Bloomingdale continues talks toward 911 consolidation

Bloomingdale officials continued discussions Monday about consolidating the village’s 911 dispatch with the Addison Police Department.

Trustees and staff reviewed the latest draft of an intergovernmental agreement with Addison, which would shut down Bloomingdale’s dispatch center in an effort to save roughly $231,000 per year.

The idea has come under fire with residents in recent months, who said during a March town hall meeting they fear Addison dispatchers won’t be familiar with Bloomingdale’s geography. Residents also said they want to minimize layoffs.

Village Administrator Martin Bourke said Bloomingdale police would continue to answer nonemergency calls under the current agreement. And police Chief Frank Giammarese said four staff members and one supervisor have also started the interview process for a new job with Addison, while one employee rejected the idea of working there.

Six total employees would lose their jobs if Addison consolidates.

“We haven’t pressed the point (to include hiring) in the contract, because Addison has been nothing but cooperative so far,” Bourke said.

Trustees and staff also discussed other questions about the potential contract, including whether other municipalities could be added to Addison’s dispatch center in the future. Addison is already operating Bensenville’s dispatch center and Bloomingdale would be the third.

Bourke said all three municipalities must agree before a new town can join.

Bloomingdale officials have been discussing the 911 consolidation since October, but, by December, residents raised their concerns. Since then, village officials have been working to address their worries and held a town-hall meeting on the issue last month.

Bloomingdale Village President Bob Iden said the village will continue to be considerate of residents, and the issue may come up at next Monday’s village board meeting.

“We will continue to welcome comments as this moves forward and we want to have an open dialogue,” Iden said. “I’m not saying we have to do this tomorrow, but we have to keep it moving.”