Adams Looks At Eliminating Dispatch Service
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen are again looking to switch to a regionalized dispatch service that would save more than $160,000 annually.
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco told the board on Wednesday that the town's consultant has recommended discontinuing its in-house dispatch service and move it to the Berkshire County sheriff's office.
"It would be a very positive move for the town," Mazzucco said. "We would have access to better technology and to better systems that would enhance officer safety. There is no concern over local safety when switching."
Mazzucco added that he has been in ongoing discussions with local emergency services and they have acknowledged that there will be no decrease in public safety.
The town spends $180,000 annually directly on the dispatching service. This does not include retiree health care, pensions, or infrastructure upgrades that could cost $10,000 to $15,000 a year.
If the town regionalizes, the yearly fee would be $23,000. The anticipated startup day would be July 1.
Over the next 10 years, it would cost the town $1.8 million to maintain its own dispatching service. If it regionalizes, that cost will be just under $300,000 in 10 years, saving nearly $1.5 million.
Town officials have been looking at cost savings in contracting with the Communications Center for years. The idea ignited a firestorm of controversy in 2011, when the board tried to cut the dispatch line item with the goal of eliminating it. The Finance Committee refused to recommend the police budget and town meeting approved using free cash to fund the services.
Selectman Jeffrey Snoonian said the board has been discussing the switch for over a year. He said he expects there are a lot of questions and urged the public to attend a public information meeting tentatively set for Dec. 9.
He added that emergency service leaders have been part of the conversation the whole time.
"This was the work of all layers of the safety community in Adams," he said. "There were many meetings had back and forth, and this was really a great example of people coming together to make potentially difficult decisions. I think it is unbelievably fiscally responsible, but it is personally difficult."
Mazzucco said the town should know by December whether it will get a state grant to aid the switch. Although the grant is competitive, he felt Adams has a good chance of receiving it.
He added the town would still retain an annual $22,000 dispatch grant.
Selectman Joseph Nowak noted the difficulty of laying off longtime staff.
"When you are talking about laying people off, people that have served this community ... if you put their total time they gave to the community it quite a hit," Nowak said. "It's certainly the fiscally responsible thing to do, but I have to think of human point of it all."
Mazzucco said some 80 communities have regionalized their dispatch service.
Mazzucco also informed the Selectmen that Department of Public Works director plans to resign and asked that they consider appointing Deputy DPW Director David Nuvallie in the interim.
"Dave has served the role before and he does a very good job as deputy director," Mazzucco said. "I have full faith and confidence in Dave."
He would like to keep Nuvallie on as interim director until he retires, which he has indicated would be in the next few years.
He said it is hard to hire in the winter and he wants the new director to come in fresh and have Nuvallie help with the transition.
When Nuvallie does retire, he plans on eliminating the deputy director position.
The Selectmen voted to implement yearlong permit parking on Kearns Lane for $100 and winter parking in the Renfrew Field parking lot for $50 to accommodate off-street parking during the winter for nearby residents.
The town had the permits set last year but winter was nearly over by the time they could be implemented.
Arts Advisory Board member Francie Anne Riley said the board recently installed a mural on Victory Street across from the PNA. The mural commemorates 41 individuals who used to live on the street who fought in World War II. She said the mural is printed on vinyl and can be moved.
She added that the board has begun work on a pop-up window project and arts will be displayed in windows downtown. Those who what to be involved with the board or would like to display their art can contact the committee at artsinadams@gmil.com.
"We members of the arts advisory board look forward to many more opportunities tow work with the town and create interesting public art pup art that will help establish Adams as an art destination."
Mazzucco said ProAdams members are in the early discussions of possibly hosting an ice-skating rink this winter at Renfrew or Russell Field.
People can drop off items for homeless veterans at Town Hall. Needed are sheets, blankets, hats, socks, toothpaste, and disposable razors. Mouthwash and hand sanitizer will not be accepted.
Updated Feasibility Study of 911 Communications in Adams, Mass. by iBerkshires.com
Tags: dispatchers, fiscal 2017,
