Politics & Government
County Continues Updates to 911 Communication Center
Bernards Township has been relying on county 911 services since June.
Somerset County has taken steps to expand its 911 Communications Center, a service that has — among other municipalities — been serving Bernards Township since June.
Chief William Stahl, director of the county’s Department of Public Health & Safety and the 911 Communications Center supervisor and deputy Emergency Management coordinator, noted that six additional dispatch consoles have already been installed and are operational at the facility at 40 North Bridge in Somerville.
Because they, like much of the other new equipment in the facility, are software-driven, there is a need to upgrade the HVAC system. As a result, the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders awarded a $114,547 contract Tuesday night to Hatch Mott MacDonald of Millburn for engineering design services to accommodate the expansion/HVAC update.
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Somerset County is in the midst of reviewing the possibility of creating a regionalized police force; several task forces are slated to report to the Somerset County Prosecutor by the end of the year. Regionalization, if ultimately approved, is expected to require additional expansion at the 911 Communications Center.
“Before we go any further,” Stahl said, “we need to take care of the HVAC issues.”
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Hatch Mott MacDonald will evaluate the current HVAC system and make recommendations as to how to proceed. The firm is also expected to work on any design for potential further expansion.
The North Bridge Street facility has been housing the 911 Communications Center since it was re-dedicated in 1995.
“Since that time, the lower level has seen some expansion with other divisions of the department that have come into play,” Stahl pointed out, adding additional stress to the HVAC system.
Stahl also noted that, with the expansion of the 911 Communications Center, the county will be in need of additional dispatchers and will run another dispatch test in late July.
Bernards Township Administrator Bruce McArthur said last month that the county had started handling Bernards' 911 services.
