Town of Princeton, MA
Meeting Minutes
Public Safety Committee
October 13, 2010
Town Hall Annex
Chairman Sulmasy called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Members present were Jim Comer, Bill Dino, Stan Moss, Bob Sauer, Charlie Schmohl, and Neil Sulmasy. Member Jon Fudeman was absent. Also attending were Selectman Edie Morgan, Rutland Fire Chief Tom Ruchala; Nathan Kenney, Manager, Rutland Regional Communications Center; Dave Clemons, Director, Worcester Department of Emergency Communications; Sterling Fire Department Lt. Tom Kokernak; and Town Administrator John Lebeaux.
Acceptance of Minutes
The Committee unanimously voted to accept the minutes of October 5, 2010.
Hear Presentations from North Central and City of Worcester Regional Dispatch
Programs
Lt. Kokernak chairs the Committee that conducted the North Central Mass. Feasibility Study. He expressed his strong support of the regional dispatch model, noting that the Feasibility Study concluded that the current service delivery model throughout the region does not meet various national standards for a 911 center and that a regional dispatch center would generate cost savings to participating communities.
He emphasized the value gained by having two (or more) dispatchers working together during a shift as it increases a dispatch center’s surge capacity (ability to properly handle multiple concurrent calls). He commented that the Essex County program is targeting a per capita cost of $16.76 and compared it to Sterling’s present $31 per capita cost. He believes the Essex per capita number is a feasible one in the Worcester County area.
In response to questions Lt. Kokernak cited the New Braintree center as one with similar rural demographics and the Barnstable County center as one that operates very effectively. Replying to a second question Lt. Kokernak related that he did not see much potential for a center established through the Worcester County Sheriff.
Chief Ruchala and Regional Communications Manager Kenney explained that the Rutland Center also serves Oakham (for twenty-three years) and Hubbardston (for 1.5 years). The governance model in the existing Rutland Regional Center is one in which the Town of Rutland manages the operation and has contractual arrangements with participating communities. He emphasized that any issues raised by a participating community would be given every consideration following the practice that has been followed for many years.
The present Rutland Center has some shifts with two dispatchers on duty, others with only one. Staffing would increase if more communities came on board. Rutland has five full-time and five part-time dispatchers, all of whom are EMS certified, but not all have EMD certification. It is seeking national certification.
Rutland uses the same IMC software that Princeton uses. Rutland also has experience working with on-call fire departments similar to Princeton’s.
Director Clemons reported that the Worcester program will mirror the Barnstable model for governance and use intermunicipal agreements as the instrument for communities to join. He stressed the fact that the project is going to happen and suggested that if communities choose to participate they are better served to do so prior to construction to save the each respective town money. Exactly what additional services a town might need (highway, light, etc) will determine its ultimate operational cost. The cost to integrate will be borne by each town, but the regional approach also opens the door for Homeland Security grants for equipment in addition to the E 911 grants.
Future Schedule
The Committee will next meet October 19 at which time it will schedule future meetings
The meeting adjourned at 9:03 PM by unanimous vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Lebeaux,
Town Administrator
Referenced Documents
“Final Report Summary” (slides), North Central Massachusetts Regional Dispatch Committee, May 2010
“Town of Princeton, Regional Dispatch Information Session” (slides), presentation by Dave Clemons, Director, Worcester Emergency Communications, October 13, 2010
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