Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Officials from both towns said they are getting close to reaching a shared service agreement for emergency dispatching.
Officials are examining a plan to have Westwood perform emergency dispatching for Washington Township, though the plan may result in the township's police department being closed at night. Under the plan, emergency dispatching for both towns would be done by a team of four full-time civilian dispatchers, with some per diem dispatchers as needed. Washington Township has been increasing the use civilians, but still has police officers cover their dispatch desk at more expensive rates than civilians in some shifts. The plan addresses some concerns about other shared dispatching services. Township officials had previously considered joining Bergen County's dispatching in Mahwah, but many local emergency responders spoke against the plan …
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Westwood Mayor John Birkner proposed the borough could host their own and Washington Township's emergency dispatching services to save money for both towns.
Shared dispatching is still an option for Westwood and Washington Township to save money, according to local officials. Washington Township councilmen said at their meeting this week they were still open to investigating a proposal from Westwood Mayor John Birkner that the towns share emergency dispatching services. Birkner shared the idea in March and sent a proposal to township officials in April, but they had not yet given an official response because they wanted to know more about the capital costs associated with the plan. According to a letter from Westwood Police Chief Frank Regino to the members of the Westwood Borough Police Committee, a test run with shared dispatching for the two towns "was relatively quiet." Dispatchers fielded…
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Hillsdale officials have determined the use of civilian dispatchers in the police department would save money while keeping headquarters open at night.
Trained civilians could replace police officers for Hillsdale's emergency dispatching at a savings of about $246,000 per year and allow the police department to remain open at night. Council President Michael Giancarlo announced Tuesday that the majority of members of the dispatching committee had decided it would be best to use civilian dispatchers in the police department rather than enter a shared service agreement with an outside group like Bergen County. "This strategy of using trained civilian dispatchers instead of police officers takes into account both the financial and safety concerns," Giancarlo said. Using civilian dispatchers instead of police officers will save about $246,000 per year, according to Giancarlo. Using Bergen …
Officials in numerous area towns are researching the potential savings of sharing their courts in one location.
Westwood, Washington Township and Hillsdale officials met recently to discuss the possibility of sharing municipal courts to save money. Some of the shared costs would likely include court personnel like the judge, clerk and bailiff, according to Washington Township councilman Steve Cascio. Only one of the towns would host the court, which would be upgraded with a metal detector and secured seats. Cascio said the plan is still in preliminary stages and the full costs need to be determined before they can move ahead. While the details still need to be worked out, Cascio said the goal is to get the best service possible for the best price. "We're just trying to cut cost and give taxpayers the best bang for their buck," Cascio said. Hillsdale…
resident
3:50 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
amazing how the council is still throwing around numbers that could be, should be, capital costs, upgrade costs, 45.5%,.... At this point if they have not figured the dollars and cents, they never will. Another stall tactic not to reduce police personnel. Where are those savings mentioned. Have the CFO prepare a cost anaylsis and make a decision. stop insulting the residents!! more ›