Swampscott cops scrap no confidence vote

SWAMPSCOTT-Despite talk of police officers preparing to take a vote of no confidence in Chief Ronald Madigan at a union meeting Friday, no such vote was taken.?There was some discussion about whether the union should take a vote of no confidence (in Madigan),” said Officer Todd Pierce, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local No. 387. “But a vote was never taken.”Pierce said a lot of the tension between the officers and Madigan stemmed from Madigan’s public support of a regional dispatch center.?We had a major concern because he endorsed this system without consulting us,” Pierce said. “But we have spoken with the Chief and we’re encouraged by his willingness to work with us in the future.”Madigan confirmed he had a discussion with the union on the issue of dispatch.?I agree the union needs to be a part of the discussion here,” he said. “We have increased communication and the union is involved in the discussions. I am committed to working with the union.”A couple of weeks ago, Madigan spoke at the annual Town Meeting where he publicly endorsed a regional dispatch center.The Town Meeting gave selectmen the authority to enter into an intergovernmental contract for regional dispatch services for a period of up to 10 years.At Town Meeting, the police union was distributing a letter to residents explaining why it believed the Town Meeting should pass the article.According to union officials, the union is not opposed to exploring regional dispatch opportunities but it would prefer a regional effort between the town and communities it has existing mutual aid agreements with, which include Nahant, Lynn, Salem and Marblehead. The union also expressed concerns about the ultimate cost to the town and the level of services, which would be provided.One of the regional dispatch centers the town has been looking at is a proposed Essex County Regional Dispatch Center, which would be housed at Middleton jail.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said an Executive Office of Public Safety grant would pay the initial costs for the proposed facility, which is expected to be up and running as of July 1, 2010. The initial start up costs for the facility would be paid for by the grant and participating municipalities would be charged on a per capita chargeback on the Cherry Sheet for annual operating costs.Town officials said the desk at the police department is currently manned by one patrolman and one officer 24 hours a day, seven days a week and regional dispatch would allow the department to take one officer from the desk and put them back on the street.According to union officials, the current contract which expires next year requires a lieutenant and an officer at the station at all times and any changes would require impact bargaining.