The debate over whether Ravenna should add a full-time dispatcher to its ranks is back on the back burner.
Councilman Scott Rainone asked Council President Fran Ricciardi if the committee could consider the request, putting an ordinance on council's April 1 agenda.
Ricciardi noted that Councilman Fred Berry, who voted against expanding the dispatch center's staff last month, was absent, and he would feel more comfortable voting on the matter when all members were present.
Last month, Ricciardi broke a tie among finance committee members, keeping the proposal stalled in committee.
The dispatch center, which traditionally served Ravenna, Rootstown and Charlestown, added the Edinburg, Palmyra, Paris and Deerfield fire departments in a 2010 expansion.
Another 600 calls will be added to that, should the department add the Windham Fire Department to its list of clients.
Police Chief Timothy Adkins recently told council's health and safety committee that the dispatch center's call volume has increased dramatically since 2010, when it began to serve fire departments in surrounding townships.
"Our calls have already gone up 66 percent, and we haven't added a soul," Adkins told the panel.
Councilman Frank Seman questioned whether the federal sequester might curtail 911 funding that the dispatch center counts on, a question Rainone acknowledged would be answered if the issue is delayed another month.
In other business, the committee agreed to remove the traffic signal at General Electric.
City Engineer Bob Finney said he could wait to remove the signal until GE closes its plant on North Chestnut Street.
"It's a maintenance issue, and it costs us money," Finney said.
Contact this reporter at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com
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