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Milford dispatch installs third radio console, hires part-time dispatcher; electricity bills spike
Summary
Officials reported installation of a third radio console and new workstations, ongoing mobile radio delivery and training of a newly hired part-time dispatcher. Finance updates showed higher-than-normal winter electric bills and a $4,500 surplus transaction noted in minutes.
Milford-area dispatch officials reported Feb. 12 that a third radio console installation is complete, new workstations are in service and a part-time dispatcher hired in January is progressing through training. Officials also flagged higher-than-normal winter electric bills for Milford Town Hall.
"We were able to get the third radio console installation complete. Waiting on the invoice still for that project to pay it out, but it's complete. We're still waiting for the mobile radio to come in, and then that will have to get installed," Chief Steve Olsen said during the meeting. He added that the new workstations installed last Thursday are up and running.
Staffing remains a challenge: the department hired a part-time dispatcher in January who is nearly at second-chair training level, but part-time availability has made coverage of some shifts difficult. "Part-time availability is difficult," a meeting speaker said; officials described how the shift design aims to add staffing without overburdening full-time personnel if a part-timer is unexpectedly unavailable.
IT issues included an alias-database password that is not available for the third operating position, leaving the third console showing data but not fully updated to match the primary workstations. Officials said they can view the alias data on the two primary workstations and are trying to recover the missing password to synchronize systems.
On finances, meeting participants noted higher electric costs during the recent cold months: typical cold-weather months had expenses of about $600–$650, while recent bills reached roughly $800 for December and January usage. Minutes also recorded a surplus-check transaction: $4,500 was used for "custom trees" tied to a federal loan (minutes text), which the committee said is noted in the financials. The town expects most other annual expenses — liability insurance, workers' compensation and similar fees — to be one-time charges already reflected in the expenditure report; one remaining one-time expense is the IT contract line item, which had not yet been expended.
The committee set the next meeting for March 12 at 2 p.m. and adjourned after hearing no public comment.
Personnel and equipment updates will proceed while the CAD grant and longer-term procurement are pursued separately, officials said.
