South Hadley moves toward regionalizing with Westfield’s dispatch center

Police Chief Jennifer Gundersen (left) and Assistant Town Administrator Chuck Romboletti (right) talk to the Selectboard about two agreements that will transition South Hadley to a regional dispatch center.
Photo credit: SHCTV15

SOUTH HADLEY — The town of South Hadley signed a regional dispatch agreement with Westfield following a Selectboard vote on April 7.

South Hadley Police Chief Jennifer Gundersen and Assistant Town Administrator Chuck Romboletti joined the meeting to talk about the memorandum of agreement and intermunicipal agreement, the two documents that the board passed to regionalize the town’s dispatch.

The MOA is between the town of South Hadley and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local #1033 Units A and B, relative to impacts related to the regionalization of emergency dispatch operations.

South Hadley currently employs five full-time and two part-time dispatchers at a cost of $334,000 in fiscal year 2026.

With the MOA approved, it states that “effective upon the closure of the Town’s Emergency Dispatch Operations Center and the transition of dispatch services to the Westfield Public Safety Communications Center (or other designated regional dispatch center), the parties agree that the Town’s Dispatcher positions will be eliminated and the employment of individuals serving in those positions will end by layoff as of the official closure date.” No closure date was specified in the document.

Romboletti highlighted that employees seeking assistance with transition planning or job placement may contact Human Resources to get information regarding application opportunities and process with the regional dispatch center; referrals to MassHire or other transitional career services; and information regarding any available town of South Hadley vacancies and the town’s application process.

“We met with the union a few times, provided information, and we’re able to come to an agreement that we think will retain some staff and help in transition,” Romboletti stated.

The Selectboard unanimously approved the MOA.

The IMA is between the city of Westfield, the town of South Hadley, Fire District No. 1 and South Hadley Fire District No. 2. South Hadley said it wants to regionalize its dispatch because the state is incentivizing this route for many communities. Presenters at the meeting said service improvements such as consistency, technology, certification, coordination and cost savings are reasons for regionalizing.

According to the agreement, South Hadley, Fire District No. 1 and South Hadley Fire District No. 2 will be responsible for their portion of operating costs at the dispatch center. The total amount due from South Hadley fire districts to Westfield will be offset by a Transition Expense Award as part of the Development Grant program from the State 911 Department. The agreement states that South Hadley will remit to the dispatch center $130,000. Fire District No. 1 will remit to the center $50,000 and South Hadley Fire District No. 2 will pay $20,000 for the first year.

According to the IMA, a 911 grant will cover 100% of the costs for the first three years, 50% for year four and 25% for year five. In year four, South Hadley and the fire districts will pay 50% of the $200,000 contract, then 75% in the fifth year. Town Administrator Lisa Wong said the town would save an initial $300,000 annually with the grant.

Gundersen stated that the town administrator, assistant town administrator and town counsel have been working on the document for “about a month.” It went through a few drafts to determine how South Hadley’s fire districts would factor into the dispatch.

The Selectboard approved the IMA on April 7, and District 1 signed off on it the same day. District 2 signed the document on April 9, and it was sent to Westfield for signatures.

“This IMA is an important component for a couple of reasons. One is that once this IMA is signed, Westfield can submit their grant that is going to fund this regionalization project to the 911 center,” Gundersen stated.

Gundersen explained that Westfield is looking for this IMA because they’re looking to hire more dispatchers. “Hopefully, some of ours, to build up their staff. They’re looking to send their dispatchers here to have them start training in earnest. That IMA is a commitment on both sides that this is going to happen,” she stated.

Gundersen mentioned that the South Hadley dispatch center is currently dealing with staffing shortages. Currently, the overnight shift is not covered by a 911 dispatcher. South Hadley is using police officers.

They have also hired three Westfield dispatchers to come to the town to serve as part-time per diem employees. “While I wish that we had the continuation of our own employees, this is the second-best thing because it is preparing Westfield for South Hadley joining them, and it’s preparing the South Hadley first responders to be hearing how Westfield does business,” Gundersen stated.

Gundersen said that she and the two fire chiefs will host office hours soon at the Senior Center and library “over the next month or so,” to answer any questions about this transition.