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the move of equipment, the existing agreement between the Town of Chapel Hill and Alarms & Protective Systems was assumed by Orange County. This agreement has now expired. y During the move to the new 911 Center, considerable problems were encountered with moving APS monitoring equipment and telephone circuits for these alarms. This resulted in some alarms not being reconnected for sev- eral weeks. Even though the necessary Coordination and responsibility for moving.these alarms. and circuits belonged to APS, it became necessary for the County to L ecommme involved to correct these problems. All alarms are now operational, but the question of liability to the County should a loss of property occur due to a malfunction of equipment of which the County has no control remains. The history of the County's involve— meat• with the alarms indicates that problems due to equipment failure and maintenance will again occur. Orange County needs to have a relationship with the private alarms service that will provide service to the public, yet protect the County from any liability due to problems/errors beyond the Communications Center's 'control. The Board of County Commissioners should consider the follow— — ing options: 1. Discontinue providing alarm monitoring service since this service is available through private companies. 2. Provide alarm monitoring service, but have a contract with a private alarm service and charge a fee for monitoring the alarms. 3. Provide monitoring service at no cost the private alarm company realizing it is a service to the citizens who would need dispatch service in any event; but have a hold harmless agreement with the private -alarm service. This hold harmless agreement would defend and hold the County harmless from any lawsuits arising out of this service— — thereby, transferring the risk to the vendors. 4.. Renew the previous agreement with Alarm & Protective System,Tnc, that was between Chapel Hill and APS. .;.cr.w-