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Hubbard council directs staff to pursue Newcom dispatch and radio options citing safety and cost savings
Summary
City Administrator Sean Wade reported current radios are unreliable and posed a safety concern; after reviewing quotes, council authorized staff to negotiate with Newcom, discuss transition with Metcom, and obtain detailed cost estimates for dispatch services and radios.
City Administrator Sean Wade outlined staff research on alternatives to the city's current dispatch and radio service and recommended pursuing negotiations with Newcom.
Wade told the council staff contacted Clackamas County Communications (no capacity), Willamette Valley Communication Center (estimate not scaled to Hubbard), and Newcom (which provided a quote slightly below the current Metcom rate). He said, "The radios are not reliable and create a safety issue for officers when out in the field, and the dispatcher cannot understand or copy what the officer is saying." Wade recommended council authorize staff to negotiate with Newcom, discuss a transition plan with Metcom and produce detailed cost estimates for dispatch services and radios.
Councilors who had done ride-alongs or reviewed the report supported pursuing Newcom, citing both improved service quality and potential cost savings. Council moved, seconded and unanimously approved authorization for staff to continue discussions with Newcom and to return with cost details.
Council members emphasized that any change must avoid interruption to emergency services during transition.
