WHITE PLAINS, NY, July 28, 2010 -- In his ongoing effort to make county governmentmore efficient and less costly, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today released his plan to merge the county departments of Public Safety and Emergency Services. Move to Save $3 Million Over Three Years
“Working closely together, Commissioners George Longworth of Public Safety and Anthony Sutton of Emergency Services have put their years of professional experience into building a new organization that increases efficiency, lowers costs and positions Westchester County to meet the public safety challenges it faces today and in years to come,” Astorino said. “The consolidation will save about $700,000 next year and double that by 2013 by reducing duplication.”
Astorino has asked the county attorney to prepare legislation to be submitted to the Board of Legislators to implement this plan. If approved by the board, the new structure would be put in place on Jan. 1, the start of the new budget year.
“In today’s world, where an emergency is just as likely to be caused by a terrorist act as a natural disaster, it is more important than ever for our police and emergency services teams to be fully coordinated at every stage from planning to response,” Astorino said. “This plan does just that.”
The proposed consolidation of these two departments is another example of Astorino’s focus on “right-sizing” county government. Policies he implemented over the first half of this year reduced the projected deficit of $166 million to $130 million – a reduction of $36 million.
As proposed by Astorino, the Department of Emergency Services would be folded into the Department of Public Safety, with Longworth as its commissioner. The new department would have three divisions, each headed by a deputy commissioner: emergency services, to be headed by Sutton; fire services, to be headed by John Cullen, who is now a deputy commissioner for DES; and police services, to be headed by Joseph Yasinski, now deputy commissioner for DPS.
Astorino said the consolidation would eliminate duplication of services in a number of administrative areas, such as budget and human resources, and also create savings in communications, special operations, training and grant administration. For example:
• Both departments now have communication centers. DES has an Emergency Communications Center (“60 Control”) and DPS has its own communications center. Combined communications would enable a more unified response to emergencies as well as save money.
• Both departments currently have special teams to deal with hazardous devices and materials. DPS has a Hazardous Devices Unit (Bomb Squad) that is trained to handle chemical, biological, radiological and explosive devices, while DES has a hazardous materials response team. Combining these units would eliminate redundancy and improve coordination and response time.
• Currently DES and DPS have adjacent training facilities, which they run autonomously. A single facility would produce operational and cost efficiencies and allow for broader and better coordinated training programs.
• Both departments apply for, receive and administer grants for counter-terrorism. Particularly because grants are likely to be decreasing, a unified approach will better serve the public and ensure that the limited dollars are spent the best way.
Said Longworth: “In today’s harsh economic times, all aspects of how we do business have to be evaluated and where possible reshaped. The proposal to consolidate under one unified agency will provide savings for the taxpayers of Westchester County while strengthening the essential services that keep the people of Westchester safe.”
Sutton said: “Commissioner Longworth and I have worked together to develop a common-sense plan that eliminates duplicative expenses, encourages cost-saving initiatives and
keeps protecting the safety of Westchester residents as its top priority. I look forward to implementing this plan with the commissioner."
In addition to savings through attrition and identification of duplicative administrative services, savings will be realized through the consolidation of capital projects such as office space and infrastructure.
The Department of Public Safety was created in 1979 through the merger of the then county Parkway Police and the county’s Sheriff Department. Initially, it handled disaster and emergency services. In 1997, the county created the Department of Fire Safety Services and two years later this division was put within the newly created Department of Emergency Services.
According to the Astorino administration analysis, immediate and identifiable tax levy savings in the first year will about to $692,000. This would become about $1.18 million in 2012 and $1.54 million in 2013.