Commissioners, AFSCME agree to MOU for 911 dispatchers

SOMERSET ― Somerset County Commissioners have approved the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Memorandum of Understanding, adjusting the salaries for the AFSCME Professional 911 Communications officer position.

The new base rate is $18.75 an hour, 90% of base for those with 6 to 18 months of experience is $16.88 and 80% base from the start rate to six months is $15 an hour.

The current dispatchers will have their rates adjusted to the new rates with the exception of Tyler Revak and Craig Hollis-Nicholson, who shall each receive a $2.30 per hour increase. The communications officers will be making an annual salary between $27,066 to $46,852, based on the years of experience they have with the Somerset County 911 Center. The raise is an average increase of $4,700 for the dispatchers.

AFSCME represents clerical employees, cooks, Children & Youth Services caseworkers, 911 dispatchers, maintenance workers, sheriff's deputies and Area Agency on Aging care management and food and service operations staff members. The union negotiated a contract last year but worked with commissioners to provide for several memoranda of understandings (MOUs). An MOU is a formally signed agreement that addresses a significant issue (such as an increase in 911 dispatchers' salaries) that emerged during the term of the collective bargaining agreement.

Commissioners said the salaries now put Somerset County's 911 center at a higher salary rate than Bedford County's dispatchers receive.

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Training contractor

Over the past two months, the county lost not only its training officer but also its 911 director, when Troy Glotfelty resigned. The commissioners hired independent contractor, R. David Johnson, Stoystown, to train 911 dispatchers at a rate of $50 an hour for 19 hours a week. Johnson used to be employed at the Somerset County 911 Center.

Somerset County Treasurer Tony DeLuca asked the salary board if the commissioners were hiring a trainer for a union position.

"We don't have the ability to fill that so we hired an independent contractor," Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes said. "There is no one there to train the dispatchers."

She said one should consider the amount of training needed, which includes two years to train and at least six months to get the dispatcher up to speed. The 911 center has contractors who have been former employees.

"We are in a crisis situation. We are doing what we can do," Tokar-Ickes said.

Commissioner Gerald Walker said it helped to bring in Dave Fox and Rick Lohr, past 911 directors, to help until the county can get some dispatchers in place. He said those employees currently working in the dispatch center don't have time to train new members.

"It's critical to those positions to have training," Walker said. "They have to know Somerset County."

He said they will get the dispatch center problems fixed, but it will take time. "It's been the perfect storm here. We've lost too many with experience," Walker said.

Independent contractors get hourly rates, so they, rather than the county, have to pay the other costs involved with the job, Tokar-Ickes said. She said as more dispatchers are trained, the number of independent contractors will be reduced.

"The priority is getting a 911 director and get the positions trained and filled," Tokar-Ickes said. "Some left because of money. The majority left because they aged out."

Commissioners said several applications have been received for the position of 911 director and interviews will be starting next week.

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Dan "Dink" Dively, assistant chief of the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department, suggested Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Landis be the first choice for the county as the director.

"We asked and we were told no," Walker said.

Firefighter concerns

Roy Fetterman, deputy chief for Bakersville Volunteer Fire Department, and Dively, addressed the commissioners about concerns they have with emergency dispatch response times and the lack of experience the dispatchers have. They also say spotty radio service in the county is an issue.

"They are doing the absolute best job that they can do, but how long do we wait? Who is the director now?" Dively said. "You guys understand that we got a problem here? What are you doing to fix it?"

Talking after the board meeting, Walker told the firefighters they can call the 911 center and talk to him to get answers when there is a problem.

"We don't like calling up there and giving them heck," Dively said. "But dispatch is crucial. We have to be dispatched first."

Commissioner Colleen Dawson explained that dispatchers are in short supply and doing what they can with the limited experience they have.

"Please be patient with them. Help them," she said. "They don't know everything. There is always going to be things that happen that they won't be prepared for. It's stressful for them too."

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But, as Fetterman pointed out, they don't have that time at that point.

"If we're on the scene, we can't be patient," he said.

"Everyone knows they can call in and we'll get an answer," Walker said. "Please call. That helps us critique the calls. Give us your feedback and then we can discuss it with the dispatchers."

Dead zones in the county are another issue for firefighters.

Dawson said commissioners have committed funds to improve radio service in the county, but it takes time to get the equipment mainly because of supply chain issues.

Dively said the fire departments are still using the paging system for the primary dispatch.

"Sending texts is listed as the second way to notify us," he said. "Guys don't carry pagers. They're obsolete. Texts give us everything. Tells us everything we need to know."

Firefighters said the county fire chiefs' next meeting is next Tuesday and requested commissioners come to the meeting to talk about the issues the county's fire departments are having.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County Commissioners, AFSCME agree to MOU for 911 dispatchers