On June 6, the Archuleta County Combined Dispatch Executive Management Board heard a proposal from Emergency Communications Director Devin Moffat to reclassify the current part-time administrative assistant position into a full-time administrative manager position.
Moffat noted the current position is budgeted for part-time and he was looking to turn it into a full-time position, but once reviewing and updating the job description he felt that it aligns more with a manager-type position.
“I feel like it’s operating much more as an administration, or like, office manager type of position, as far as administrative duties go,” he said.
Moffat indicated that this position does not require dispatch experience, as it focuses more on the administrative side of things such as scheduling and interviewing for new hires.
“It’s certainly a bigger job summary than what the administrative assistant currently sits at,” he added.
Moffat explained that some of the added functions to the position would include being the liaison with vendors and service providers, distributing public information, and assisting with organization and communication within the dispatch center.
He went on to highlight some of the benefits that would come along with reclassifying the position, noting it would allow the current operations manager to focus solely on operations of the department and it “would free up” extra duties on the administrative side while also providing room for career growth within the center.
The proposed salary range for the position would be $50,282.13 to $72,498.82, which lines up with the operations manager salary, according to Moffat.
He indicated that the department currently has not spent $58,000 worth of salary in this year’s budget “due to our multiple vacant positions.”
Moffat also explained that the current part-time administrative assistant has about $28,000 budgeted for its position.
Board member Robert Bertram, chief of the Pagosa Fire Protection District (PFPD), questioned if the position would still be sustainable once the dispatch center is able to become fully staffed.
Moffat explained that reclassifying the position would cause an increase of around $30,000, but that the current part-time position already receives benefits through the county, so there would be no change in that regard other than adding retirement benefits.
He added that the dispatch center currently has five open positions.
Multiple board members spoke in favor of having the proposed position take on more responsibility as the point of contact and distributing information to the public.
Board member Rhonda Webb, CEO and chief medical officer of Pagosa Springs Medical Center (PSMC), stated that the more communication they have with the community “the better off everyone of us is.”
Moffat explained that since the proposed position would not require dispatch experience or certification, they would not be used to cover the floor, freeing up more time to go to events on weekends and other opportunities for more public engagement.
Webb motioned to approve the proposal, which was seconded by board member Jack Harper, Archuleta County interim manager.
Board member and Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux expressed opposition for the proposed position, noting the dispatch center needs more people “that can actually do the work on the floor.”
“I don’t believe the structure can handle it, to be honest,” he said.
Webb mentioned that dispatch has been shorthanded during her entire tenure on the dispatch board.
“This is a dynamic community,” she added.
Moffat also explained that this reclassification of the position could take effect immediately or with the next fiscal year.
Board chairperson Jason Webb, director of PSMC Emergency Medical Services (EMS), asked if it would be beneficial for all dispatch center employees to be trained on how to work the floor.
Moffat explained he does not want this person to end up performing more dispatcher-related duties than the intended administrative duties, but that it could be an option to have them trained.
Bertram also suggested the board could look into using the unused wages to offer more pay for dispatchers in order to address staffing shortages.
Moffat indicated that if they were to do that, he feels it would only be fair to also offer more money for the dispatchers that are already working there.
“You know for us, when we’re out there, I mean, we rely on the dispatcher to be our second set of ears, all that stuff. To me, that’s more important than some of the daily administrative stuff,” Bertram said.
Harper suggested the board look into how this will affect the budget for the upcoming fiscal year and to look into what other agencies in the region offer for similar positions.
Following discussion on the proposal, the motion was withdrawn and tabled.
Jason Webb noted that if Moffat wants to increase the current part-time position’s hours to full-time status he could do so without board action, but if the position is to be reclassified it will require board action.
Increase in calls for
service
Moffat also presented the board with an update on the number of calls the dispatch center has received for the months of April and May, noting an increase due primarily to summer starting and increased tourism.
“I think it’s only going to continue to increase,” he said, noting that is the usual trend with the summer season.
According to Moffat, the dispatch center received a total of 2,043 calls for service in the month of April — an increase compared to the past two months.
Of that total, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) took 1,021 calls, the Pagosa Springs Police Department (PSPD) took 832 calls, PSMC EMS took 103 and the PFPD took 87 calls.
Moffat noted that the center received 303 911 calls service and 2,088 nonemergent calls for service in April.
For the month of May, the dispatch center received 2,292 calls for service. Of that total, the ACSO took 1,206 calls, the PSPD took 841, PSMC EMS took 143 and the PFPD took 102.
Moffat also noted that 531 911 calls were received during the month of May and 2,344 nonemergent calls were received.
clayton@pagosasun.com
