emergency management met with Verizon and county “stakeholders” in the system to discuss the future 9-1-1 in the state and also about incorporating equipment, much of which has become antiquated.
On Nov. 18,, another meeting was held in Trenton with representatives of the state office of telecommunications and Department of Community Affairs. On Jan. 18, county officials attended a meeting concerning the prospect of central dispatch.
Thornton cited the likely awarding of a contract at the board’s Feb. 28 meeting for the consultant’s study.
Once completed, all stakeholders will consider the study and freeholders will look into providing a cost benefit ratio and staffing levels that would be required, year-round and seasonally.
A factor to consider, Thornton said, was the capital investment cost of hardware and software and facilities projections in five-year increments.
“There are a lot of players,” said Thornton, “I can tell you it will not be an easy task to get everyone to agree.”
He noted that field trips would be arranged March through May that would include visits to Cumberland and Gloucester counties. Once Jespersen mentioned Somerset, Thornton said that, too, would be included.
“We have to have a really solid idea how much it is going to cost and be prorated if not everybody joins,” Thornton said.
“The only way it will work is if all municipalities contribute toward it, and the consultants will have to work that out,” said Administrator Stephen O’Connor.