On March 30, a travesty occurred when trustees of Barrington Hills voted to “outsource” the 911 dispatch operation that has been an integral part of our public safety operation for many years. This vote will result in the dismantling of our in-house dispatch operation and the termination of up to six dispatchers with a combined 75 years of experience and knowledge.
It will also result in the village having no practical option to return to an in-house operation. In 2014 a firm, PSA Consulting, was contracted by the Village to provide a cost/benefit analysis. Why did the village contract with a specific firm without conducting an open search for the best consultant? The ensuing report solely narrowly focused on a single dispatch consolidation firm, Quadcom, neglecting all other firms that may have been more suitable. Why the arbitrary, narrow focus on only one firm?
The PSA Original report contained incomplete cost and other information, and a subsequent supplemental report ensued. Why did the village agree to pay additional money to correct missing/inaccurate information in the original report? The cost comparison data in the supplemental report was skewed in favor of Quadcom, reading like a sales pitch.
Both Reports lacked any data on performance metrics, like quality of service data, critical to assessing whether or not Quadcom would provide at least the same Dispatch quality as Village residents currently enjoy. Why did the village continue to use PSA Consulting, especially since a director of PSA was a former director of Quadcom, calling into question the independent, unbiased nature of the consultant’s service to the village?
The village administration did not conduct any written “due diligence” on these reports, relying solely on residents to question the adequacy of the PSA Reports. Why?
The report failed to consider the best method of dispatching fire and EMS services. Why?
In my opinion, the village relied solely on a flawed analysis of a single firm to justify outsourcing to that firm. Why?
Unfortunately the Village, in a hasty effort to reduce costs, put the public safety of Barrington Hills residents at risk. Why?
Kevin Colosia
Barrington Hills