Community Corner

Letter: Protest Proposal to Switch 911 Dispatch to County

Resident says politics, not public safety, behind idea to transfer dispatch functions to Somerset.

To the Editor:
 

As a taxpayer, homeowner and resident of Bridgewater I was deeply concerned with the township proposal to move police and fire communications to the county.  

I feel that the mayor is only presenting certain facts and throwing big numbers out there due to this being an election year. Let’s just look at the facts of the proposed savings, around $20.00 per household per year. This is insulting to the people at best. You are going to risk putting Bridgewater residents in danger for $20.00 savings per year. 

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It also was said that the township is going to have to buy new radio equipment for police, fire, and EMS; to my understanding this could cost up to $2 million, so in fact the savings are now cut in half. 

We all know despite what the county says there is no way they can provide this for free to our residents without a county tax increase. So this may end up costing us more than it does now.  Again another smoke and mirror fact that was brought up by Councilman Moench during the hearings. It seems that only Mr. Moench cares about public safety and brings out true facts.  

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Also in listening to the testimony of Chief Frank UR, Chief Charles Springer, and several police officers how this is a bad idea and could impact public safety if the county system goes down. Even Chief Richard Borden says operationally there is no reason for us to go to the county. I also would like to know which council member is going to tell someone’s significant other that one of the emergency responders were killed because of possible county radio overloading as stated by Chief Springer.

I am asking all Bridgewater residents to come out and protest this possible merger with the county at the next council meeting.  Please we need to stop this madness to satisfy someone’s political agenda. 

Kathleen Okuniewicz

Bridgewater


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