LONGPORT – Police Chief Vince Pacentrilli said Tuesday that the borough will not be merging its dispatch services with that of Margate for the time being.

Discussions have been ongoing over a period of several years.

“What we found is that it sounds like a good plan, but that was an effort that just could not work. Our equipment and Margate’s will not interface,” Pacentrilli said.

“We began talks with possibly moving our dispatch service over with Ventnor and it seemed like it was going to fall into place,” he said.

“Then came the announcement from the county that they would be putting a countywide dispatch system into place. That halted our talks with Ventnor if there would be another possible solution. We have just recently been informed that a countywide system might be another two to two and half years away. So we are in a holding pattern of sorts at this point.”

The chief said there was no advantage to either community to spend money to bring their dispatch systems together if in a few years they would have to change it once again.

Pacentrilli added that Longport residents like the dispatch system in town and that when they call the station there is someone there.

“My thoughts about making a change are that if the savings is not significant, like a six-figure savings, then it might not make any sense to make a change for the sake of change. At this point we are really looking forward to what Atlantic County will have available,” he said.