Font ResizeBut town officials say the decision to out-source the town's emergency calls is a done deal, and a town meeting vote would be only advisory.
Town Manager Burke E. LaClair, who does not believe such a vote would be anything more than an advisory referendum, said he is seeking a legal opinion on the matter.
The town has set April 9 as a special town meeting date to vote on construction of new fire station; the dispatch question could end up on that meeting warrant, LaClair said.
A petition with more than 200 signatures — the number needed to trigger a town meeting — was submitted to Town Hall last week, but only 163 signatures could be certified as those of registered voters, LaClair said last week. The petition is circulating again, said one supporter who refused to be named.
The Selectmen voted to change the town's dispatch function last August, adopting one of several dispatch alternatives recommended by an outside consultant.
After the months-long implementation discussions with the police union broke down this month, LaClair moved to implement the plan.
Dispatch in Pittsfield
The new dispatch procedure, not yet in effect, means that 911 calls placed in Great Barrington would be answered by the Berkshire County Sheriff's Communications Center in Pittsfield.
The new routine means that, aside from daytime business hours, the Police Department will be locked. With officers "on the road," an emergency 911 phone will be installed outside.
The local police union has opposed the switch, citing police officer safety issues and a "locked door" police station that would compromise public service.
Walk-in business at the police station is steady, officers say, and the door should be open.
Also, they say, eliminating a uniformed officer from the station will create staffing problems if someone is arrested and must be monitored in a holding cell.
For many years, the department has operated with three officers on each of three shifts. The new system — along with a new staff structure — would increase police officer presence on the streets and leave the station unattended at times.
Advertisement pushes vote
In a recent advertisement, and public statement, the union suggested that the matter be put to a vote.
"If the residents of Great Barrington conclude that moving the dispatch center would benefit the town, then officers would make a strong commitment to act in a professional manner in order to meet their objective," the union states in a Shopper's Guide advertisement.
The language in the advertisement rankled Selectman Ronald Dlugosz.
"They need to behave and act in a professional manner. They are town employees and have a responsibility to the town to act in a professional manner," he said last week.
Great Barrington Police Investigator Edward "Rocky" Scarbro has agreed to meet with the Selectmen at their next meeting Monday, Feb. 25, to address Dlugosz's concerns.
Last week, Scarbro reiterated past concerns about the department's staffing level, which he believes is inadequate with 11 uniformed officers. The department has in the past had 14 or 15 full-timers.
It relies heavily on its special police officers — part-timers who are not as trained as full-time officers — to round out shifts. He said some shifts have consisted entirely of special officers.
Scarbro said the town needs a minimum of 12 uniformed officers.
"I'm the oldest and most senior guy, and I wonder why I care so much," he said. "I worry about the guys' safety."
When police responded to a rape call on Railroad Street a few weeks ago, both responding officers were part-time police. Scarbro and Chief William R. Walsh Jr., who were off duty, responded to assist. A full-time officer was on the dispatch desk at the station.
Computer problems
Gauging the department's workload, however, has been an elusive task. Only now is the town replacing its older police computers, which did not give a detailed breakdown of police calls.
The new system will do so, he said.
However, the new system is not compatible with the Berkshire County Sheriff's Communications Center. Certain information gathered by the Pittsfield dispatch center will have to be manually entered into the police station computers, Scarbro said.
He predicted that the new dispatch system, combined with an inadequate staffing structure, will only lead to further problems.
Officer Paul Montgomery, another senior officer, said that closing the station and out-sourcing dispatch duties will cause a big disservice to the public.
People walk in at all hours for directions, police accident reports, to examine evidence, to apply for gun permits or to get away from a threatening situation.
"We defuse a lot of situations right here," Montgomery said.
