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LEICESTER, Mass. — Something needs to be done to address the dire state of the town's police department budget, Leicester town officials said at Wednesday night's budget forum.
The solution, they said, could mean joining Worcester's Regional Dispatch Center, a move that has generated some controversy.
"We simply do not have enough money left, and we cannot sustain the services that we're providing," said Leicester Police Chief Jim Hurley. "We need one of three things: to decide whether you want regional dispatch, to decide whether you want to spend more money on the department, or for us to lay off police officers — those are the choices."
In an effort to provide savings to the town, selectmen are continuing to explore the benefits of moving Leicester's police, fire and emergency medical dispatching services to the future Worcester's Regional Dispatch Center.
Should Leicester be one of the first two towns to sign an agreement to move forward with Worcester, a state grant would cover the cost and potentially result in a cost savings of $249,000, according to David Clemens, director of Worcester Emergency Communications.
Looking at the Leicester Police Department budget alone, Police Chief Jim Hurley estimated savings of about $128,000, which doesn't include benefits currently paid for by the town.
While ultimately the money would have to be allocated at town meeting, Selectman Doug Belanger said the board is committed to return the money to the chief's budget.
Yet residents have continued to raise concerns that the the change would effectively close the doors of Leicester's police station, as cost savings are dependent on not paying to have dispatchers staff the lobby.
As an alternative, Hurley said, residents in need of admittance to the station could contact the regional dispatch center through a phone outside the station door, where inside they could further communicate through a video conferencing monitor.
Hurley also said regionalization would result in a step backward in terms of prisoner lock-up, as it would require Leicester to contract out to surrounding agencies to transport prisoners to be held longer than four hours.
The department is also developing per diem jailer positions to help monitor prisoners locked up for less than four hours.
Though Belanger said there is no definite timeline on when the board would make a decision on regionalization or whether it would be before or after town meeting, selectmen will be discussing the issue again at their next meeting in March.
Comments (34)
There is no more money.
No more money from the state or Feds, not in any quantity that will be meaningful. No more money left in people's wallets.
The economy didn't grow in the last quarter of last year. Unemployment checks are shrinking. Fuel prices are going right back up.
And folks like Jim Gonyea come on here and say "let's open up higher taxes".
It must be great to either A) not have property to pay taxes on B) still have a great job with more than enough money to go around. Higher taxes mean only BAD things. People who are already barely making ends meet will be pushed further to the brink, or right over the edge, and into a state of insolvancy.
No one is saying that this solution, this regionalization, is perfect. Other towns aren't looking at this because they have a commercial tax base that is keeping their governments solvent. This town made it's decisions over the last three+ decades to act as an anti-business location. It's time to pay the piper and take our medicine.
And remember this next time we have the opportunity to support commercial/industrial growth in town.
No. What I wrote is that we need to have an adult conversation and the Board of Selectmen need to produce a proposal. Adult conversation has always been lacking on this topic.
Using my name in your comment and adding commentary that I did not write is not appropriate.
So Jim, they go for the override this year, what do we do next year to bridge the gap in funding? The State needs to replenish local aid to the cities and towns period!! The only people not affected in this recession are at Beacon Hill!
This is something I would expect to see answered by a proposal from the Board of Selectmen. It's also something I would expect to see come up with a discussion where people can debate it and get answers. Ultimately the people of Leicester have the final say in how we let lack of state or federal aid impact our community and what our response will be. We do have the power to control our own destiny.
This is part of the whole problem with Federal and State government. All the cities and towns get dependent on all the aid money and then when the crap hits the fan and the Feds and the State dries up and can no longer provide the funding, the crap rolls down hill from there. All this so called free cash to provide assistance just gives the cities and town the illusion that they can afford more than they could without relying on their own funding sources or coming up with additional funding mechanisms to be self supporting.
If the Fed and the States stopped all the assistance, maybe they wouldn't have to tax everyone so much which would leave more disposable income in everyone's pocket so the cities and towns could in turn ask for what they really need.
Also, if we stop giving the schools everything while the town sinks in the quicksand making cuts and getting no increases they might be able to afford some of these municipal and safety increases.
Maybe I missed it, but how much will it cost if the grant is no longer available?
Last fall Bob Reed said at a meeting to fix the dam at Waits Pond that grant money is drying up and getting harder and harder to get because of the economy. Know they are telling us don't worry, the grant will always be there. So which one do we believe?
This grant is funded differently than almost any other grant available for various projects. This is a dedicated funding source which every phone number pays approx. $.80 per month into the fund. This money is dedicated to funding 911 Projects and is done in every state in the country.
Massachusetts has one of the lower fees as many states are twice the amount charged in this state.
Grant funding for other projects come out of the State or Federal Budget and can change year to year.
I can't believe that anyone is that naive enough to think that any so called funding source provided by either the Feds or the State is guaranteed. As soon as the Feds or the State decide they are no longer going to champion this cause and something more important at the time comes along that needs that money, the rules will change and the so called dedicated funding of the 911 project will be renamed to the new cause.
It's pretty simple, there are no such thing as a guaranteed funding source when it comes to the Feds or the State. People who benefited from the Quinn Bill for many years finally saw that come to an end when the money was needed elsewhere.
This program is just wrong for our community and having the State back it with so called dedicated funding doesn't make it good or right for that matter.
It is well past time for Leicester to have an adult conversation and for the Board of Selectmen to bring forth a proposal for a Proposition 2 1/2 Override.
An adult conversation would consist of taking a serious look at what cuts the government needs to make, and what regionalization efforts can be made to save money in the long run.
Higher property taxes are only going to result in more people being forced into foreclosure, people defaulting on their tax bills, and our neighbors and families being forced out of their homes. There is NO MORE MONEY left. We've been bled dry.
One cannot get blood from a stone.
An adult conversation would have debate on all avenues. You don't choose your solution before having the conversation. You have the conversation and debate the options and then allow people to make an informed decision based on the options available. That's what I mean by an adult conversation.
It's time the schools starting taking a hit along with the rest of the town and share the burden. The schools have received a 1+ million dollar increase every year for the last 3 years while the towns budgets have stayed level funded resulting in cuts and cost saving measures to maintain even the currently level of funding. Enough is enough, everyone should have some skin in this game, including the schools.
As I recall, the schools received a grant or state funding of some sort, and then returned local dollars to the town's budget at the fall town meeting. I don't recall the particulars off of the top of my head.
That said, the schools need a cut. In the worst possible way.
I hear people crying about the idea of a teacher having 30 students in class. My first college class had 100 students in it. Really?
Last thing in the world the Chairman wants to happen.
Where is our State Rep on this issue? He and the rest of the gang at Beacon Hill are to blame for the position we are facing as a town. How long can you keep cutting local aid to subsidize their pet projects. John???
So let's say we try for a 2-1/2 override. First off it will not be "just" for money to save the Police Dept., it will have to be money to save many things in Town. My thinking is the number of dollars in an override question will be well in excess of $2 million dollars. I know many people that will not support an override. Last night we saw approx 1 percent of the voters in town at that meeting. At least 40 percent of those are not in favor of keeping the Dispatch in Town. Where are all these concerned people?
Not sure where you get the 40% that want to move the dispatch to Worcester. From what I have seen at the 2 meetings, I would say 85% do not want it. Even the majority of posts on here are not in favor of it. Also, I think they said the amount that we pay on for the 911 fees was 40 cents, not 80. When one twists the numbers to make their point, I do not listen to their points anymore.
I was off by $.05, the charge is $.75 on all phone lines.
Look at your phone bill.
Regardless of how many people you or I may or may not think to be in favor of a prop 2 1/5 override, it doesn't excuse the fact that the Selectman should be entertaining the idea and at least put it to a vote so all the department heads can officially know that the majority of the people truly don't want to belly up to the bar and approve additional funds for those departments.
We shouldn't make this into a guessing game, there is a lot at risk here and too much to lose if we assume an override will not pass. Frankly, I can't see why the chief and along with all the officers and support staff are even bothering to hang around and try to work under substandard conditions when they could be out looking for jobs in other communities where the working conditions could be much better. I'm not just talking about the Police Department, this goes for the Fire, DPW, and Town offices as well.
From what I see, these people have been pulling off nothing short of a miracle with the financial resources they have been given to work under. My hat is off to all these individuals that are making such a sacrifice to work these current conditions and stick it out on the residents behalf.
You'll have to ask the Chaiman of the Board about the override question.
Other members have tried to bring up a discussion to at least talk about it and the Chairman basically has shut them down.
I'd say it's time for a new Selectman and Chairman of the Board!!
The voters just re-elected him back in June, he's here until 2015
Being new to the town and just coming up-to-speed, that really sucks!!
smr3357, you hit the nail on the head when you said that it was a management decision, and they can do what they want, regardless of what most of the town wants.
They are elected to represent the people of the town, and it is clear that the majority of people do not want to join the Dispatch Center for a bunch of different reasons.
When the select woman, I think it was sandy Wilson, said about the question of a 21/2 over ride, that most people there last night would not vote for it, that told me that they are not listening to the people. When the over ride was brought up by residents at the last meeting, and again last night, everyone said they would be willing to look into it if it meant helping Chief Hurly. Sorry, to me that just tells me she is not listening to the people. Why go through this dog and pony show if you are going to do what you want. I am not even saying I am in favor of a 2 1/2 over ride, but at least put it on the table.
Leicester does not own the PSAP 911 phone consoles. They will go back to the State. Nothing else, not the radio consoles or the Dept. computers will go anywhere. This is a fact and not an opinion.
As far as the CPR, see the first comment from "Douggie".
Also if we did put the Dispatchers on the third floor in a Dispatch Center,
the Lobby would still be locked.
So you telling me the PSAP 911 phone consoles would cost the town $300,000 to replace or are you calling the chief a lair?
Just because the dispatch is on the third floor, doesn't mean they have to abandon the lobby. I'm sure they would fund a person to be present there while the building is occupied.
I have no idea what the price tag on the PSAP equipment would be, along with installation costs.
But I do know that the radio consoles and associated dispatch radios
are NOT going anywhere.
Then why can't we fund a person to man the lobby if the Dispatch Operation moves to Worcester?
Not calling anyone a liar, just a ton of inaccurate information out there.
I confirmed with the Chief that the Dispatch radios do not go but that's not the bulk of the cost of the dispatching expense. The PSAP system consists of not only the 911 phone lines but all the servers, software, recording equipment, huge UPS and server cabinet the bring-up, track, record, and archive all the 911 calls. Regardless, the price I mentioned is correct and the Town of Leicester should not leave itself exposed with no options and a huge expense if joining the Worcester Regional Dispatch with few or no options to change it's mind.
BTW, all the information I have listed is accurate.
The only equipment that will be removed is the 911 phone consoles.
None of the other "dispatch" equipment will go anywhere.
There is not enough room on the third floor of the Police Station to house
an effective Regional Dispatch Center.
The geographical location of the LPD is not favorable to house a Regional Center because of backup radio coverage. The Worcester Center will be located at approx 1000 ft elevation.
The Dispatcher on duty cannot provide CPR to anyone, they can't leave that room to go into the lobby.
The Chief didn't mention only 911 phone consoles but he did mention "ALL" dispatch equipment and that it would cost $300,000 to replace once the equipment was gone. I can't imagine the 911 phone consoles cost $300,000 by themselves. That kind of money was just spent to refit the whole dispatch center in the town of Holden new safety building that received all new equipment.
If there isn't enough room on the third floor, why would the Chief be entertaining the idea with other towns? Even if there isn't enough room, it sounds to me like there is plenty of grant money to expand if needed with two other towns signing on.
Not sure what your getting at with the fact that the Dispatcher on duty can't provide CPR to anyone. Neither can a regional dispatcher, so am I missing something here?
I don't think that Chief Jim Hurley is wrong as I don't think he personally supports joining the Worcester's Regional Dispatch Center. He is up against the wall with very few options and is only giving the people of Leicester all the options which pretty much boils down to either join the Worcester Regional Dispatch Center or supply him with more money to fund his department. BTW, he's only asking for about $150,000 to do this and I can't believe we are all wound-up over that amount of money.
Not sure how many people at last nights meeting picked up on this major tidbit of information the Chief mentioned. He indicated that if Leicester were to join, the state would remove and confiscate all the dispatch equipment currently installed at the Leicester Police Station. The states goal is to cripple any joining member of the Regional Dispatch Center, once they commit to joining, by confiscating their existing equipment so if they are later unhappy with the choice, they have little or no choice but to stay and try to negotiate palatable changes, find another regional dispatch center to join, or fork-up and additional $300,000.00 to refit the existing police station with new dispatching equipment. This should send up a huge red flag for everyone as the State has no intention of reusing this equipment and is only using it as a tactic to bully/force joining towns into staying in the regional dispatch to serve there own agenda of pushing regionalization of dispatch centers. So in reality, there would be no Plan-B to say if Leicester joins and then decides in the future their not happy.
All I see after attending last night meeting is a Worcester Police Dispatch that has an inadequate but functional dispatch center of their own and want's to use other towns that are in financial hardship to accomplish their goal of getting a fully updated dispatch center for virtually free at the expense of the other towns hardships.
In last nights meeting the Chief also mentioned that he has an unfinished top floor on the police station that could be used for it's own regional dispatch center but after asking other towns, the reply was basically if they were not the central building, they were not interested. Knowing this, I think we should turn this whole thing around on Worcester and ask them if they would like to join Leicester proposed Regional Dispatch Center and see what their response would be. I bet we can all guess what that would be.
I was reviewing the budget numbers over the last few years and it appears that all the town agencies have been level funded with the exception of the school budget. This means the towns have been cutting money from their budgets each year just to keep up with expenses to stay level funded while the schools keep getting more and more with the excuse that the children need it. I can't believe the residents of Leicester are willing to let town public safety and infrastructure crumble around them while the schools keep getting a million plus added to their budget every year. Pretty soon the the town won't be worth living in and the schools, good or bad, will be irrelevant at the rate we are going. It time the Leicester School system lived in the same reality of the town offices and use a budget that consists of what the State mandates is the minimum school spending as it appears the town has now such mandate from the state and is living well below one if one existed.
I would propose that each of the Department heads report the number of dollars needed to make them whole and that the appropriate number of Prop 2.5 override questions be put on a ballot and let the people decide which departments they want to fund through an override. Even if it totals 1 million, I can't believe the hit on the tax rate will even be noticeable on residents tax bills.
Once Leicester goes down this road, there is no turning or going back. This isn't like sharing a town planner or town engineer. We are talking about the towns public safety and critical infrastructure services here which IMHO is top on the priority list.
Keep in mind that joining Worcesters Regional Dispatch center will not go to town meeting vote or a ballot question. This is strictly a management decision the Selectman can make regardless of what the majority of the residents want so if you are against this course of action, you better make sure your voice is heard or you may be settling for what the bean counters decide is the fate of this issue.
Selectman only sees the short term benefit of joining Worcester's Regional Dispatch Center and not the long term ramifications.
Why is it that other towns are not interested in this Regional Dispatch Center?
What happens when the grant expires?
Those cost saving are gone and the town will be forking over a lot more than they are looking for now. It's time for Leicester to sell our Golf Course and that subsidize house that sits on the property and move forward on selling abandoned houses in Leicester.
I wouldn’t believe anything David Clemens, director of Worcester Emergency Communications has to say – I would believe his dispatchers but they have been barred from attending any of these open meeting – makes you wonder what he is hiding?
Chief Jim Hurley has it wrong!
Any selectman voting for this measure will surely lose my support and vote come election time!
I'm sure the dispatchers would be able to administer life saving aid such as CPR through a video monitor.