Crime & Safety

Construction on Summit, New Providence Shared Dispatch Center to Start Soon

Construction on the new center could begin as early as September, according to reports.

Construction on an emergency dispatch center shared by Summit and New Providence could begin as early as September, a shared services move that's designed to save both towns money in the long run.

According to the Alternative Press, New Providence Borough Administrator Doug Marvin said architects had developed a final concept plan for the new center, which will be called the New Providence & Summit Emergency Services Dispatch Center.

Construction on the facility, which will be located in New Providence's municipal center, could be complete by early 2014, if not sooner.

Find out what's happening in Summitwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Officials originally hoped the center would be up and running early in 2013.

As previously reported by Patch, the new dispatch center is expected to cost each municipality $350,000 to cover the cost of new construction. Summit also acquired two federal grants totalling $1.6 million to purchase state-of-the-art equipment and technology for the center.

Find out what's happening in Summitwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The center is expected to save Summit around $15,000 a year and New Providence a few thousand dollars each year.

The real benefit, officials hope, comes from offering dispatch fire and police services to other area towns. By signing up other municipalities at a rate less than what they pay for their current dispatch operation, the joint Summit and New Providence center could generate revenue for both towns.

As of late December, the only reported town to have shown interest was Millburn.


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