WILDWOOD – Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. vowed to protect the jobs of city dispatchers as the governing body moved to eliminate its dispatching system and join the county’s centralized 911 service.
“You have protected me and my family, and I will protect you,” Troiano said to Wildwood dispatcher Shannon Garrison.
Garrison, speaking at the Wednesday, Jan. 22, commission meeting, said the city dispatchers were not properly notified of the city’s decision to join county dispatch.
“I just heard yesterday we were going to county dispatch on Jan. 1, 2026,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski, who attended the meeting by videoconference, told the Herald that Garrison’s statement was not accurate.
“I don’t know why they are saying they haven’t heard about it,” Mikulski said.
He said there have been discussions since 2020 regarding making changes to the city dispatch system, including creating an islandwide dispatch system or joining county 911 dispatch.
Wildwood officials confirmed the change was going to be made but attempted to assure Garrison and the other dispatchers that they would not lose anything due to the changeover.
“I assure you I will do everything to make you whole,” Troiano said.
Wildwood employs eight full-time dispatchers and adds two seasonal dispatchers in the peak season.
In the event the Wildwood dispatchers were not getting what they should, Troiano vowed, “I will fight like hell – I will become a thorn in their side.”
Garrison expressed concern not only for jobs and benefits but for the same level of service Wildwood dispatchers provide. She said her biggest fear was that, as the county brings more municipalities into central dispatch, the service will get worse. She claimed there have been slower response times reported in towns using county dispatch.
Mikulski said Wildwood has the opportunity to watch how North Wildwood operates under the county system, and it can reevaluate its position if necessary. North Wildwood is scheduled to come online with county 911 dispatch on Feb. 1.
By Oct. 1, Dennis Township, Woodbine and Sea Isle City are expected to join the system. After Wildwood joins, the only remaining towns not using county 911 dispatch will be West Wildwood, Ocean City and Upper Township.
Commissioner Krista McConnell said the transition was a matter of money. She said the cost of new consoles for Wildwood if the city decided to retain its current dispatch system was estimated to be more than $1.5 million. Garrison asked if grants were available to offset such costs.
“We’ve been shaking every tree to look for money,” Troiano said.
Besides the savings on equipment, Mikulski said joining county 911 dispatch would save Wildwood roughly $1 million per year for the five years of the contract.
“That is with making the employees whole,” he said.
Mikulski echoed comments made by Troiano that suggested circumstances in North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest worked against the creation of an islandwide dispatch center. Wildwood Crest had joined the county dispatch system and would have had to pull out in favor of an islandwide system, Troiano said. North Wildwood approved a shared services agreement with the county for 911 dispatch because its equipment needed upgrading even more so than Wildwood’s.
And while the Wildwood commissioners lamented their hand being forced by their immediate neighbors, they expressed confidence in county Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Chris Leusner.
“I do trust Chris – I trust his work,” Troiano said.
McConnell said she initially did not want to go with the county but felt more comfortable under Leusner’s leadership.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
