The Westfield Police Department's $250,000 mobile command center is in Summit today while the city deals with power outages.
Westfield taxpayers foot the bill for the vehicles purchase and use in the event a catastrophe hits or another town seeks assistance.
It seems that the mobile command center has been used more for out of town events and assistance than it's been used within town borders.
Still waiting for Mayor Skibitsky to put a price on the depreciation value of it's usage by other entities as well as the manpower costs assiciated with operating the unit out of town.
Whats a matter the county to busy chasing squirrels to send their command post there....what about Overlook Hospital dont they have equipment to help their own town.... Hope Perrotta wasnt driving
ReplyDeleteIt's called mutual aid - municipalities share resources and equipment all the time. I don't see you mentioning the fire department spending overtime money when they go mutual aid to other towns.
ReplyDeleteThe fire department is on duty when they respond to other towns for mutual aid. When Captain Chris Battiloro and Chief Dave Wayman select the chosen few to operate the mobile command center on weekends in other towns or to assist another town Monday thru Friday, it is at a cost to the taxpayer due to the need to hire overtime to staff the command center as well as officers working patrol on a daily basis. Still waiting for Mayor Skibitsky to prove otherwise
DeleteMutual Aid is one thing; showcasing the mobile command center at other non mutual aid events for the manufacturer (Power Innovations of Utah) is not "mutual aid." Nowhere in the bid specifications was "showcasing" the mobile command center, on behalf of the manufacturer, part of the sale price. Councilman Sam Della Fera congratulated and stated on the record at a town council meeting that Police Chief Dave Wayman got a great price on the unit because of his "negotiating skills" and an agreement to showcase the command center east of the Mississippi. Violation of state bidding laws?
DeleteYou failed to mention the overtime incurred for the firefighters the FD calls in to cover the missing firefighters going mutual aid. Sounds kinda the same to me.
DeleteNot the same when a neighboring town sends a crew to man the Westfield firehouse.
DeleteThat's when Westfield has a fire. I'm talking about when the FD send 1 engine out of town.
DeleteJust wondering.....when the MCC is dispatched to mutual aid to another jurisdiction does officers from Westfield who are certified to operate the MCC stay with 24/7 in order to ensure its safe and secure operation???????
ReplyDeleteThe mobile command center is owned by the Town of Westfield. It was purchased for use by the police dept., fire dept., and the Westfield rescue squad. It appears the last two were added to bolster its necessity yet as of this date, its unknown if any fire department or rescue squad personnel have been trained in its use.
DeleteWhen the MSOC is sent on mutual aid, Westfield officers assist other jurisdictions in its operation.
Based on past practices within the WPD I cant see the FD and WRS getting any training anytime soon.....and if they did I can just imagine the ciaos as to who gets to utilize it.........
ReplyDeleteGuess they will draw straws, or pick a card and high card wins.........or Dave will just say its his and take it.
DeleteNah, Wayman will play a game of Duck Duck Goose or Musical Chairs and the winner gets to command the command center. It's comical to sit here and watch the suck azzes position themselves only to be disappointed when they get nothing. Word to the rookies, get in good with the person you think is the next chief because it's only a matter of time before the almighty Zod is indicted.
DeleteDave play Duck Duck Goose??????Musical Chairs.......???????....Doubt it, he would shoot the Duck Duck Goose or trip the person heading to a chair.....he would cheat just like he did on those promotional exams.............
DeleteThis may be a silly question, but doesn't Union County also have mobile command centers? If so, why aren't they being sent 1st ?
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken the county's truck is antiquated and didn't function correctly the last time the county needed it.
DeleteHey I got an idea........why not keep a Westfield Leader in the glove box....this way when the Command Center is on its world tour Dave and Chris can snap a picture holding the Leader and email it to Horace so he can publish it..........
ReplyDeleteWPD called on the county for their truck when a student ran away from Lamberts Mill Academy last Spring I believe and for Whitney Houston's funeral. Feb 2012. Seemed to do fine for communications. I have no idea what capacity it has for power generation.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the big worry about power.......a majority of pd and fd have back up generation capabilities.....I am sure that Overlook does as well......with that being said and the invention of the cigarette lighter plug for cell phones I am sure the world will survive a while with no power.......
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