The Village of Oak Lawn is taking a major step by planning to outsource its 911 emergency dispatch services to a private company, despite strong opposition from the local union representing the dispatchers. The move, set to take effect on November 26th, has sparked controversy and concern among workers and community members alike.
According to a detailed article in the Oak Lawn Leaf, the village’s decision comes after years of financial pressure and internal management challenges. The Village Manager, Larry Deetjen, has recommended that the emergency communications center be handed over to Norcomm Public Safety Communications, a company based in Leyden Township. Under this plan, four supervisors currently employed by the village would remain with the new company, but all 20 union dispatchers would be laid off and given the chance to reapply at a lower salary. Additionally, they would lose their pensions from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.
Ronald Cicinelli, attorney for the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, revealed that the village had contacted the union just 38 days after signing a 2012 contract, threatening to outsource the jobs unless the union agreed to concessions due to a "financial crisis." According to Cicinelli, the village claimed it faced a $1 million shortfall and asked the union to contribute $369,000 through wage cuts, while shifting the rest of the burden onto other municipalities served by the 911 system.
The negotiations eventually broke down when the village informed the union that its entire $3.8 million budget would be exhausted by July. Cicinelli pointed to mismanagement as a key issue, including excessive overtime caused by supervisors who were no longer counted as active dispatchers, and the failure to replace three departing dispatchers. These positions were reclassified as "team leaders," which allowed them to avoid being counted in staffing numbers, saving the village money. However, the union argues this led to increased overtime costs and operational inefficiencies.
Kathy Hansen, the Emergency Communications Director, cited declining revenue from state-regulated phone surcharges as users shift to cell phones. Industry data shows that 70% of phone use in any municipality is now via cell phones, yet the telecommunications tax is still only applied to landlines. Last year, the village collected over $1 million in this tax, and if the federal government extends the tax as expected, revenue could jump to $2.3 million annually. Despite this, the village claims outsourcing to Norcomm would save $446,000 per year for two years.
This decision has raised questions about transparency, fairness, and long-term sustainability. Many residents and workers are concerned about the impact on emergency response quality and job security. As the deadline approaches, the situation remains tense, with both sides preparing for what could be a significant change in how the village handles its critical emergency services.
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