by PATRICIA GAY
and BRIAN GIOIELE

Local leaders did not have to look too far to find their new communications center director.

The Board of Selectmen Thursday unanimously approved the hiring of Weston resident Michael Lieberman, a local volunteer emergency medical technician who has been called the town’s “go-to guy” when it comes to radio equipment and frequencies.

“He knows our departmental needs and procedures, as well as the strengths of the personnel involved,” said Town Administrator Tom Landry. “We think this will allow him to be immediately productive.

“We’re excited to have him get going,” added Mr. Landry.

Mr. Lieberman was among the five finalists interviewed for the communications director post, but the town administrator said the decision was an easy one for himself, Fire Chief John Pokorny and Weston Police Chief Anthony Land.

“We didn’t bother bringing anyone back after we talked to Mike,” said Mr. Landry.

“We were impressed with Mike’s insights into the center. Mike has worked down there and has extensive knowledge of our situation. Above all else, the one thing important to me is Mike has the support of police, fire and EMS and has the trust of the dispatchers. He has the ability to pull everyone together,” Mr. Landry said.

Creation of the communications center director position was one of the recommendations made by Val Lubans, who evaluated the center last year for the selectmen. The position has an annual salary of $56,000.

Long history

Mr. Lieberman has a long history with the communications center. He has served as a part-time dispatcher, and as a member of Weston EMS has been involved with the center for eight years.

One of his achievements was to upgrade the center’s communications equipment so there was interoperability among police, fire, EMS, and public works. “It’s important that all those agencies can communicate with each other during emergencies,” Mr. Lieberman said.

He is active in the town’s cell tower project as well as the remote receiver at the Lyons Plains fire station and other radio projects. He was also responsible for getting the FCC to approve six new radio frequencies for the town.

Mr. Lieberman recently completed a six-month stint as full-time dispatcher in Norwalk. Most of his professional career, however, has been well outside of public safety, working in the diamond business, where he traveled frequently across Europe and India.

Ultimately, it was Mr. Lieberman’s skills with radio equipment that separated him from the other candidates, some of whom had spent their entire careers in public safety.

“Mike possesses a very strong work ethic, coupled with high standards and morals,” said Weston Police Sgt. Patrick Daubert, who has been heavily involved with the communications center over the years. “I look forward to working with him.”

Chief Land called Mr. Lieberman a “wonderful choice” for the position. “He brings all the required skills and knowledge to the table. He’s a worker,” he said.

Priorities

Mr. Lieberman started work in his new job on Monday and said his goal is simply to make the town safer. One of his first priorities will be to upgrade the dispatch software. “The system has served well but a new system will help decrease response times,” he said. New software will enable dispatchers to enter data and dispatch fire, police, and EMS units faster.
 
“We have tremendous response times now, and my goal is to make them even better,” he said.

He will also review the department’s computer systems and hardware, and will increase training for the dispatchers. “We have a dedicated group of dispatchers. They are all state-certified and really are superb. I want to take them to the next level,” he said. That level will be handling an enhanced 911 service, called E911, which allows dispatchers to help identify the locations of cell phone users.

Mr. Lieberman will also work with police, fire, and EMS to update their dispatching protocols, which determine, among other things, what vehicles and manpower to send out on specific emergency calls. “I would like to work with department heads as well as the dispatching staff to update the protocols. The staff will be helpful because they can spot loopholes.”

The center’s current facility, located between town hall and the firehouse, will also get a facelift. “The facility is 30 to 35 years old, and there is a town plan to rebuild it this fall as part of an overall town hall renovation,” he said.

Mr. Lieberman is also aware that the town is looking into a regional dispatch center proposed by the town of Redding to service Weston, Redding, Wilton, and Ridgefield. “Regional dispatch has good and bad points,” he said. “In concept it is a good idea, but we need to explore it more. There is a close bond in Weston between emergency services and the communication services. We would have to take into account what we would be giving up if we went to regionalization,” he said.

Thrilled

Mr. Lieberman said he is “tickled to death” to be given this opportunity. “I’m just thrilled,” he said. He started in communications years ago for the U.S. Army in the Army Security Agency. He soon developed a passion for ham radios, a wireless amateur communication system.

Through ham radios he has spoken with descendants of Fletcher Christian, of Mutiny on the Bounty fame, from Pitcairn Island. Even farther away, once he was able to talk to members of the space shuttle for about 10 minutes.

Mr. Lieberman has lived in Weston for 16 years with his wife, Bonnie, a schoolteacher at Danbury High School. The couple has two grown daughters who live in Stratford, and four grandchildren.

Mr. Lieberman is looking forward to a good long-term relationship with the town’s communications center. “I will do the best job I possibly can. Communication is in my blood,” he said.

 

© Copyright 2006 by Hersam Acorn newspapers