Greenfield considers reopening jail, rehiring dispatchers
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Greenfield City Council is considering reopening the city jail and "recalling" two dispatchers who were laid off last year due to budget constraints. However, some council members are uncertain if the city has enough finances for the rehires.
During her report to council during a June 1 meeting, Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop said she felt that opening the jail would be the best thing for the safety and security of the citizens of Greenfield.
"In our meeting with the finance committee (May 28) we recommended that we be allowed to keep the number of employees that we have in place now, recall two dispatchers and open the jail," Bishop said in her report. "Distribution of funds was also discussed and we feel that all can be accomplished within the present overall budget by moving funds. The finance committee has all of our recommendations to make this happen."
Council voted 4-1 to accept Bishop's report on the matter, with council member Harvey Everhart voting against it. Everhart said he was not certain that the city had the finances to reopen the jail.
Legislation would have to be brought before council to make the rehires happen, and Bishop said she will work toward that legislation.
Everhart asked Bishop if there had been "extended financial study," on the issue, and Bishop said there had. In reviewing budget numbers, Everhart said he did not see where the city had the funds to pay for things like insurance and benefits for the police officers.
Bishop also told council that exams are being scheduled to find a replacement for Greg Schottelkotte, a temporary police officer, who plans to retire effective June 5.
"Civil service tests have been scheduled for July 17, 2010, one for sergeant and one for patrolman," Bishop said in her report. "We have an officer in a contract position that I would like to move to the temporary position and appoint another man that is on the eligibility list to the contract position. This will deplete the eligibility list for patrolmen. Also we have another officer that has informed us of his retirement also, which necessitates the need for the sergeant's exam."
"(Greenfield financial officer) Karen (Daniels) assured me that was in there, for the second half of this year," Bishop said.
Everhart pointed out that the city is down $100,000 in income tax collections tha it was at this point last year. Bishop said that was true, however the city was ahead on the projected collections anticipated.
"We're looking at possibly $600,000 less in projections than we had last year," Everhart said.
"I think you, as an administrator, was financially conservatives," said Bishop, "and I applaud you for that. But we are a service industry" and she feels that some services have been sacrificed.
Bishop said that since she began working as city manager in December, the city has not spent more than it has taken in, and she felt that it was necessary to ensure the police protection of the citizens of Greenfield, and that if the city did not do that, it would be difficult to entice new businesses and new residents to the area.
Finance committee chairperson William Redenbaugh said looking at the finances, "it doesn't mean we can't afford it. It doesn't mean we don't need the services ... But I also remember a year and a half ago when we were down to $28,000 in the general fund. I don't ever want to be in that position again. Maybe I'm a little skinflinty. So be it."
Redenbaugh said the matter did warrant further study, and that the finance committee should be again as soon as possible.
A meeting has been scheduled for 10 a.m. June 10 at the Greenfield City Building.
Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester told The Highland County Press June 2 that he believes the citizens of Greenfield want the jail to be restored and want their phone calls to the department to be answered.
"The dispatchers were laid off in March 2009 and we were forced to shut down the dispatch center," Hester said. "They were cross-trained as jailers and they actually controlled the electronics and video surveillance and intercom system for the jail. Not having them at their post means we are not able to use the jail as it was meant to be used, as a 12-day holding facility."
The jail is now used as a temporary holding facility until inmates can be transfered to the Highland County Justice Center. However, Hester said that since the Highland County Sheriff's Office is dealing with budget cuts of their own and limiting the jail's capacity, many times people are released rather than incarcerated.
"Sheriff (Ron) Ward has gone out of his way to accommodate our department," Hester said. "But he is suffering cutbacks too and reduced the number of people he can hold at his facility. Oftentimes the jail is full and people who should be incarcerated, we have no place to hold them and they are ultimately released on a court summons. If it is a major offense where someone's life is in danger we do make accommodations, we will find somewhere to put them. But there are instances where normally we would lock a person up and we haven't been able to. And not having a dispatch center makes the operations of the department much more inefficient than we should be.
Hester said that many times when a person calls the Greenfield Police Department, no one answers the phone, and when officers return to the office, they will have five to a dozen messages to return. In 2009, the office received approximately 100,000 phone calls, he said.
"We don't feel we are providing the services that we should be," Hester said. "If it is an emergency, people can call 911 and an officer will be dispatched immediately. But not everything is an emergency. Officers will eventually return calls, but that could be up to an hour."
Additionally, the dispatchers/jailers are responsible for administrative work and paperwork, such as tracking and handling warrants and properly filing paperwork the department is required to keep.
"I think that when the citizens voted (in the May 4 primary) not to repeal the tax portion for the safety forces, I think that should be seen as an indication of what the citizens want. I think they want someone at the police department to answer the phones and they want the jail to be opened. I hope council listens to the citizens."
In other business, council:
• Heard during Bishop's report that a deal was finalized on purchasing a new dump truck for the water department, at a cost of $29,955.
• Welcomed Boy Scout Troop 390 to the meeting, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Scouts Joey Jones and Austin Richards.
• Heard Redenbaugh report on the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District board, regarding, budgets and the employee handbook.
• Heard the second reading of an ordinance providing benefits and overtime compensation for non-bargaining employees.
• Heard the first reading of an ordinance repealing and modifying the cemetery ordinance. After council questioned and held discussion on a portion of the legislation on the re-selling of cemetery plots, council voted to put the matter back into committee for further review.
• Voted 5-0 to approve a request by Brent Johnson to allow water and sewer taps into the city's system for apartment units just outside the city limits.
• Voted 5-0 to approve the following appointment: to the planning commission, Betty Bishop and Betty Jackman, Bo Narcross, Dick Counter and Mark Hunter. To the board of zoning and appeals: Kristi Nice, Steve Pearce, Cleve Bartley, and Todi Cunningham.
The next council meeting is scheduled for June 15 at 7:30 p.m.
The Greenfield City Council is considering reopening the city jail and "recalling" two dispatchers who were laid off last year due to budget constraints. However, some council members are uncertain if the city has enough finances for the rehires.
During her report to council during a June 1 meeting, Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop said she felt that opening the jail would be the best thing for the safety and security of the citizens of Greenfield.
"In our meeting with the finance committee (May 28) we recommended that we be allowed to keep the number of employees that we have in place now, recall two dispatchers and open the jail," Bishop said in her report. "Distribution of funds was also discussed and we feel that all can be accomplished within the present overall budget by moving funds. The finance committee has all of our recommendations to make this happen."
Council voted 4-1 to accept Bishop's report on the matter, with council member Harvey Everhart voting against it. Everhart said he was not certain that the city had the finances to reopen the jail.
Legislation would have to be brought before council to make the rehires happen, and Bishop said she will work toward that legislation.
Everhart asked Bishop if there had been "extended financial study," on the issue, and Bishop said there had. In reviewing budget numbers, Everhart said he did not see where the city had the funds to pay for things like insurance and benefits for the police officers.
Bishop also told council that exams are being scheduled to find a replacement for Greg Schottelkotte, a temporary police officer, who plans to retire effective June 5.
"Civil service tests have been scheduled for July 17, 2010, one for sergeant and one for patrolman," Bishop said in her report. "We have an officer in a contract position that I would like to move to the temporary position and appoint another man that is on the eligibility list to the contract position. This will deplete the eligibility list for patrolmen. Also we have another officer that has informed us of his retirement also, which necessitates the need for the sergeant's exam."
"(Greenfield financial officer) Karen (Daniels) assured me that was in there, for the second half of this year," Bishop said.
Everhart pointed out that the city is down $100,000 in income tax collections tha it was at this point last year. Bishop said that was true, however the city was ahead on the projected collections anticipated.
"We're looking at possibly $600,000 less in projections than we had last year," Everhart said.
"I think you, as an administrator, was financially conservatives," said Bishop, "and I applaud you for that. But we are a service industry" and she feels that some services have been sacrificed.
Bishop said that since she began working as city manager in December, the city has not spent more than it has taken in, and she felt that it was necessary to ensure the police protection of the citizens of Greenfield, and that if the city did not do that, it would be difficult to entice new businesses and new residents to the area.
Finance committee chairperson William Redenbaugh said looking at the finances, "it doesn't mean we can't afford it. It doesn't mean we don't need the services ... But I also remember a year and a half ago when we were down to $28,000 in the general fund. I don't ever want to be in that position again. Maybe I'm a little skinflinty. So be it."
Redenbaugh said the matter did warrant further study, and that the finance committee should be again as soon as possible.
A meeting has been scheduled for 10 a.m. June 10 at the Greenfield City Building.
Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester told The Highland County Press June 2 that he believes the citizens of Greenfield want the jail to be restored and want their phone calls to the department to be answered.
"The dispatchers were laid off in March 2009 and we were forced to shut down the dispatch center," Hester said. "They were cross-trained as jailers and they actually controlled the electronics and video surveillance and intercom system for the jail. Not having them at their post means we are not able to use the jail as it was meant to be used, as a 12-day holding facility."
The jail is now used as a temporary holding facility until inmates can be transfered to the Highland County Justice Center. However, Hester said that since the Highland County Sheriff's Office is dealing with budget cuts of their own and limiting the jail's capacity, many times people are released rather than incarcerated.
"Sheriff (Ron) Ward has gone out of his way to accommodate our department," Hester said. "But he is suffering cutbacks too and reduced the number of people he can hold at his facility. Oftentimes the jail is full and people who should be incarcerated, we have no place to hold them and they are ultimately released on a court summons. If it is a major offense where someone's life is in danger we do make accommodations, we will find somewhere to put them. But there are instances where normally we would lock a person up and we haven't been able to. And not having a dispatch center makes the operations of the department much more inefficient than we should be.
Hester said that many times when a person calls the Greenfield Police Department, no one answers the phone, and when officers return to the office, they will have five to a dozen messages to return. In 2009, the office received approximately 100,000 phone calls, he said.
"We don't feel we are providing the services that we should be," Hester said. "If it is an emergency, people can call 911 and an officer will be dispatched immediately. But not everything is an emergency. Officers will eventually return calls, but that could be up to an hour."
Additionally, the dispatchers/jailers are responsible for administrative work and paperwork, such as tracking and handling warrants and properly filing paperwork the department is required to keep.
"I think that when the citizens voted (in the May 4 primary) not to repeal the tax portion for the safety forces, I think that should be seen as an indication of what the citizens want. I think they want someone at the police department to answer the phones and they want the jail to be opened. I hope council listens to the citizens."
In other business, council:
• Heard during Bishop's report that a deal was finalized on purchasing a new dump truck for the water department, at a cost of $29,955.
• Welcomed Boy Scout Troop 390 to the meeting, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Scouts Joey Jones and Austin Richards.
• Heard Redenbaugh report on the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District board, regarding, budgets and the employee handbook.
• Heard the second reading of an ordinance providing benefits and overtime compensation for non-bargaining employees.
• Heard the first reading of an ordinance repealing and modifying the cemetery ordinance. After council questioned and held discussion on a portion of the legislation on the re-selling of cemetery plots, council voted to put the matter back into committee for further review.
• Voted 5-0 to approve a request by Brent Johnson to allow water and sewer taps into the city's system for apartment units just outside the city limits.
• Voted 5-0 to approve the following appointment: to the planning commission, Betty Bishop and Betty Jackman, Bo Narcross, Dick Counter and Mark Hunter. To the board of zoning and appeals: Kristi Nice, Steve Pearce, Cleve Bartley, and Todi Cunningham.
The next council meeting is scheduled for June 15 at 7:30 p.m.