by Jeff Saunders
Reporter
Nordonia Hills -- Macedonia will handle dispatch services for the village, taking over a job done by Sagamore Hills for about 30 years.
Village Council unanimously approved a three-year contract, effective Jan. 1, with the city Dec. 10 and City Council gave its approval the following day.
City Council also unanimously approved a new three-year dispatch contract with Boston Heights.
Northfield Village Mayor Victor Milani said the village entered into negotiations with the city after it was unable to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement with the township in November.
Sagamore Hills' final offer was a one-year contract for $65,000. The village's contract with the city would cost $64,000. Sagamore Hills Trustee James Hunt said in late November that the loss of the village will not lead to staff or service reductions in the township's dispatch center. Township Police Chief David Hayes said the center's operating budget this year will be about $255,000.
Milani said the village rejected the township's offer and began negotiating with the city in November in large part because it was only a one-year deal and he wanted a longer commitment.
The contract would require the village to pay the city a base amount of $50,000. An additional $2.40 per-call fee would be capped at $14,000 for 2009. The base rate would increase 5 percent annually and the cap would be eliminated in subsequent years.
The village averages about 16 calls per day, according to village officials.
City Police Chief Jon Golden said the additional revenue from the contract will be used to hire a much-needed seventh full-time dispatcher next year. He added, however, that staffing could still be tight due to vacations and potential medical leaves.
"All I can say is, let's see how it goes," he said.
Village Councilor Beatrice Greenlee said village residents are concerned about how the change will impact police and fire dispatching for the village.
"Between our mayor, police chief and fire chief, the village will always be protected," she said.
City Finance Director Steve Brunot said that the new contract is expected to generate about $1,000 less for the city next year than in 2008.
"I'm happy to be associated with Macedonia," said Milani. "I've always had great rapport with Mayor [Don] Kuchta and his administration."
Kuchta said he was also pleased.
"It's going to be great working with you guys," he told Milani and Village Police and Fire Chiefs Mark Wentz and Gary Vojtush, who attended the City Council meeting.
The terms of the city's new contract with Boston Heights are similar to that of Northfield Village, except the $50,000 base cost for 2009 increases 3 percent in each of the two subsequent years.
"The anticipation is that it will produce the same amount of money. It's just a different rate structure," said City Council President Dave Engle.
According to city finance department information, the city is estimating it will receive about $77,000 from Boston Heights in 2008. Village Mayor Bill Goncy said the village averages about 26 calls per day.
Goncy said Dec. 15 that he expected Village Council to discuss the new contract at its finance committee meeting the next day, but Council would not vote on it until its Jan. 13 meeting.
"I'm assuming that it will be approved," he said. "I think it's a fair contract. As far as I know, there haven't been any complaints about the dispatching."
In the meantime, Goncy said the old contract, which automatically renews each year unless both communities approve changes, will remain in effect.
E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com
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