New rules require upgrade of communications system
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno recently informed the members of the Township Committee that the police department and other emergency response services are going to have to upgrade their communications systems by 2011 or face the possibility of a systems failure.

According to Guadagno, the upgrade will be needed in order to be compatible with mandatory narrow banding which will be the standard by that time due to a mandate set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

"After 2011 your radios will not work as efficiently, if at all," she told local officials. She suggested that officials "talk to your schools, (because) they might not be able to contact 911 either, without the update."

Guadagno said the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has committed $21 million toward upgrading county equipment.

Manalapan police Capt. ChrisMarsala was present at the May 28 committee meeting. He said the police department is in the process of installing a radio system upgrade as part of the renovations at town hall that will result in the police department gaining additional space.

Mayor Michelle Roth told Guadagno that the radio system being purchased for the police department will be a dual system that will accommodate analog and digital systems.

"I think it's the prudent way to go. Is it?" Roth asked the sheriff.

"You clearly want to buy something that will accommodate both systems," Guadagno told the mayor.

She said the county is going to engage the services of a consultant to determine how to properly conduct the total purchase and said officials have hired an attorney familiar with FCC regulations to negotiate the acquisition.

Guadagno suggested that in order to make the necessary upgrade as economical as possible,Manalapan should partner with other towns or with the county to buy the new equipment.

"I would suggest that towns join with the county in the purchase because individually there is less of a bargaining position," she said.

The sheriff said county officials will not be able to go to bid for new equipment until the FCC licensing has been settled between the county and the federal agency.