Local 911 dispatchers can stop fretting about job security.
Morgan Hill – Local 911 dispatchers can stop fretting about job security.
In an explosive end to one of the most divisive issues of the last year, the Morgan Hill City Council voted Wednesday to forego further study of out-sourcing emergency dispatch services in hopes of rustling up cash for more patrol officers.
Such a move would add $140,000 to the $1.1 million the city already spends on 911 dispatch services, according to a city study that inspired a shouting match between two councilmen.
“The bottom line is the dollars, and there’s no cost savings,” Councilman Larry Carr said to Councilman Mark Grzan. The latter councilman, who conducted a financial analysis for a regional 911 dispatch service in Monterey County, has insisted for a year that farming out the service should be explored as a way to help the city avoid asking voters to pay a new tax for more police officers.
“It is not a thorough report,” Grzan shot back at Carr. “It is not a thorough report.”
A gavel slam and threat of adjournment by Mayor Steve Tate reined in the shouting and led to an abrupt 4-1 vote – with Grzan dissenting – that dismissed further investigation of county dispatch services.
“To continue the conversation is not only a waste of resources, but a morale issue for the department, both for police offices and dispatchers,” Carr said.
The report at the heart of the controversy was put together by Brian Stott, assistant to the city manager, and approved initially by the council’s subcommittee on Public Safety and Community Services, a committee made up of Carr and Tate.
As Grzan pointed out, it did not account for cost savings stemming from equipment and support services associated with the city’s 10-person dispatch center.
A 2003 upgrade to the dispatcher’s phone system cost $159,000 but was covered by state funds, according to Patti Yinger, support services manager for the police department.
The city spent about $75,000 on new radio workstations before moving into a new headquarters in 2004, she said, adding that the stations would likely need upgrades within 10 to 15 years. Ergonomic workstations costing $12,000 apiece would also require replacement on a similar timeline, according to Yinger.
Stott’s report suggests that such long-term cost investments may not translate into savings by switching to county dispatch service, which would likely carry with it an administrative fee.
Police Chief Bruce Cumming said he does not believe the year-long debate caused any staff to depart or hindered the hiring process.
“They clearly realized that this is not just a money issue,” he said, “and they came to the right conclusion. They have a good police department that’s cost effective and the people here are outstanding, they work hard and care about the city … . Just the knowledge that police officers and dispatchers have of the community is priceless.”
