07/11/2022 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Special Council Minutes of 07 05-2022 Mayor Jones asked Council President Brossard if the Police Chief and Fire Chief could address Council in response to some of the comments. Chief Wagner North Olmsted Police Department Wanted to speak to some points of misinformation out in the public. Chief Wagner noted that this has not been a rushed issue, that discussions about this matter have been ongoing for years with the previous and current Administrations. Noted that he cares very deeply for the future of the City, his officers, and his dispatchers. Continued on to state that we cannot recreate what Chagrin Valley has. here in North Olmsted and it would be a very bad business decision. Noted the station is unmanned at Westcom at night and added that Chagrin Valley did not do anything wrong in the death of the man brought up earlier. In his professional opinion he feels that Chagrin Valley is the best place to move North Olmsted into the future. Chief Shlapack North Olmsted Fire Department Chief stated some of the comments have been right -on and others have been put out there to serve a specific narrative. The notion that the citizens will be less safe is not true, based on what Director DiCicco has promised. Noted that there are many other regional dispatch centers across the state and they work. Chief Shlapack stated there is no reason to believe that there will be slower response times, believes people are complacent and don't like change, and are just happy with things as status quo. Additionally, in response to the comments that the dispatchers don't know the community, he noted that the current roster at the fire department contains firefighters from all over and they are trained to know the community. Chief stated the current North Olmsted dispatch set-up does not meet the current National Fire Protection Association standards, but CVD does.. and further noting that North Olmsted only received 7 points out of 20 points for 'call processing time'. Stands with the Police Chief in support of change Marilee Stang 4054 Clague Road Asked Council that if things are just status -quo, why not provide more training to the dispatchers. Beth Vance 4561 Broadale Cleveland. OH Dispatched for police and fire for 33 years. Opposes what Chief Shlapack stated about status - quo and thinks having a new dispatcher every day is not safe for anyone. Stated that the Fire Chief does not know what goes on in dispatch. Pam Foster 23381 Marion Road Noted that she became a widow for the second time on January 25'^, 2022, and was so thankful for the dispatcher being so kind and helpful. Ms. Foster asked if the new dispatchers would be able to help someone like her through a situation like that.