Fire Chief Rick Richardson says two new radios should help improve the fire department’s communication with Guelph dispatchers and with police and ambulance personnel.
Currently, Richardson told council, county fire departments are unable to communicate directly with Guelph dispatch, so fire chiefs have been exploring options to rectify the problem.
He said the departments have decided to purchase “FleetNet Motorola mobile radios with interface modules,” including two for Mapleton; one for the Moorefield station and one for the Drayton station.
“Once the radios are operational, we will also be able to communicate with both police and ambulance, in addition to Guelph dispatch,” said Richardson in his report.
The two radios will be purchased from Guelph Police Service for $250 each and be refurbished and installed by Bell Mobility at a price of $11,849 – for a total cost of $12,349. Considering it would cost upwards of $108,000 to outfit Mapleton’s entire fleet with the radios, Richardson told council he thinks purchasing one unit for each station is a reasonable alternative.
Council unanimously approved the purchase, but not before Mayor John Green expressed some uncertainty about the idea. He asked what assurances the township had the new radios would perform as expected.
“Everything they’ve done in the last 20 years has failed in one area or another,” said Green, referring to changes in Guelph.
The mayor noted he did not want to question Richardson’s report, but told councillors his past experiences with city officials may not have been as favourable as others’.
Richardson replied Guelph police have had no trouble with the units. He acknowledged the two new radios would not help the “bad spots” in the township where reception is poor, but would help keep the department in constant communication with dispatchers in Guelph.
Finance director Mike Givens said the purchase will likely be a capital item which should not have a huge impact on the township’s budget.
