ASHTABULA — City Council talked for three hours Monday about expanding its police dispatching services, but in the end, it was all talk.

Following council's instructions from last week's meeting, City Solicitor Michael Franklin prepared an ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter into contracts with the villages of Andover, Geneva-on-the-Lake and Jefferson providing police dispatching services for three months, with a potential for a one-year extension. The villages would pay the city $6,250 each for the remainder of this year, with a potential renewal for an additional term of one year at the rate of $25,000 each, according to the proposed ordinance.

But, council voted 3-2 not to decide anything Monday night and vote next week on the legislation. Only council members Joseph Rose and Julie Lattimer wanted to go ahead with the vote.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Ericka Severino wanted the ability to negotiate a higher rate.

“We need to look out for our community first,” she said.

Nearly two months ago, Sheriff William Johnson notified the villages that effective Oct. 1, his department would no longer provide dispatching for them at the same price because of budgetary reductions. Johnson said he was raising the fee from $25,000 to $50,000 a year.

“It's all about balancing the budget,” said Johnson, who attended the meeting.

Ashtabula Police Chief Rob Stell said he planned to bring back a laid-off, part-time dispatcher and two dispatcher/corrections officers to do the work. He said it would help the three villages, as well as Ashtabula.

Jefferson Police Chief Steve Febel said he would appreciate the city's services. Jefferson receives about 2,000 calls a year, and it only would need Ashtabula's services from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. Jefferson has a daytime dispatcher, he said.

“We'll pay for the (call forwarding) equipment,” he said.

Chief Tim Bruckman from Geneva-on-the-Lake said, “It's really, really slow off-season at the lake.”

They also use call forwarding and dispatch for themselves 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. in the summertime, he said.

Andover City Solicitor Rich Kotala asked the city for help.

“We are out of a contract,” he said. “We applaud the city of Ashtabula for its leadership role.”

Ashtabula City Manager Anthony Cantagallo said he welcomed the opportunity to help neighboring governments. But Auditor Michael Zullo and some members of City Council raised questions about whether the city could afford to take on the extra work. They also expressed concern about the union's reactions to bringing back laid off dispatchers. Zullo said he worried a dispatcher might fall and file a worker's compensation claim and cost the city thousands of dollars.

Despite Stell's attempts to answer these questions, the arguments seemed endless and without resolve.

Ward 2 Councilman Pugliese wanted to know why the city couldn't dispatch for the city fire department as well. Right now, the city pays Saybrook Township $17,000 a year to dispatch fires.

City Fire Chief Ron Pristera said, “It's apples and oranges.”

He said dispatching fires is much different than dispatching police calls. A dispatcher on a fire must devote all attention to a fire, Pristera said.

“Please, leave us out of this,” he said.

Stell reminded council the villages are on a tight timeline.

“They need something the next two weeks,” he said. “I have three people now (who can start work).”

Council meets again at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.