Town leaders in Adams, Massachusetts have reached a compromise on regionalizing emergency dispatch service that saves money and retains town workers.The Adams Select Board this week approved a plan to transfer 911 dispatch to the Berkshire County Sheriff’s office, while maintaining two of three full-time town dispatchers. The move is expected to save the town $95,000 a year along with IT reductions that could total $7,000 and even more capital costs, according to town administrator Tony Mazzucco.
“I think from the town’s perspective it’s the best of both worlds,” Mazzucco said. “The town is still seeing savings that it needs to see going into next year and we’re retaining two out of three positions. Unfortunately there is some job loss, but we are able to retain some the jobs in the community which is always a good thing.”
Facing a budget gap of at least $300,000, Mazzucco last year recommended shifting all dispatch service to the sheriff’s office about 15 miles south in Pittsfield. More than 20 area communities utilize the regional service, but with 8,500 residents, Adams would be the largest. The move was expected to save about $150,000 a year. But town residents were wary of losing three employees and their knowledge of the area.
“I’ve been working with the Adams Ambulance [Service] and the Adams Fire District on a compromise because they were very interested in trying to retain this service to the extent that they could and keep some of these jobs in town. They certainly understood the position the town was in and the need to go forward, but were willing to see what they could do to come up with a middle of the ground solution. And what they verbally agreed to – we still have to work out the details – they would contribute $50,000 annually toward the cost of maintaining a second dispatch position which would allow the town to go ahead and do that.”
So under the compromise, the town’s dispatch center would be staffed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. five days a week, handling administrative calls and walk-ins along with people who may call the in-town number for emergencies. One dispatcher would be paid via the town’s general fund.
“We’ll probably have them take on a few more administrative duties now that the 911 calls will be at the Sheriff’s office,” Mazzucco said. “We’ll also be able to have them work with the Sheriff’s office. We know there was some concern about a new group of dispatchers taking on the town’s dispatch services, but now retaining a few of ours we’re able to have them work together to smooth that transition which we didn’t anticipate being too difficult to begin with. But, if you can assuage people’s concerns it’s always a good thing.”
Tony Piscioneri, an Adams dispatcher for the past 18 years, stressed the importance of local dispatchers in December.
“No matter where you go your 911 calls are always going to be the minority compared to your administrative lines,” Piscioneri said. “But that doesn’t mean that you don’t receive emergency calls on the administrative lines. We’re a town that has an elderly population that is familiar with our 743-1212 line, which has been the direct line into the police department for years. So people are familiar with that number and they call as well as all alarm calls – medical, fire and burglar – all come in on our administrative lines not 911.”
Piscioneri could not be reached for comment today. Mazzucco doesn’t expect the town to fill the positions if a person were to retire or resign. He believes who will continue working in town is based on seniority. The move is contingent upon Adams receiving a state grant which Mazzucco expects to hear about very soon. Even if the town doesn’t get the $700,000 he’s confident Adams will be awarded in the fiscal 2017 process which begins shortly thereafter.
