Barnegat Committee Postpones Decision On Police Dispatchers

The seven Barnegat Township police dispatchers will have to wait a little longer to find out if they still have jobs.

Barnegat Township Committee members Tuesday night voted to postpone their decision after more than 60 people showed up protesting plans to disband township dispatchers and go with a shared service agreement with Ocean County, according to app.com.

Township officials have said dispatcher salaries rose 32 percent over four years: from $495,000 in 2011 to $655,000 in 2015. When the cost of benefits are added in, the total number is $750,00. The Ocean County Sherrif’s Department could do the work for $340,000 a year.

Police Chief Arthur P. Drexler said there was not enough money in the police department’s budget to fully staff the dispatch unit.

“Can I do it under the budget? I can’t,” Drexler said. “I want a fully staffed dispatch unit...we can’t have everything.”

James Johnson, a union representative from Office & Professional Employees International Union 32, which represents the dispatchers, has said dispatcher salaries are much lower.

“Our highest dispatcher’s salary is $51,164, having 16 years of experience; our lowest is $41,368, having 9 years of experience. Starting salary is $31,040,” he wrote in an email to the Asbury Park press.

The union has urged township officials to hire additional dispatchers to cut overtime expenses.

Township Committee members voted to postpone the decision until Feb. 9, to give the union time to come up with a new salary and benefits proposal. The new plan must be submitted to the township by Jan. 25.

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