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Council President Scott stated we should move to personnel costs. This was sold to us as a <br />savings because we could save money by consolidating personnel. The original agreement was <br />fifty -seven (57) people and that it would not be a part of our employee count. <br />Mr. Agostino stated he would say none of the people here were marketing it that way. The total <br />number of people estimated to support this combined 911 Center was totally underestimated, <br />whether it was deliberate or not who knows. There were issues with the way it was determined <br />how many dispatch officers were needed at each time and the process used lead to positions <br />being shorted. That problem repeated itself in multiple areas. When a recommendation was made <br />by a consultant hired by DLZ on staffing levels, it was probably eighteen (18) people short to <br />begin with. It is illogical to think we could do those call volumes with eighteen (18) less people. <br />Had we seen that on paper to begin with, someone would say no this doesn't make sense. You <br />had the same call volume with eighteen (18) less people. In fact our call volume has gone up a <br />bit. <br />County Council President Morton asked if it was DLZ's opinion given to the former director Mr. <br />Gears. <br />Mr. Agostino responded this was given to Mr. Gears. Mr. Gears did help come up with the <br />number but then also committed to it and doubled down on it which he shouldn't have. Mr. <br />Agostino stated he would be a witness that Mr. Gears was told by several Operation Board <br />Members that there is no way this amount of staff will cover the need. <br />Vice Committee Chair White stated when this was first was presented to the Council we had a <br />concern with the issue of staffing. We asked multiple times to make sure it was realistic. <br />Mr. Agostino stated from his standpoint, he was asked to get involved with the County on the <br />personnel side, because the belief was we were going to have to let go of twenty (20) plus <br />dispatchers from the combination and that was going to be an issue. He stated he went to each <br />entity and said let's make sure we get the right numbers. When we got done with that number, <br />we were looking at one and a half (1 '' /z) dispatchers more than the minimal numbers that were <br />given to us. Before we started combining, we were already short the people. We didn't have to <br />terminate anyone to fit the center. By the time we actually got combined, we were already short <br />about six (6) people right at the start. This is a story that maybe hasn't been told to you but it is <br />the reality. It is frustrating because now we are trying to staff appropriately, getting beat up on <br />overtime with the current staff because we have to do the coverage. That is the background on <br />personnel. <br />Chief Cox stated even in the meetings they have had, some of the numbers become skewed <br />because folks are talking about the total amount of people initially budgeted for PSAP versus the <br />amount of dispatchers. Those numbers are different. You had admin staff plus dispatchers. The <br />amount of dispatchers is what we are talking about here. Initially that number was fifty -seven <br />(57), and the Operations Board explained over and over again that it was an inadequate amount <br />of dispatchers for the call volume associated for the whole County in several meetings. Mr. <br />Gears doubled down on that number though. <br />