By Brooke Springer
Staff Writer
August 15, 2006
STAMFORD -- A $15.2 million project to replace the city's outdated emergency radio system may be installed by the end of 2007, two years earlier than previously expected, according to a city official.
Preliminary projections were to have the new system running in 2008 or 2009, said Bill Callion, the city's public safety director.
Stamford is close to a deal with one of two vendors, Motorola, which bid about $12 million, or M/A-COM, which bid about $14 million, Purchasing Agent Bob Ruszkowski said.
The exact figures are being hashed out, Ruszkowski said.
City officials hope to submit a contract to the Board of Finance before its next meeting Sept. 14.
Stamford's current communications system has one tower atop the Government Center and a second backup tower at the Long Ridge Fire Company on Old Long Ridge Road.
It was built in 1988 and has dead spots in 20 percent of the city, including parts of North Stamford and the East Side, city and police officials have said.
The system has deteriorated badly in the past two years, costing the city millions of dollars in repairs, financial documents show. Power outages have knocked out the downtown tower and the system's computer several times.
Last year, a consultant recommended the city buy a new system that would include two additional transmission towers.
Stamford has $12.8 million budgeted to lease or buy land to put up towers and install equipment during this fiscal year. An additional $2.4 million in federal homeland security funds have been received, according to Callion.
Callion expects the project to stay on budget at $15.2 million.
The new plan, put together by officials from various departments, including EMS, fire, police and public safety with the help of RCC Consultants, has a four-tower system, using the two existing sites and two others likely at Landmark Square and Sterling Farms. A state police site in Greenwich also is being considered, according to Callion.
Nevertheless, city officials and emergency responders agree that a new system can't be put in place fast enough.
Christopher Munger, Republican Town Committee chairman, continues to press the city to apply to have the National Law Enforcement Corrections Technology Center in Rome, N.Y., provide a free look at the consultant's plan.
Munger, a Republican who narrowly lost to Mayor Dannel Malloy last year, said he has been suggesting this third-party analysis since he was on the campaign trail and urged Malloy to look into it on election night last year.
According to Munger, Malloy forwarded Munger's suggestion to Callion.
Munger said that despite three attempts, Callion has not responded. Callion said he has spoken with Munger and does not intend to pursue his suggestion further.
Munger took his idea to the Board of Finance on Thursday, but the board would not take it up because it was not on the agenda. However, Mary Lou Rinaldi, the board's chairman, told Munger she would make sure a meeting with Callion was arranged.
"I felt that the Board of Finance should know if they're going to spend $12.5 million to fix the system that they can get free advice from the experts saying it's right on target or it's not right on target," Munger said. "What does the city have to lose?"
Callion responded in a phone interview yesterday.
"It will hurt us from a time point of view," Callion said. "We're already under way. We're about to install the system. . . . Tomorrow somebody else will come up with another idea, but we've got to move forward."
Copyright © 2006, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.