New Phones?

[blockhead]

I understand at the recent council meeting there is a idea out there to provide "Nextel" phones for all the police officers in town. Can anybody provide any background??

[oldetowne]

I don't know all the specifics, but it seems that our new radio system doesn't work as well as it was supposed to.

[SyZyGy]

Someone correct me where I am wrong; however, I think the reasoning goes something like this:

• The 'new' Karangekis-approved, 800 MHz (or is it 900 MHz?) system is not flawless and suffers from significant reception and security problems.
  
• The police need a more reliable backup system if/when the current, new system fails to perform well.
  
• The police wish to keep transmissions via the Nextel phone system more "secure" so that the public at large cannot monitor it as easily.
  
• The WPD needs to be better equipped (endowed?) than the "bad guys" for our own safety.

You will have to ask the pols lurking on this board for their spin.

[SenatorBlutarsky]

As usual Wethersfield was sold a bill if goods with the new radio system. When it was being rammed through by the former police chief/ deputy mayor, towns that already had that system were already getting rid of it.

The town should hold someone's feet to the fire on this issue.

[oldetowne]

You're right, but nobody will ever stand up to the argument that it's all for 'PUBLIC SAFETY". That's what got us the police station, the 800 system, the Kelleher Court tower, fire trucks too big to travel over most streets, fire and police boats that come and go on a yearly basis, the potential cell tower in Mill Woods Park, these new phones, etc.

[ThePatriot]

Hey King Tut:

Your right, after 9-11 everything is "about public safety".

The Fed's and the State and our Local government use this "threat" against us. 99% of this is Bull----.

It is time to reel in our Town Manager, she is going the way of a Dictator.

If you don't believe me ask anyone in the Fire Dept.

[blockhead]

All the "security" features they need could have been built into the system, and probably can still be, when it was designed, but for the typical Town, hind sight is 20-20.
Let's do some quick figuring, 42 or so sworn officers @ approx $250 per phone (because they need the "sleek" model for "security reasons")....$10,500.
Monthly phone plan approximately $50 for the middle of the road plan,....$25,200 per year. That is approx. $35,000 per year. Where is that line item in the budget??.

[BuckWheat]

It will be interesting to see what side of this issue the Deputy Mayor will be on.

If he supports the phones, then he is admitting his 2-3 Million Dollar Radio System Is A Failure and was a complete waste of money.

Let the spinning begin.

[oldetowne]

It won't cost the town anything - directly. Nextel is going to lease space on the tower at the police station (you know, on the municipal public safety tower). The rent will be $1800/month. The cost of the phones is only $1750/month. That leaves $50/month to cover all of the anytime minutes, as well as to maintain the tower - which is theoretically where all of the lease revenue was supposed to go in the first place. See - they have it all figured out. At least until the next hiccup.

[Bulldog]

It won't cost anything? It is already costing us for this useless radio system, that we did not need.

It might look like a wash on top, but knowing our spendiing habits, it will have to be the best plan.

In the name of "Public Safety" of course.