Ridgewood officials to discuss upgrades to communications systems
TUESDAY JULY 31, 2012, 1:28 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Hoping to meet a federal mandate, the Village Council is scheduled to discuss at Wednesday’s work session the potential upgrades to communication systems used by Ridgewood’s emergency services.
A current radio used by the Ridgewood Office of Emergency Management.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requiring that all public safety radio systems operate using at least 12.5 kHz efficiency technology, otherwise known as narrowbanding. The FCC established a Jan. 1, 2013 compliance deadline, although at least one U.S. congressman, including Rep. Steve Rothman, is pushing for an extension to 2015.
Earlier this month, council members opened the discussion about the costs and feasibility of transitioning to a narrowband system from the current analog system. The governing body, however, was hesitant to act following a presentation by the village’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
According to Kevin Scarpa, technology officer at the Ridgewood OEM, the total cost to replace the existing analog system with a digital and analog mixed mode system, as well as perform a “major system coverage overhaul” and other tasks, would run in excess of $1.5 million. That sum, which Scarpa provided to the council during July’s work session meeting, did not include federal grant money that will help pay for “80 to 90 percent” of the total bill.
this is all bull shit.the old raidos work great.this is about big bro on your shoulder. can you say the new world order. aka nazi’s.
Why are we planning to buy the most expensive fillet mignon when our current budget dictates high quality ground beef?
That’s because a few well connected in the higher ups ( Police,Fire EMS) want it and they don”t care how they spend taxpayers money because they don’t live in Ridgewood. Watch for the buss phrase. ( Its about safety) Just like the BOED ( its for the Kids)
Is the federal grant money in hand, or is that just someone’s pipe dream?
Lets see how the Mayor handles this. Is he going save the taxpayers or take care of his union buddies.
How right you are #3. Police chief, fire chief, EMS-emergency services chief, and director of central dispatch all live in other towns.
to # 5 what are you a jerk off or what.this is not about union’s. it’s about raido and safety . right a way you think the mayor is in all the union’s right hand.if that is so true then the union workers will get a nice big fat raise like the village manger got hummm, he got 12% last year.and to number # he is not in the union.
it sounds that number five is an old some one from the council, well this some one is not that clever.
There’s that buzz word ” safety” Told you. Sound like the ex fire chief is writing in. Or is it the sprinkler guy.