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Editorial: Act with dispatch on central dispatch in Schenectady County
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Centralizing dispatch in Schenectady County is a no-brainer. It’s been talked about since the early 1990s, when the county started E911. Now, with a yearlong study by a private, non-profit firm showing that it would save money and improve service — and the good chance of a $1.5 million state start-up grant — the county, city and towns should turn the talk into action. Some other counties have long had centralized dispatch through the sheriff’s department or some county facility. With these systems in place, it was fairly easy for them to bring in E911. But Schenectady had no such system; and so, to facilitate E911, it had to go with what it had at the time: five different dispatch centers. Maintaining and staffing all those centers — one in the city police department, one in Rotterdam, one in Niskayuna, one in Glenville, and one at the state police station in Princetown — is expensive, with a total operating cost of $4.3 million annually. The study found that one central facility would save money, not the first year but over time, as there would be fewer buildings and less equipment to maintain. One would think that personnel could also be reduced by more than the three — from the current 51 to 48 — that the study says is possible. But it isn’t just about money. Centralized dispatch would also lead to better service by eliminating communication problems between neighboring dispatchers and jurisdictional confusion over call responsibilities. The county Fire and Police Advisory boards have both called attention to these issues. Beyond that, this could be the first step toward other consolidations in the public safety and emergency services area, including radio equipment and even fire companies and police. Does a small county like Schenectady really need 23 fire departments, seven police agencies and three ambulance companies, all with their own buildings and equipment? An even better question, in light of the already heavy and growing local tax burden: Can it afford them? Get ALL of our news...Click here to subscribe to our online edition, a complete replica of our print edition.
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July 5, 2009
10:26 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
How does NYC have an effective central dispatch for law enforcement and all emergency services, with repeaters in various couties? Of course Schenectady is 2% the size of NYC so it must be more complicated. Let's stop the nonsense, remove the duplicative delivery of vital emergency service delivery. Our governmnent will only become more efficient and better serve the over-taxed. The answer is simple NYC consolidated it's government in 1898, and upstate NY maintains multiple taxing entities and fragmented governments. Each fighting for a piece of a dwindling tax base. Our greatest export is talented and creative individuals often following graduation from our remarkably excellent State University System.
9:39 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
This has been talked about for over 30 years but no action. Why? Because nobody wants to give up their throne. Simple as that.