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City Hall mis-communication
Sometimes I feel like Steven Martin's wife in "Cheaper by the Dozen," as
soon as I turn my back to relax for five minutes the whole house goes to
shambles.
As you've likely already read by now, Public Safety Commissioner Ron Kim
held a press conference on Friday (my day off) to address continuing issues with communication equipment in the police department. It seems that ongoing issues with
the non-emergency lines have been compounded by a separate problem with
the department's back-up generator, which led to a communication
blackout during last week's snowstorm.
Mayor Scott Johnson was quick to respond, but his statements did not
make it into Saturday's paper. You can read his press release at the
bottom of this post.
As you will read, it seems that Mayor Johnson was not made aware of the
new problem before sending out his press release. While he continues to
say that the Safety Committee is studying the existing problem with the
phones, the press release does not mention the recent incident, in which
emergency dispatchers were not able to communicate with firefighters as
the Saratoga Hotel filled with smoke. Fortunately, the smoke was benign,
and no harm was done, except to the hotel guests who were made to stand
in the parking lot in their pajamas in the middle of a snowstorm.
Careful study is important, but it seems to me that the Mayor (and his
spokesperson) should ensure that they've studied all of the issues on
the table before releasing statements to the press. While, as Johnson
points out, the sky is not falling, it would be nice to hear our Mayor
say something about being glad that dispatchers were able to make due
when their system temporarily failed on Wednesday morning. I wonder if a
representative from the Mayor's office attending Kim's press conference.
By the same token (and at the risk of cutting off my nose to spite my
face) I have to wonder if Kim would get things done more effectively
under this administration by going to the Mayor (and safety committee)
first, and the press second.
Press release:
SARATOGA SPRINGS MAYOR SCOTT JOHNSON REPORTS PROMPT SOLUTION TO
CLAIMED MALFUNCTIONS OF POLICE STATION PHONES
"There have been recent reports in the press claiming three separate
instances of alleged malfunctioning of the non-emergency phone lines
servicing the Police Station in City Hall, beginning in July 2007. This
matter was brought to the Safety Committee's attention at it's regularly
scheduled monthly meeting on February 12, 2008 from the Public Safety
Department. There have been several meetings since that date of the
Safety Committee and I am pleased to report prompt identification of the
problem and a proposed solution to better serve the public safety. It
has been determined that there may be an issue involving the cabling
within the City Hall telecommunications system, and not the existing
police phone system. There also were instances of the alleged
malfunctions that ultimately were attributed to human error, not system
malfunction."
"It is important to not promote public hysteria on an issue involving
phone service to the Police Station, particularly with the prior media
accounts regarding the conditions existing at the Station. First and
foremost, it is paramount to stress that the emergency phone line, the
911 system, has been and remains fully effective. It was only the
non-emergency phone line, 584-1800, that was claimed to be at issue.
Certainly, the sky is not falling."
On February 12, 2008 at the Safety Committee's regularly scheduled
monthly meeting, members from the Public Safety Department informed the
City Safety Committee that there had been three alleged instances of
telecommunication malfunction in the Police Department in 2007 including
July 19, 2007, September 25, 2007, and November 8, 2007. The alleged
malfunctions involved the non-emergent telephone lines of 584-1800 and
not the 911 emergency lines. The Police Department at this meeting
requested the matter be labeled a "health and safety issue." The
Committee initiated an immediate investigation into the circumstances
surrounding each incident.
In the short time that Safety Committee has been given the task of
investigating the matter, a tremendous amount of work has been done in
gathering needs assessments from each department including the Police
Department to qualify and quantify any infrastructure issues that may
have contributed to perceived system malfunctions. Two subsequent
meetings have occurred since then to detail the issues and the
infrastructure currently in place. Vendors have been called in to
discuss the perceived issues and been asked to provide detailed repair
and maintenance reports of the issues as identified.
The Committee has been assured that there are ample parts available
should any component need replacement.
The Mayor's Department has agreed to work with Safety Committee in
establishing accountability in the management of telecommunication
services provision. Complaints, repairs and maintenance will begin to be
tracked as of this date with regular monthly reporting of any issues to
the Safety Committee.
"The Safety Committee will continue to work through the City's and the
Police Department telecommunication issues until there is a
comprehensive long-term solution to the viability of the services
provided to the community", said Johnson. "Our team prides itself on the
multidisciplinary team approach it takes toward solving the City's risk
and safety issues for both its employees and the City as a community."
soon as I turn my back to relax for five minutes the whole house goes to
shambles.
As you've likely already read by now, Public Safety Commissioner Ron Kim
held a press conference on Friday (my day off) to address continuing issues with communication equipment in the police department. It seems that ongoing issues with
the non-emergency lines have been compounded by a separate problem with
the department's back-up generator, which led to a communication
blackout during last week's snowstorm.
Mayor Scott Johnson was quick to respond, but his statements did not
make it into Saturday's paper. You can read his press release at the
bottom of this post.
As you will read, it seems that Mayor Johnson was not made aware of the
new problem before sending out his press release. While he continues to
say that the Safety Committee is studying the existing problem with the
phones, the press release does not mention the recent incident, in which
emergency dispatchers were not able to communicate with firefighters as
the Saratoga Hotel filled with smoke. Fortunately, the smoke was benign,
and no harm was done, except to the hotel guests who were made to stand
in the parking lot in their pajamas in the middle of a snowstorm.
Careful study is important, but it seems to me that the Mayor (and his
spokesperson) should ensure that they've studied all of the issues on
the table before releasing statements to the press. While, as Johnson
points out, the sky is not falling, it would be nice to hear our Mayor
say something about being glad that dispatchers were able to make due
when their system temporarily failed on Wednesday morning. I wonder if a
representative from the Mayor's office attending Kim's press conference.
By the same token (and at the risk of cutting off my nose to spite my
face) I have to wonder if Kim would get things done more effectively
under this administration by going to the Mayor (and safety committee)
first, and the press second.
Press release:
SARATOGA SPRINGS MAYOR SCOTT JOHNSON REPORTS PROMPT SOLUTION TO
CLAIMED MALFUNCTIONS OF POLICE STATION PHONES
"There have been recent reports in the press claiming three separate
instances of alleged malfunctioning of the non-emergency phone lines
servicing the Police Station in City Hall, beginning in July 2007. This
matter was brought to the Safety Committee's attention at it's regularly
scheduled monthly meeting on February 12, 2008 from the Public Safety
Department. There have been several meetings since that date of the
Safety Committee and I am pleased to report prompt identification of the
problem and a proposed solution to better serve the public safety. It
has been determined that there may be an issue involving the cabling
within the City Hall telecommunications system, and not the existing
police phone system. There also were instances of the alleged
malfunctions that ultimately were attributed to human error, not system
malfunction."
"It is important to not promote public hysteria on an issue involving
phone service to the Police Station, particularly with the prior media
accounts regarding the conditions existing at the Station. First and
foremost, it is paramount to stress that the emergency phone line, the
911 system, has been and remains fully effective. It was only the
non-emergency phone line, 584-1800, that was claimed to be at issue.
Certainly, the sky is not falling."
On February 12, 2008 at the Safety Committee's regularly scheduled
monthly meeting, members from the Public Safety Department informed the
City Safety Committee that there had been three alleged instances of
telecommunication malfunction in the Police Department in 2007 including
July 19, 2007, September 25, 2007, and November 8, 2007. The alleged
malfunctions involved the non-emergent telephone lines of 584-1800 and
not the 911 emergency lines. The Police Department at this meeting
requested the matter be labeled a "health and safety issue." The
Committee initiated an immediate investigation into the circumstances
surrounding each incident.
In the short time that Safety Committee has been given the task of
investigating the matter, a tremendous amount of work has been done in
gathering needs assessments from each department including the Police
Department to qualify and quantify any infrastructure issues that may
have contributed to perceived system malfunctions. Two subsequent
meetings have occurred since then to detail the issues and the
infrastructure currently in place. Vendors have been called in to
discuss the perceived issues and been asked to provide detailed repair
and maintenance reports of the issues as identified.
The Committee has been assured that there are ample parts available
should any component need replacement.
The Mayor's Department has agreed to work with Safety Committee in
establishing accountability in the management of telecommunication
services provision. Complaints, repairs and maintenance will begin to be
tracked as of this date with regular monthly reporting of any issues to
the Safety Committee.
"The Safety Committee will continue to work through the City's and the
Police Department telecommunication issues until there is a
comprehensive long-term solution to the viability of the services
provided to the community", said Johnson. "Our team prides itself on the
multidisciplinary team approach it takes toward solving the City's risk
and safety issues for both its employees and the City as a community."
posted by The Saratogian City Desk at
10:17 PM
4 Comments:
Sorry about the formating, blogger was misbehaving tonight.
Here we go again – Carl Rove playbook.
Every month a new problem that is blamed on the City’s Town Hall.
Having staked his career on a new building, this one trick pony is going to provide the public with one complaint after another, one press conference after another, till Chicken Little can’t be taken seriously anymore.
Message: Public Safety work cannot be done because the “Building is Bad”.
First, Public Safety employees sue City for $200,000 because of a “discriminating building” (even though the money for the renovations were approved for two years) and then repairs are done for under $10,000.
Next, the Public Safety portion of Town Hall accumulates over 100 safety violations under the noses of its own Public Safety Inspectors and under its administration, its management and staff.
Now, the Public Safety phone system circuitry is so corrupted with non-code compliant modifications, again under the direction, supervision and oversight of its management, that we hear at yet another press conference, that the building is bad.
Could it be time for the Commissioner to consider working as part of the Council, representing this time, the Public. Grandstanding in the Court of Public Opinion has only reduced in the eyes of most residents, a complete inability by this Commissioner to manage his department and the work that he was elected to do, not necessarily that which he “staked his career on”.
AB- Saratogian - "Saratoga Springs' Commissioner of Public Safety, Ron Kim calls upon Mayor to retract his irresponsible, inaccurate and misleading statements regarding the city's 911 telephone system"
Strong fighting words from one lawyer to another. Sad that the Commissioner again chooses his own venue to address City business outside the Council chambers. Calling a statement untrue may be legally safer than calling someone a liar, but suggesting “irresponsible, inaccurate and misleading statements” can come back with a bite.
Andrew, why not ask the Commissioner some of the previous poster’s (6:09) questions?
The question should be is Ron Kim unable or unwilling to fix the phone problem. For all his posturing and supervising by press conference we are left with the nagging question what are his motives, Kim has stated his entire career on his new police station leaving the public to wonder is he trashing his own Dept to make his point.
His complaints about his concern for public safety ring hallow to me. I have on occasion called 584-1800 and even on their best day they are slow to respond. I sincerely doubt a new phone system will improve there efficiency.
The real problem from a public safety viewpoint are right out side our windows. The ineptness of our new Public Works Chief is on display with our flooded streets blocked catch basins and pot holed and snow blocked streets.
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