ELIZABETHTOWN, NY -- Essex County lawmakers say they want more information before the county rolls toward a more than $9 million emergency-communications system replacement.
The county is seeking grants and other financial assistance for a new public-safety radio communications system. Some members of the County Board of Supervisors say that without outside help, they may not be able to afford it.
"We're talking a $9 (million) to $12 million project," Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava (R-Moriah) said.
The board was scheduled to get a Feb. 7 presentation on the project from consultant Kimball Associates of West Chester, Pa., but some supervisors said they wanted to postpone it until Essex County Emergency Services Director Raymond Thatcher is back from vacation.
County Enhanced-911 Coordinator Donald Jaquish, who's been spearheading the radio project, was going to be the Emergency Services representative at the meeting.
Supervisor Randy Preston (I-Wilmington) said he wants to read Kimball's report before the presentation.
"We'd like to look at it and have questions for Kimball when he comes."
County Attorney Daniel Manning III said he will try to get the board a copy of the report from Kimball.
Supervisor Roby Politi (R-North Elba) said a synopsis from Thatcher or County Manager Clifford Donaldson Jr. should accompany the report.
"I don't think it's fair to make a decision solely based on that report," Politi said. "It may be costs we can't handle right now. We can't jump into this."
Manning said he'll get the report first, get a response from Thatcher, then schedule something all can attend.
"We're going to have to start thinking about how to implement and how to pay for whatever they recommend," Manning said. "I want everyone to consider how we want to approach this."
The county is preparing to switch its antiquated radio system from VHF low-band channels to high-band ones that will require new radios for fire departments and ambulances.
"This is the biggest expense the county has had since the (new county) jail," said Preston, who is the Wilmington fire chief. "The frustration is unbelievable from the fire-service end of it. Our equipment is failing. We don't know what to buy because we may have to throw our equipment out the window."
Supervisor Ronald Jackson (R-Essex) said the board agreed to pay for fire and emergency-medical base stations and mobile radios but not handhelds.
"We voted several times we would hold the departments harmless as far as the base stations and vehicle radios."
The county completed the phased-in activation of its Enhanced-911 center at Lewis last Tuesday and is dispatching on the old frequencies as an interim measure.
http://www.pressrepublican.com/0100_news/local_story_028220037.html?start:int=15
The county is seeking grants and other financial assistance for a new public-safety radio communications system. Some members of the County Board of Supervisors say that without outside help, they may not be able to afford it.
"We're talking a $9 (million) to $12 million project," Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava (R-Moriah) said.
The board was scheduled to get a Feb. 7 presentation on the project from consultant Kimball Associates of West Chester, Pa., but some supervisors said they wanted to postpone it until Essex County Emergency Services Director Raymond Thatcher is back from vacation.
County Enhanced-911 Coordinator Donald Jaquish, who's been spearheading the radio project, was going to be the Emergency Services representative at the meeting.
Supervisor Randy Preston (I-Wilmington) said he wants to read Kimball's report before the presentation.
"We'd like to look at it and have questions for Kimball when he comes."
County Attorney Daniel Manning III said he will try to get the board a copy of the report from Kimball.
Supervisor Roby Politi (R-North Elba) said a synopsis from Thatcher or County Manager Clifford Donaldson Jr. should accompany the report.
"I don't think it's fair to make a decision solely based on that report," Politi said. "It may be costs we can't handle right now. We can't jump into this."
Manning said he'll get the report first, get a response from Thatcher, then schedule something all can attend.
"We're going to have to start thinking about how to implement and how to pay for whatever they recommend," Manning said. "I want everyone to consider how we want to approach this."
The county is preparing to switch its antiquated radio system from VHF low-band channels to high-band ones that will require new radios for fire departments and ambulances.
"This is the biggest expense the county has had since the (new county) jail," said Preston, who is the Wilmington fire chief. "The frustration is unbelievable from the fire-service end of it. Our equipment is failing. We don't know what to buy because we may have to throw our equipment out the window."
Supervisor Ronald Jackson (R-Essex) said the board agreed to pay for fire and emergency-medical base stations and mobile radios but not handhelds.
"We voted several times we would hold the departments harmless as far as the base stations and vehicle radios."
The county completed the phased-in activation of its Enhanced-911 center at Lewis last Tuesday and is dispatching on the old frequencies as an interim measure.
http://www.pressrepublican.com/0100_news/local_story_028220037.html?start:int=15
