SALEM Committee votes against plan for 911

A lawmaker wondered why dispatchers would demand more pay.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- As things stand, the city will not serve as an answering point for 911 calls, even if voters approve funding for a new and improved 911 system in next month's general election.
After previously expressing concern that having Salem dispatchers answer 911 calls would increase the city's dispatching cost, city council, meeting as a committee of the whole, voted 4-3 Monday against the answering-point proposal. The proposal was part of a plan for the improved 911 system being devised.
Council is likely to revisit the issue after the election, when it will be clearer whether the improved 911 system will become a reality, said Councilwoman Nancy Cope, R-at large.
Salem's not being a 911 answering point would mean a few-seconds delay in handling 911 calls originating in the city or Perry Township. Calls would be routed first to the county sheriff's department and then to the city.
The committee voted to support an issue on the November ballot calling for a 50-cent monthly surcharge on commercial and residential telephone lines to help pay for an improved 911 system.
The county already has a basic 911 system, but it is one of only a few counties in the state that lacks an improved system that uses a database to instantly provide emergency personnel with key information about the location from which an emergency call is based, such as the address.
If the surcharge fails on the ballot next month, the improved 911 system will not be implemented.
County Commissioner Gary Williams, a 911 planner, attended the meeting and assured council that being an answering point would not increase the city's dispatching cost.
East Liverpool and East Palestine have agreed to be answering points, and Columbiana is expected to agree.
Dispatchers
Jim Cardelein, a county resident and manager of Beaver Township's 911 answering point in Mahoning County, said dispatchers would handle the same type and number of emergencies they handle now.
Police Chief Michael Weitz expressed concern that if Salem's part-time dispatchers, who earn $9.65 an hour, were required to handle 911 calls, they would demand more pay.
Councilman Fred Vogel, R-at large, who voted for Salem to be an answering point, expressed skepticism at that reasoning. Dispatchers wouldn't be doing anything different, he said.