“They don’t have the same CAD system that we have at Fairfield,” he said. “We have a computerized dispatch system called Nexgen that we operate with, and they are creating a regional Nexgen system. We’re just waiting for Westport to apply that to their administration, their Westport officers, Westport firefighters, and then Westport dispatchers.

Once those dispatchers are trained on the new system, Koval said, officials estimate it will take 45 to 60 days before they can reach Fairfield dispatchers at the emergency communications center. He said Westport Fire dispatchers should be ready to move in by mid-July and Westport Police dispatchers should be ready by September.

“They’re moving fast and they’re almost ready to finalize the call types and the Nexgen layouts and the things that they’re going to have to get used to using,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of on-the-job training.”

During a tour of the newly opened center in March, officials said Fairfield would begin work from the new center and Westport dispatchers would move within the month.

Koval said officials plan to cross-train dispatchers to make the facility a true regional dispatch center.

Fairfield Police Chief Robert Kalamaras said Westport’s records and case management technology was “a bit behind the times”. He said upgrading Westport’s systems was probably something that should have been done sooner.

“Full disclosure: This probably should have been done sooner on their part,” he said. “Like, working while the center is under construction. But they didn’t – and we are where we are right now.

Board of Finance member Chris DeWitt said the transition had been “a little hit or miss” and, noting that the long-term goal would be to bring other communities into the fold, asked if officials would have a better idea of ​​the duration of their training. take.

Koval said it would depend on the size of the community joining the ECC.

“If Easton were to join us, just to throw in the town that’s close to us, there’s only a few dispatchers there, and I think that would be a really easy transition,” he said. “If we brought in a city, it would be more difficult, but a smaller community… I think it would be a smoother transition to bring in someone else.”

Kalamaras said the goal is to look for smaller agencies, which would have less impact on the dispatch center, and would be able to use the dispatchers the ECC already has.

The new dispatch center, which is on the campus of Sacred Heart University, took five years to build and is the first of its kind in the state. Officials said there are other regional centers, but these are all overseen by private companies. This is the first carried out by the municipalities.

Current staffing levels will remain the same, although officials have said this will most likely save money by reducing overtime spending. Other savings come from sharing equipment, technology and other resources.

The highlight of opening the center has been the added efficiency in how calls are handled. All center dispatchers will be able to handle incoming police, fire and medical calls for both cities without having to switch between centers and enter information multiple times into the system.

Previously, a call could take place at Westport, just over the Fairfield line. A car may have to come from Westport head office to respond and a Fairfield car in nearby Southport would have no idea what was going on. Now the nearest car can go.

Fairfield receives nearly 250,000 calls per year, which equates to more than 50,000 dispatched calls for service each year for police and fire departments combined. Westport handles approximately 23,000 calls per year.

Under the agreement, Fairfield and Westport split capital costs equally, while operating costs are split based on population and call volume. This means that Fairfield covers two-thirds of the operating budget and Westport covers the other third, according to previous meetings on the subject.

The expedition project itself costs about $3.7 millionfrom the $2.9 million initial. The increase is largely due to technology and a new location. Each city contributed about $1.7 million to the center, with state grants covering the rest, officials said.

Cities lease Sacred Heart space for $1 per year for 25 years.

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