Regional Emergency Communications Center: A Win-Win...Win Scenario
October 2014
Regional Emergency Communications Center
A Win-Win . . . Win Scenario
Dear Holden:
Win-Win Scenario
Coming up in December of 2014, a virtual ‘switch’ will be pulled, and 4-plus years of planning, multi-year grant funds, personnel training, new upgraded communications equipment, and just plain hard work will converge and the Regional Emergency Communications Center of Holden and Princeton will be functionally merged. Residents of Holden and Princeton will not likely notice it. But from that day forward, all emergency communications calls to 911, police, fire, ambulance, DPW and Light Department dispatches will be managed via the state-of-the-art Emergency Dispatch Center located at the Holden Public Safety Facility.
The merging of our two dispatch functions will mean a higher level of service for both towns, at a lower cost. That’s a win-win scenario.
State 911 Grants have supported the regionalization process. From the start of the original feasibility study in 2012 to our impending activation of the two-town Regional Emergency Communications System (RECC), the Town of Holden has received $680,000 in State 911 Department grants. The State 911 Department manages funds collected through consumer 911 surcharges on telephone bills. One of the missions of the State 911 Department is to promote secure, reliable emergency communications for all residents by assisting with planning and implementation of regional dispatch centers.
Holden participated in a feasibility study in 2012 along with Princeton to determine if it was technically and organizationally feasible, as well as economically beneficial, to combine our emergency dispatch communications. As you may recall, Holden constructed and opened its new Public Safety Facility in the fall of 2010, which includes a state-of-the-art dispatch center. The equipment in our dispatch center was funded through a grant from State 911 of approximately $500,000 (over and above the amount noted above).
In 2013, the towns entered into an Inter-Municipal Agreement, detailing the shared ongoing costs between the Towns: Holden would be gaining a higher level of service as three dispatchers would be hired to have two-person coverage on each of the three shifts. Grant funds, and future payments from Princeton, would cover the additional personnel costs. Princeton would reduce its operational costs because it would no longer need to operate a dispatch center; but Princeton, too, would receive a higher level of service.
If a third town were to join in the future, Holden’s costs could be reduced further as would Princeton’s.
After three years of preparation, the physical communications system was constructed. Princeton center is situated higher in elevation than Holden center. The new communications tower was built in Princeton Center, with a straight, unobstructed ‘line-of-sight’ to the Holden Public Safety Facility communications tower. Primary and secondary back up systems were also installed. State 911 grant money supported the construction of the new antennae and microwave technology that will be the backbone of the RECC. Adjustments, upgrades, and other IT improvements to the infrastructure were also supported by the 911 grant.
Over the next month or two, final testing, tweaking, and administrative tasks will be completed, along with securing and training personnel, and then the long-awaited Regional Emergency Communications Center will be opened. It will be a win from the aspect of higher levels of service to both communities, and a ‘win’ because costs to Holden will not increase, and Princeton will see a reduction in its costs.
Third Town -- West Boylston
In the last year, officials from the Town of West Boylston have been meeting with Holden and Princeton public safety and management officials to discuss joining the RECC. In FY 2015, Holden is eligible to receive approximately $900,000 in additional State 911 grant funds to make preparations for merging West Boylston’s needs with the Holden-Princeton Center. Again, an intermunicipal agreement has been developed to join West Boylston with Holden and Princeton. The formula for cost sharing is based on population and call volume. Should three towns participate, Holden’s share of the total costs will be reduced.
Win-Win-Win Scenario
Today’s hi-tech IT and microwave-based communications technology will make the RECC a reality. A three-town dispatch center will provide a higher level of services to our citizens while saving their tax dollars. Now, that’s a Win-Win-Win Scenario.
Jacquelyn M. Kelly, Holden Town Manager