Regional dispatch is making progress | Whitman-Hanson Express

Regional dispatch is making progress | Whitman-Hanson Express

Written by Meaghan Glassett

Wednesday, 09 September 2009 15:05

The Plymouth County Commissioners have been working with local police and fire chiefs to take steps toward implementing a new regional 9-1-1 dispatch. The commissioners recently approved a proposal by Matrix Consulting of Andover, Mass. to design a regional public safety dispatch system. “This is a very exciting time. We’re moving forward with some beneficial projects,” Plymouth County Commissioner Troy Clarkson said. The committee that evaluated Matrix’s proposal included Fire Chief Tim Grenno of Whitman, Fire Chief Andy Reardon of Norwell, and the County Sheriff’s Department who are committed to improving this critical service as well as saving money. Grenno said he feels with today’s economy that consolidating a service, which will provide equal or better service to communities, will be cost effective. The County Commissioners had received a state grant for $50,000 to look into the feasibility of having a regional 9-1-1 dispatch center, Clarkson said. Three sites have been proposed for the regional public safety dispatch: The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, county owned land at the Bridgewater Correction facility and the Brockton District Court are all potential locations for the dispatch center. Matrix will be looking at the county as whole and looking at these three sites, Grenno said. “It is not a quick process, and the fire chiefs want to make sure the process is done properly and by the book. If we are signing on to a $6 or 7 million dollar project we want to make sure it is an advanced level project.” Communities that are using civilian dispatchers are facing severe budget issues and regionalizing may alleviate that, he said. Several towns in Plymouth County have said they are interested in regionalizing the public safety dispatch and will be signing on, Grenno said. Clarkson said that all 27 communities in the Plymouth County will be invited to attend an informal meeting on Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. at the Sheriff’s Department. Matrix will be there to kick off the meeting and answer any questions. “It would be a per town choice for what resources they wish to regionalize,” Grenno said. “For my department it would free up my firefighter from the desk and put him on the streets. There would be five men on the streets, and it would be an increase in service for minimal cost.” Grenno said right now he is paying a firefighter a salary to answer the phone when he needs him on the street. “When people talk about regionalization they talk about cost savings,” Grenno said. “I’m not willing to save money if it will put taxpayers of Whitman in harms way to save money.” Grenno said that regionalizing the dispatch would be a small cost savings to Whitman and that he had to weigh the fact of whether or not it will be better or equal service to the town. Although Whitman Fire Department is on board for regionalizing the public safety dispatch, Whitman Police Chief Christine May-Stafford doesn’t feel it would be beneficial to the Police Department. “I’d rather see one of our officers dispatching,” she said. “Your local officers are more aware of the landmarks and also the individuals in town.” She feels the department will be able to provide better service by keeping an officer on dispatch. “I believe when people walk in to the station they expect that there will be an officer there to take a complaint or help them at the window,’ May-Stafford said. A town can choose to regionalize just one of their dispatch services and Whitman safety officials have different views on the project. “Our object is to not be heavy-handed. We will offer the service to those particular towns and they can put together what works for them,” Clarkson said.