“In 9½ years of being on this commission this is probably one of the hardest votes I’ve been asked to cast," Mayor Michael Holland said. “It’s gut wrenching."
The 3-2 decision, with Holland casting the deciding vote, rejected City Manager Ron Neibert’s proposal to contract for police dispatching with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sept. 12 vote came after appeals by residents including veteran Eustis dispatcher Bobby Earp, 61.
“I can’t afford to lose my job,” he said, adding that he’d lose $7 an hour if he landed a dispatching job elsewhere and worries because his wife is on disability. “Where we’re at now we’re just breaking even in life.”
Arguing for continuation of the city operation at the meeting, Earp said, “You can’t put a price tag on the citizens of Eustis, in my opinion, no matter how much you save.”
The plan would have taken effect Oct. 19 and cost eight full-time and two part-time dispatchers their jobs. They could have sought positions with the Sheriff’s Office, which pays less than Eustis, and other agencies.
Eustis dispatchers, who make $30,455 to $44,268 annually, were told they’d start at $13.57 an hour if they latched on with the Sheriff’s Office.
At the commission meeting, sheriff’s Maj. Glen Hall said the pay would improve. He mentioned a $3,000 bonus upon successful completion of training and plans for a boost in the pay scale along with the potential of a step plan, too.
“Things are moving, they’re moving for the better,” Hall said.
Despite that pitch, city leaders are staying the course when it comes to police dispatching. Eustis fire and emergency medical service calls are already dispatched via the county.
On the losing end were commissioners Marie Aliberti and Robert Morin. Morin lauded the city for its offer to help dispatchers that would have been displaced to find new employment.
“I’ve been in the same situation...many times where I’ve had a job that’s been eliminated, so I move on to something else,” Morin said. “I was 60 years old [and] it happened to me. I thought, ‘gosh, what am i going to do now?’...[I] started applying and again found another job. So there’s always possibilities.”
Holland was joined by commissioners Emily Lee and Karen LeHeup-Smith in voting to keep the service.
“It’s economy versus emotion, and what is best for the city of Eustis,” LeHeup-Smith said.
Neibert interjected to make a point.
“Even if there was not the significant financial savings, I think the chief would tell you from an operational standpoint this is still, in terms of public and officer safety, this is still the right move to make,” he said.
In addition to leaving the savings on the table, Neibert also has said the city will have to spend $128,000 on improvements to equipment and technology for the operation if they kept it.
Before voting, Holland, who was born and raised in Eustis, explained how he views his position as an elected official.
“Our charge is to look out for the financial well-being of the city of Eustis,” he said. “My No. 1 thing I have to look out for is the public safety of the people of Eustis. So the votes that I cast will always look at public safe first and the financial second."
The vote came after appeals by residents including veteran Eustis dispatcher Bobby Earp, 61.
———
©2019 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)
Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
