911 director warns cutting trainee positions will erode hiring pipeline

Bobby Brower, Director of Central Communications, said the mayor’s budget reduces two dispatcher trainee positions, a move he said would "severely limits our, hiring pipeline." He described mandatory overtime pressures and predicted a shortfall if trainee positions are removed, citing one vacancy that originated from an internal promotion last year and an external posting that was frozen by the mayor’s directive.

Brower said the department’s primary budget increases are contractual—tower leasing costs for the public-safety radio network and a Motorola maintenance agreement that provides 24/7 monitoring and advanced replacement parts. He noted the department receives revenue from the State through multi-town E911 funding, an interlocal dispatch agreement with Portland, and lease income from Verizon for tower space at the Cross Street Fire Station. Brower said total department salary lines account for the major share of his $3 million budget and that programmatic services such as Emergency Medical Dispatch and voice-recording retention are required operating costs.

Council members asked about projected overtime (Brower said the department averages roughly $6,000 a week and expects a $75,000 shortfall) and about filling trainee vacancies; Brower said losing trainee positions would push back hiring and increase overtime obligations. No formal action was taken at the workshop; councilors asked for further detail on overtime and contractual escalation.