[Scan-DC] Worcester County's new P25 system

[Alan Henney]

https://mdcoastdispatch.com/category/top-stories/

More Frustrations Expressed Over New Radio System
Jan 25,2019
<https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2019/01/25/more-frustrations-expressed-over-new-radio-system/>
 by Charlene Sharpe <https://mdcoastdispatch.com/author/csharpe/>

SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Commissioners again voiced frustration
with the county’s new radio system this week.

A representative of Federal Engineering, the company hired to assess the
new public safety radio system installed by Harris Corporation, presented
the commissioners with a report Tuesday. The recommendations included in it
resulted in the commissioners again expressing concern with the actions of
Harris Corporation. No one from the company was present for Tuesday’s
presentation.

“They ought to be in the room,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said.

The county hired Federal Engineering in August to analyze coverage and
interference problems plaguing the county’s new Harris P25 radio system.
Harris was hired in 2015 to handle the $5 million project.
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In this week’s presentation, Adam Nelson of Federal Engineering said that
after reviewing the system his company recommended the county install a new
antenna to increase coverage capability. He said the county should also
establish a comprehensive problem-reporting system among radio users so
more information (such as location, radio type, etc.) will be available in
future when problems are experienced.

When asked how much the proposed antenna would cost, Nelson said Harris
Corporation would need to be involved in that project.

Bertino asked why that hadn’t been part of the company’s responsibility in
the first place.

“They had to pass a certain level of performance, which they did,” Nelson
said, adding that the company had met the 95 percent coverage target.

Staff said some of the coverage issues related to the fire station in
Newark and the Worcester County Developmental Center. Bertino said Harris
Corporation should have known about those buildings from the start.

“They did but we did not build the contract, or the proposal, in such a way
that they had to guarantee coverage in every single building,” said James
Hamilton.

Bertino maintained that Harris should have representatives present for the
discussion. Commissioner Joe Mitrecic agreed.

“It keeps costing and costing and costing and it’s going to keep costing
and costing and costing,” he said.

Bertino said there were still areas where coverage was substandard.

“I don’t think we want any of our first responders, our EMS, anybody, to be
put in jeopardy because we have lapses in our system,” Bertino said.

Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Shannahan reminded the
commissioners that the system only had a 95 percent coverage rate.

“The system is not perfect but it was not designed to be perfect…,”
Shannahan said. “In order for us to provide 100 percent coverage would have
cost millions and millions of dollars more than what we paid.”

He said the system met its requirements but that there were tweaks, such as
the proposed antenna, that could improve it.

“I’ve never actually seen a vendor promise 100 percent,” Nelson said.

Bertino maintained that the Worcester County Developmental Center was a
location without coverage and that was a problem.

Nelson said he was happy to return when representatives from Harris
Corporation to continue the discussion regarding the system and potential
improvements.