Source: Union-News (Springfield, MA)
Author: MIKE PLAISANCE
NORTHAMPTON, MA – The new regional dispatching center on Main Street has had some problems, but none has arisen during emergencies, the dispatch director said yesterday.
Cummington Police Chief Raymond L. Vandoloski said he has heard in listening to his police scanner that Cummington fire officials have trouble hearing Amherst dispatchers. But asked if he considers it a major problem, Vandoloski said, “It depends how much of an emergency it is. It can be a grave problem, it can be nothing.”
Dispatch Director Robert Chisholm said that Cummington’s position in the valley has presented a problem. The high terrain surrounding the town means radio signals cannot get through at times, he said.
But, in responding to reports that some hilltowns are concerned about sometimes poor communications, Chisholm said no problems have developed during emergencies and no hilltown officials have filed complaints.
Chisholm attributes some communications problems to new equipment not yet working at its best and occasional break-downs that occur in the radio link that runs from here to Northampton to Goshen.
The dispatch center has been located on the third floor of the police station on Main Street since the police moved to the new building Aug. 1. The center contains about $100,000 worth of state-of-the-art communications equipment, he said.
“As it is with any new facility, taking on new and expanded functions, there are going to be some problems. We’ve had some problems. None of those problems have impacted on any emergency activity and every one of the problems, as they are brought to our attention, (are) receiving our best efforts to resolve them,” he said.
Vandoloski said he realized Amherst officials were still getting used to new equipment.
“I’m sure they’re doing everything possible because they know how important the situation is in an emergency call situation,” he said.
G. Gilman Smith, deputy fire chief in Chesterfield, said he, too, has heard Cummington have problems communicating with Amherst as he listened to his scanner, but said he knows of no dispatch problems in Chesterfield.