http://www.wcax.com/story/28555850/1st-vt-911-dispatch-center-to-close-within-45-days
www.wcax.com|By Logan Crawford
MONTPELIER, Vt. -
The Department of Public Safety says despite
controversy and concerns over plans to close two of the four Vermont
State Police 911 dispatch centers, they are closing.
"Derby will be closing first. I expect that could be coming within the next 45 days," Vt. Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn said.
Flynn says the Rutland center will close soon after Derby. And with these shutdowns will come layoffs.
"My fear is that should this consolidation happen, the stress we face every day will only increase immensely," said Nicholas Shannon, a dispatcher. "We will be responsible for at least 50 percent of the state and be expected to make life-altering decisions with decreased staffing and increased workload."
At a public hearing at the Statehouse Tuesday night, dispatch workers were blunt about their opposition.
"Derby will be closing first. I expect that could be coming within the next 45 days," Vt. Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn said.
Flynn says the Rutland center will close soon after Derby. And with these shutdowns will come layoffs.
"My fear is that should this consolidation happen, the stress we face every day will only increase immensely," said Nicholas Shannon, a dispatcher. "We will be responsible for at least 50 percent of the state and be expected to make life-altering decisions with decreased staffing and increased workload."
At a public hearing at the Statehouse Tuesday night, dispatch workers were blunt about their opposition.
"There is simply no safe way for this consolidation to continue," one
dispatcher said at the hearing. "Every time a problem in this proposal
arises, the powers that be throw a solution at it which actually ends up
being more of a problem."
Flynn met with the House Committee on Government Operations Wednesday to outline his view of the consolidation plan. Some lawmakers worry about the loss of state jobs and possible safety issues with fewer dispatchers handling more calls.
"Reducing the numbers, and there's 7,000 more a year, somewhere someone's going to be picking up some extra calls," said Rep. Mark Higley, R-Orleans-Lamoille.
But Flynn says first responders will get to scenes quickly.
"This is not going to affect the services we provide," Flynn said. "The only thing that's going to change is the service delivery method."
When it comes to laying off potentially 30 dispatchers, Flynn says it's a tough decision. But he says the consolidation will save the state nearly $2 million.
"Not a decision that I enter into lightly, but it is a decision that I look at in my greater obligation to the people of the state to be a steward of the taxpayers' dollars that I'm entrusted with," Flynn said.
Some lawmakers expressed frustration off camera about the plan, but Flynn says he can close the dispatch centers without legislative approval.
Flynn met with the House Committee on Government Operations Wednesday to outline his view of the consolidation plan. Some lawmakers worry about the loss of state jobs and possible safety issues with fewer dispatchers handling more calls.
"Reducing the numbers, and there's 7,000 more a year, somewhere someone's going to be picking up some extra calls," said Rep. Mark Higley, R-Orleans-Lamoille.
But Flynn says first responders will get to scenes quickly.
"This is not going to affect the services we provide," Flynn said. "The only thing that's going to change is the service delivery method."
When it comes to laying off potentially 30 dispatchers, Flynn says it's a tough decision. But he says the consolidation will save the state nearly $2 million.
"Not a decision that I enter into lightly, but it is a decision that I look at in my greater obligation to the people of the state to be a steward of the taxpayers' dollars that I'm entrusted with," Flynn said.
Some lawmakers expressed frustration off camera about the plan, but Flynn says he can close the dispatch centers without legislative approval.
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