Bloomingdale residents question 911 merge plan with Addison
Roughly 85 Bloomingdale residents questioned officials or spoke out Wednesday against the village's plan to merge its 911 police dispatch with the Addison Police Department.
During a town-hall meeting, several officials explained why they believe the change is needed, even though six employees would lose their jobs. For more than two hours, officials fielded residents' questions on safety concerns, finances and possible alternatives.
Village President Bob Iden said the projected yearly savings of about $231,000 is only part of the motivation behind the plan.
“I would not jeopardize the safety of myself, my family or anyone else in the community if I didn't think this was the right thing to do,” he said. “I knew there would not be an influx of people tonight who say ‘I love this idea,' ... which is why I want to have open discussions of pros and cons.”
Officials said the merger would put one extra patrol officer on the street, and would put Bloomingdale ahead of the curve of municipalities around the country that are increasingly consolidating their 911 centers. Delores Temes, supervisor at Addison's dispatch center, said Bloomingdale residents are already operating on a consolidated system under the Bloomingdale Fire Protection District, which shares services with Itasca and Elk Grove Township. In addition, she said, all 911 calls made from cellphones in Bloomingdale are currently routed through the DuPage County Sheriff's Department.
“There is a national trend toward consolidation. It's coming,” said Linda Zerwin, DuPage Emergency Telephone System Board executive director. “The state of Illinois is pushing toward consolidation, so we can control it or wait for the Illinois General Assembly to tell us what we're going to do.”
But several residents, including Lucy Wilson, a member of a senior citizens advisory group for the Bloomingdale Police Department, spoke against the plan. She came armed with a petition with roughly 150 names opposing the merger.
“I have heard nothing that is positive about this program except dollars,” Wilson said, gaining claps from the audience. “We have very, very well-trained dispatchers here now. Why would we want to train new ones in Addison? To me that makes no sense.”
Resident Raymond Zisk also said consolidation would take away Bloomingdale's ability to manage dispatch costs and other decisions.
“We lose control,” he said.
Residents and leaders did agree, however, that Addison should try to absorb some of the laid-off workers if the merger occurs. They also agreed Bloomingdale's police department should remain open 24 hours per day, manned by a department assistant. Police Chief Frank Giammarese said he will advocate for both measures.
“As long as I'm the chief, I'm going to stand by that position,” he said.
Leaders have not announced a deadline to make a decision on the merger, but the Bloomingdale village board will ultimately make the decision during official meetings which happen Mondays at 7 p.m.