Township Officials Discuss County Dispatch Service

Officials from Washington Township, Westwood and Hillsdale have been investigating using a county dispatching service as a way to reduce costs and share services. To further the discussion, a county police representative came to the township council meeting Monday night to talk about a draft proposal and will make himself available to government officials in all three municipalities to answer questions.

Bergen County Police Capt. Mark Lepinski came before the township governing body to explain what the county offers and answer any questions officials had. He said the county currently provides nine municipalities with dispatch service and 20 with 911 service from a communication center in Mahwah. He said no municipality has pulled out of the agreement once it was started and that it is working.

Lepinski said that officials will need to make sure the decision to use county services makes sense, however.

"You need to have equal or better service than what you have today," he said. "And that's my goal."

Councilman Richard Hrbek said he believed emergency service personnel in any municipality that signs on for the county service would have to be on board with the changes, and Lepinski said he agreed. Lepinski explained that part of the process involves meeting with members of the police, fire and EMS departments and there is a transition team set up to show people how it can work.

Hrbek said members of the police department may fear layoffs, which could cause resistance, but said he believed the real savings would be in overtime costs.

"Through attrition I could see maybe there may be some staffing reductions, but I think it's not something that you would go in immediately and say now we reduce our department," Hrbek said.

The estimated cost if two municipalities are on board is between $28,000 and $30,000, which Hrbek said is not that expensive when you consider the police budget is $6 million. Washington Township does need another municipality in order to use the county services, but Lepinski said if Westwood and Hillsdale officials decide they don't want to participate, there are other communities that might be interested.

Mayor Janet Sobkowicz asked how other police departments that use the county dispatching system have manned their headquarters. Currently, there is always someone in the Washington Township police station to answer calls, but if the county is handling that, the desk job would not be necessary. Lepinski said each department makes its own decision on that, but the county could allow entry with a button to the building.

The next step is for officials in the municipalities to visit the county center in Mahwah, look over the draft proposal and compose a memorandum of understanding between the participating municipalities.

Council Vice President Steve Cascio, who has worked extensively on shared services for the township, said he would provide representatives from the township, Westwood and Hillsdale with possible dates to visit the facility and Lepinski could talk to them all at once to answer questions. Then officials would decide at a later date if they want to pursue it.

The next township council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 17.