By Amy Popik, The News-Herald
POSTED: 07/09/14, 11:51 PM EDT | 0
Euclid City Council and administration continued the discussion on regionalizing police and fire dispatch at an Executive and Finance Committee meeting July 9.
Discussions on joining a regional dispatch center have been ongoing for several months, and the city is considering three options, Eastside Departments Group Enforcement Agency, or EDGE, Southeast Emergency Communications Center and Chagrin Valley Dispatch Council, Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik said.
At the meeting, Lt. Nick DiCicco of Orange Village Police Department who manages the Chagrin Valley Regional Communication Center, presented to council what Chagrin Valley had to offer.
Chagrin Valley Dispatch Council was created in 2011 and has 11 communities with the communications center in University Hospital’s Bedford Medical Center.
The communities that make up the council of governments include the village of Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls Township, village of Chagrin Falls, village of Hunting Valley, village of Moreland Hills, Orange Village, village of South Russell, village of Woodmere, village of Gates Mills, village of Highland Hills and village of North Randall.
In the presentation by DiCicco, Chagrin Valley Regional Communications Center discussed the technology, including CAD or computer-aided dispatch, available grants, how the center works, including how every call is answered and transferred, and more.
He said he will be hiring eight full-time dispatchers and six to eight part-time dispatchers. He said he will only interview Euclid dispatchers for the jobs if Euclid agrees to join.
“I cannot do this project without your staff,” DiCicco said at the meeting. “Will all dispatchers have a full-time job? No. Can I give everyone a job? Yes.”
If Euclid joins, it is estimated the city would pay about $84,000 for four years to buy into the dispatch center. The city also would pay for about 25 new radios.
“We made some progress today in explaining both to council and the public the importance and benefit of joining Chagrin Valley Dispatch,” Cervenik said. “It will provide better service, which will make our community safer, our residents safer, more than likely improve our response time, although our response time is very good. And something we can’t overlook is with the technology available and the new equipment, it will increase the safety of our police officers and firefighters. That is what’s important.”
It is predicted the city will save more than $200,000 annually for the first four years and about $300,000 annually after the buy-in costs are paid off, Euclid Police Chief Tom Brickman said at the meeting. He said Chagrin Valley will reduce the cost by $200,000 and pay for about 20 new radios with a grant.
“We realized that the level of service provided at Chagrin Valley Dispatch was something that could not be matched by Southeast Communication Center,” he said.
“The police and fire chief have examined all three options and have come to the conclusion that Chagrin is the best option for what we need,” Cervenik said.
Brickman said it would not be a viable option for Euclid to form its own regional dispatch center with other surrounding communities, however members of Euclid Council would like weigh that option.
“The question is, why isn’t Euclid at the forefront of regional dispatch centers?” Euclid Councilman Daryl Langman said.
“It seems like we are behind and need to catch up. I think the county needs to come out and explain why we can’t do this.”
Council voted to move the legislation to the July 14 council meeting.
POSTED: 07/09/14, 11:51 PM EDT | 0
Euclid City Council and administration continued the discussion on regionalizing police and fire dispatch at an Executive and Finance Committee meeting July 9.
Discussions on joining a regional dispatch center have been ongoing for several months, and the city is considering three options, Eastside Departments Group Enforcement Agency, or EDGE, Southeast Emergency Communications Center and Chagrin Valley Dispatch Council, Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik said.
At the meeting, Lt. Nick DiCicco of Orange Village Police Department who manages the Chagrin Valley Regional Communication Center, presented to council what Chagrin Valley had to offer.
Chagrin Valley Dispatch Council was created in 2011 and has 11 communities with the communications center in University Hospital’s Bedford Medical Center.
The communities that make up the council of governments include the village of Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls Township, village of Chagrin Falls, village of Hunting Valley, village of Moreland Hills, Orange Village, village of South Russell, village of Woodmere, village of Gates Mills, village of Highland Hills and village of North Randall.
In the presentation by DiCicco, Chagrin Valley Regional Communications Center discussed the technology, including CAD or computer-aided dispatch, available grants, how the center works, including how every call is answered and transferred, and more.
He said he will be hiring eight full-time dispatchers and six to eight part-time dispatchers. He said he will only interview Euclid dispatchers for the jobs if Euclid agrees to join.
“I cannot do this project without your staff,” DiCicco said at the meeting. “Will all dispatchers have a full-time job? No. Can I give everyone a job? Yes.”
If Euclid joins, it is estimated the city would pay about $84,000 for four years to buy into the dispatch center. The city also would pay for about 25 new radios.
“We made some progress today in explaining both to council and the public the importance and benefit of joining Chagrin Valley Dispatch,” Cervenik said. “It will provide better service, which will make our community safer, our residents safer, more than likely improve our response time, although our response time is very good. And something we can’t overlook is with the technology available and the new equipment, it will increase the safety of our police officers and firefighters. That is what’s important.”
It is predicted the city will save more than $200,000 annually for the first four years and about $300,000 annually after the buy-in costs are paid off, Euclid Police Chief Tom Brickman said at the meeting. He said Chagrin Valley will reduce the cost by $200,000 and pay for about 20 new radios with a grant.
“We realized that the level of service provided at Chagrin Valley Dispatch was something that could not be matched by Southeast Communication Center,” he said.
“The police and fire chief have examined all three options and have come to the conclusion that Chagrin is the best option for what we need,” Cervenik said.
Brickman said it would not be a viable option for Euclid to form its own regional dispatch center with other surrounding communities, however members of Euclid Council would like weigh that option.
“The question is, why isn’t Euclid at the forefront of regional dispatch centers?” Euclid Councilman Daryl Langman said.
“It seems like we are behind and need to catch up. I think the county needs to come out and explain why we can’t do this.”
Council voted to move the legislation to the July 14 council meeting.
