Consolidation discussion

The city will move forward with a process to consider consolidation of dispatching services.

Portland City Council voted unanimously to move forward with a process to explore consolidating the dispatching of emergency responders.

The decision followed a presentation from Barry Ritter of public safety consulting firm Ritter Strategic Services, who has worked with the county on upgrading its emergency radio system. A former Richmond police officer, he said he is a proponent of consolidation but added that he recognizes there are local officials who are against it.

Ritter emphasized that the main reason for consolidating — it would shift all dispatching to Jay County 911 — should be to improve public safety rather than to save money, though there may be cost savings involved in the form of personnel and equipment.

Providing statistics, he said Jay County 911, which is operated at Jay County Sheriff’s Office, had taken 5,200 911 calls as of mid-November. Over that time, 911 calls forwarded to city police dispatch totaled 293. He said that number has dropped to nearly zero in the last few months, as he advised the county that making those transfers is a liability. (He pointed out that Portland dispatch does not have the equipment to handle all of the data that comes in from a caller.)

Ritter said it is important to include all stakeholders in a discussion about consolidation, with that list including the mayor, sheriff, police chief, fire chief, 911 director and other supervisors, county commissioners, city council, county council, dispatchers, the clerk-treasurer, county auditor and human resources personnel. He added that a staffing study would be needed to determine how many employees Jay County 911 would need if dispatching services were consolidated.

“Because it’s not as simple as saying, ‘Tomorrow, we’re gonna have a centralized dispatch,’” he said. “This is a methodical process that requires a strategic plan to determine how, when, what do we need.”

Asked by Mayor Jeff Westlake, Ritter said the overall process could take a year. It would need to include discussions of all aspects of the transition, including employment levels, seniority, salaries, benefits, standard operating procedures and other considerations.

Council president Kent McClung asked about the impact of the radio upgrade project, noting that it includes dispatching equipment for the city. Ritter said he feels he and the county could work with Motorola to redirect those funds if the city decides to consolidate dispatching services.

Responding to a question from council member Dave Golden, Ritter said he can’t provide clear answers on how much money consolidation could save the city at this point because there are too many factors involved.

Westlake, who worked for 12 years as a dispatcher for the city, expressed concern about employees potentially losing jobs in such a consolidation. He said he is open to discussion but asked that dispatchers be involved.

Council member Ashley Hilfiker said while she understands that concern, the city’s leadership is responsible for looking out for its about 6,000 residents. She asked the mayor to go into the process with an open mind.

Following a question from Westlake, Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton expressed neutrality on the issue. He said it is up to the city to decide if it is interested in consolidation and that he will be available for discussion if Portland decides to pursue that path.

Council members also discussed the decision-making process. The council controls funding for city departments while the board of works would enter into any contracts necessary to bring about consolidation.

The council voted unanimously to move forward with a process to explore consolidating dispatching services. Ritter said he would put together a potential consulting agreement for the mayor and council to review.

In other business, council members:

•Approved an economic development agreement with Bizy Dips. The agreement calls for a $137,500, 15-year loan with no interest for the first five years. The loan is secured with a mortgage. Bizy Dips owner Hannah Long previously indicated plans to purchase The Flower Nook and convert part of its space to a commercial kitchen in order to expand food offerings. She said plans are to continue to operate the flower shop under a new name and the current Bizy Dips site inside John Jay Center for Learning.

•Heard a request from resident Aaron Kuhn that the city establish an ordinance regarding livestock. He said he has had issues with being woken up early in the morning by a rooster that lives nearby. Kuhn shared ordinances from several other municipalities. Council members agreed to consider the issue and plan to have it on the agenda for their Dec. 15 meeting.

•Agreed to contribute an additional $12,500 in funding to help Jay County Development Corporation cover the wage gap to allow the organization to hire its top candidate for its open community developer and grant writer position. (Dunkirk committed an additional $2,500 to help cover the gap as well.) While not naming the candidate, JCDC executive director Ceann Bales said he is a Jay County High School graduate who is an architect and has a master’s degree in urban planning.

•Heard an update from Bales regarding Rollin’ J Lanes, which has been closed since the spring and is up for sale. The city made a $50,000 economic development income tax (EDIT) loan to owners Tammy and David Jellison for improvements to the facility. Bales said the Jellisons have a potential buyer for the bowling alley.

•Approved the payment of claims. Hilfiker questioned the city’s use of Hopkins Auto Repair for police vehicle repairs, saying it seems like a waste of money when the city employs a mechanic. Westlake said sometimes the city’s mechanic gets busy and street and parks department superintendent Matt Shauver said some of the computer work can’t be done in-house.

•McClung thanked the city’s street department for its work to plow streets.

•Received their nepotism disclosure forms to be filled out for 2026.