- By Marcia E. Lynch
- News
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Emergency Response director Lee Shurtleff recommended that the County use a projected $2 million capital project fund balance to purchase a basic level of mobile radios, portable radios and control station equipment for fire, emergency medical service and law enforcement agencies which are part of the County’s mutual aid program. The agencies would be responsible for pagers for their personnel, any additional equipment desired, enhancements, and future maintenance and repair of portable radios. Anticipated agency cost under the program would exceed $800,000. Funding for the County’s portion, in part, would apply two $500,000 federal earmarks obtained by Representatives Sherwood Boehlert and Maurice Hinchey and another $80,000 in state member item funding for the project obtained by State Senator James Seward.
While the recommended approach would not replace every piece of equipment in current use, Shurtleff said it would assure that the system would immediately operate at a functional, equitable and effective level when it goes on line. Equipment, he said, would be standardized and under tight system control, eliminating current fragmentation, and agencies would be able to operate and communicate effectively with each other from day one, achieving federal interoperability standards.
County Administrator Steve Whicher praised director Shurtleff for his department’s excellent management of the communications system project, which was key to making the funds available for the subscriber equipment. He noted that cost overruns, which are very common in projects of this magnitude, were “virtually non-existent.”
The equipment recommendation is the product of many months of research and review by Emergency Response and county response agencies, through the county’s Emergency Communications Review and Oversight Committee. A number of agency representatives were on hand for the committee meeting today. Caroline Town Supervisor Don Barber, chair of the Tompkins County Council of Governments, communicated the Council’s support of the proposal, as did Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson, who thanked Shurtleff for his department’s work.
Questions to be resolved before the committee considers its formal recommendation next month include whether public funds legally can be used to purchase radio equipment for the privately owned Bangs Ambulance Service. Committee members also asked for clarification on equipment ownership, maintenance and replacement issues.
The committee expects to present a recommendation to the full Legislature at its May 15th meeting.
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