The Boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor will launch a new shared services agreement in 2014 that will result in Avalon providing police and emergency dispatching services for both communities. The agreement also involves the county of Cape May’s dispatch service that will handle fire and emergency medical services telephone calls. The new agreement will provide the public with a superior level of dispatching services while saving taxpayers in both communities over $1 million in various dispatching expenses.
“This shared services agreement took a tremendous amount of effort by elected and appointed officials in Avalon and Stone Harbor and it truly makes sense for both communities”, said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “Residents will get the high level of professional dispatch services that they expect while at the same time both communities save significant revenue”.
“We are very pleased to provide this uniform dispatch service to our residents”, said Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters. “The public will notice no change in the high level of dispatching that they are accustomed to and both communities share another service that reflects the state’s desire to share services and provide tax relief to its citizens”.
The new agreement is a three-year contract and transfers Stone Harbor’s dispatch services to the Borough of Avalon. Dispatchers will be situated at the Avalon Public Safety Building at 3000 Dune Drive in Avalon. Under terms of the agreement, fire and emergency medical services calls will be handled by Cape May County dispatchers. This provides a higher level of service to Avalon and Stone Harbor since all fire call incidents will be handled by a dedicated dispatcher who is specifically trained in fire communications.
The Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders provided positive feedback during its caucus meeting held on Tuesday, November 12th; final approvals are expected in the coming weeks from the Freeholder board, the Avalon Borough Council and the Stone Harbor Borough Council.
Under terms of the agreement, Stone Harbor will pay Avalon $275,000 for dispatching services in 2014, with a two percent annual increase in payments in 2015 and 2016. In 2014 alone, Stone Harbor is expected to save $181,975 in dispatching expenses, while Avalon is expected to save $180,617 in dispatching expenses. Avalon will assume all of the day to day expenses of dispatching services for both communities including administrative costs, salaries and benefits, facility and equipment costs, and liability insurance.
Residents and visitors in both communities still call 9-1-1 for any emergency they may have. Stone Harbor residents continue to call (609) 368-2111 for non-emergency matters; Avalon residents continue to call (609) 967-3411 for non-emergencies.
