New Hartford backs county 911 grant application
Board may vote soon to end New Hartford dispatch center
By
ELIZABETH COOPER Posted Mar 10,
2010 @ 09:27 PM Last update Mar
10, 2010 @ 09:50 PM NEW
The town has moved another step closer to
consolidating its 911 dispatch service with that of At its Wednesday night meeting, the board
voted 3-2 in favor of a resolution supporting Board members Rich Woodland and David
Reynolds opposed the measure on the grounds that it could commit the town to
the consolidation process before officials had enough information to make an
educated decision about whether to support the move. “I think there are an awful lot of unanswered
questions,” Reynolds said after the vote. “What are the costs? What will it do
to the county tax rate? What about the level of service?” But Town Supervisor Patrick Tyksinski and
board members Don Backman and Christine Krupa said they did not believe the
resolution committed the town to the merger and said it was important to move
forward with the grant application. “I don’t see any way this commits us to any
definitive action,” Tyksinski said. “I can’t see letting $600,000 slip through
our fingers.” For years, discussions have taken place
between the town, county and city of As part of the county’s grant application,
the county, Tyksinski has been open about his interest in
moving forward with consolidation, while Reynolds has consistently urged
caution. Tyksinski has said he plans to bring a resolution at the next board
meeting on March 24 to dissolve the town’s dispatch center. If the consolidation moves forward as
planned, New Hartford’s transition should be complete by the end of 2010. The town will spend about $720,000 this year
on its 911 center, mostly on dispatcher salaries and benefits, according to the
county’s grant application. County officials have estimated that incorporating
They also have said it's likely the county
would charge a fee to
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