By Kayla J. Marsh
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN – Township officials have entered into a new shared services agreement that will see the municipality transition its emergency dispatch operations to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office in Freehold.
On April 4, the Township Committee adopted a resolution authorizing the agreement with Monmouth County, through the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Communication Division, and setting parameters.
“I believe we are the model of any municipality to try to share as many services as possible and we’re going to embark on something that is going to … potentially see millions saved per year in our dispatch agreement,” Deputy Mayor Anthony Fiore said.
“It is a testament to what this committee continues to do to alleviate the struggles of our residents … and to be innovative.”
According to the resolution passed by the committee, “the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office shall provide 911 call function services effective April 15, and will provide dispatch services for police, fire and emergency medical services as soon thereafter as practicable and when operational needs are met.”
With the Sheriff’s Office serving as the Public Safety Answering Point for the municipality, officials said the move would save the township nearly $1 million annually.
“The lion’s share of the savings will come from the transfer of Middletown’s dispatchers to Monmouth County’s payroll,” the Township Committee said in a statement.
According to the resolution passed by the committee, Middletown “shall pay … a total fee of $475,000.00 for 2016, which includes $420,000.00 for police, fire and EMS dispatch services and 911 calls; and $55,000.00 for information, technology support and maintenance and said fees will be prorated on a monthly basis based upon the beginning date of service.”
According to officials, how much the municipality pays the county next year and beyond will be determined every November.
“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office will not raise the annual fee for the Township more than two percent per annum through the initial term of the Shared Services Agreement, which shall be through and including December 31, 2019.”
“It’s a win-win,” the Township Committee said. “We are confident Middletown will get an enhanced service at a much better price.
“The county can offer cutting edge services, digital technology, greater interoperability and access to a much larger communications staff.”
According to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office website, the county’s new 911 center debuted in mid-2014 and currently handles dispatch services for 46 of the 53 municipalities in the county.
“Their staff of more than 100 telecommunicators are trained as Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Emergency Communications Offices and NCIC terminal operators,” the Township Committee said. “Callers won’t notice the difference in service, but taxpayers may detect a change in the long haul.
“The savings of a nearly $1 million dollars annually will go a long way toward keeping tax rates stable.”
With the move of the dispatch services potentially eliminating more than a dozen jobs, officials said any dispatchers affected could have the opportunity to work alongside the county.
“Because of our size … we will have dispatchers at the county facility who are dedicated to taking Middletown calls,” the Township Committee said. “Many of these dedicated dispatchers are expected to be long-time township employees who will continue to bring their local knowledge to the phone.
“Besides the savings in labor costs, the township also won’t have to expend additional monies to keep up with federally-mandated software updates.
The current dispatch center, located at Town Hall, will remain operable as a back-up system [and] calls can also be dispatched from the township’s mobile command unit.”
