Roswell council ratifies $345,858 contract to cover emergency dispatch shortages

The Roswell City Council ratified a $345,858.13 purchase order on June 12 to pay a vendor supplying certified temporary dispatchers as the city works to recruit and train permanent staff.

City officials told council members the consolidated dispatch center has faced long-term staffing shortages and high turnover that left multiple shifts unfilled. Staff requested ratification of purchase order 22501835 and a December budget adjustment previously approved under Resolution 24-56 to fully fund the contract extension.

Staff said a sole‑source agreement with a vendor called Rescue 911 (branded in materials as Fort Kent Rescue 911) supplied certified emergency telecommunicators after local temporary agencies could not produce candidates with state dispatch certification. The contract covers 960 contractor hours over six months and includes an earlier change order of $66,858.13 to address additional shortfalls.

“We've been pretty short in dispatch for quite some time,” a staff member presenting the request said during the meeting. City officials said some recruits wash out during training and one full-time dispatcher transferred to field EMS, increasing reliance on contractors.

Councilors asked for details about vacancies, recruitment and pay. Staff reported 23 listed positions in the consolidated dispatch staffing table, 12 of which are classified as emergency communications dispatchers; three of those dispatcher positions were shown as vacant at the time of the presentation. The city said it had hired five recruits who will require up to about nine months of training and state certification before they can work the console independently.

Council members pressed on costs and labor practice concerns. The vendor hourly rates are higher than city pay for comparable positions; overtime and holiday premium pay for contractors is billed at higher rates. Staff said the contractor workers do not receive city benefits and that a noncompete clause prevents the vendor from recruiting the city’s staff.

Councilor Korn and other members emphasized the long-term nature of the vacancy problem and urged a comprehensive review of salaries, hiring practices and local recruitment pipelines. Staff said plans are underway to expand outreach, create a telecommunicator pathway at local high schools and revise the city pay structure to be more competitive with surrounding jurisdictions.

The council approved the ratification motion on a roll call vote. Supporters said the contract preserves continuous 911 service while the city works to replace contractors with certified permanent staff as recruits complete academy training.

City staff said they expect additional staffing needs into the new fiscal year and have asked for a separate extension request to continue contractor support beyond the current six‑month period if recruits are not yet certified.