Dispatch consolidation between Scarborough and OOB still uncertain
Dispatch consolidation between Scarborough and OOB still uncertain
By Lucas Knowles
Editor
It was thought that Scarborough might start taking Old Orchard Beach’s 911 and dispatch calls this fall. Now, a start date and the specifics of a plan remain up in the air.
At a workshop in May, it was revealed to town councilors in Scarborough that officials in Old Orchard Beach had expressed an interest in contracting to have Scarborough perform the town’s 911 answering and dispatch services.
Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland began talking about consolidating their 911 answering and dispatch services in late 2004 because of a state mandate to reduce the number of PSAPs (public safety answering points), or 911 answering points. Old Orchard Beach entered into talks with the communities earlier this year.
The four communities have applied to the state for two PSAPs – one in South Portland that would also service Cape Elizabeth and one in Scarborough that would also service Old Orchard Beach.
There are currently 13 PSAPs in Cumberland County. The Maine Public Utilities Commission has tentatively approved five PSAPs to be housed in the county as part of the reduction statewide. Communities had to be part of a consolidated PSAP in Maine by July 1 of this year or the state would have made the decision for communities.
Scarborough Town Manager Ron Owens said officials in Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach had reached a verbal agreement that a target date for Scarborough taking Old Orchard Beach’s 911 and dispatch calls of Oct. 1 or Nov. 1 of this year. Those dates have passed and, according to Owens, Scarborough is waiting for issues to be resolved in Old Orchard Beach.
“Right now, (Scarborough) is waiting to see what’s going to happen,” Owens said. “We are hoping that some decisions are made so we know we can move forward with this.”
Owens said the agreement was reached because the arrangement would present cost savings for both communities and Old Orchard Beach would be able to avoid the cost of upgrading its dispatch equipment. Owens said Scarborough “has told Old Orchard Beach that it is willing to contract to provide full dispatch service,” but the details of the contract are still being resolved.
Both Old Orchard Beach Deputy Police Chief Keith Babin and Town Manager Jim Thomas confirmed that Old Orchard Beach did apply to have Scarborough be its PSAP, but the newly elected Town Council needs to make decisions on the direction of any agreement for total dispatch consolidation.
Thomas said he thought “Scarborough would be a good option for Old Orchard Beach” because of the relationship between the two communities.
“We do a lot with Scarborough right now and we have a very good working relationship,” Thomas said “I thought it would be a natural fit.”
Thomas said while Old Orchard Beach has applied to have Scarborough answer its 911 calls, whether Scarborough will answer all of the dispatch calls from Old Orchard Beach is unknown. He said any agreement that is reached between the two municipalities would be a “fee for service agreement.”
Thomas expects the Old Orchard Beach Town Council to take up the subject of dispatch consolidation with Scarborough in the next 60 days.
By Lucas Knowles
Editor
It was thought that Scarborough might start taking Old Orchard Beach’s 911 and dispatch calls this fall. Now, a start date and the specifics of a plan remain up in the air.
At a workshop in May, it was revealed to town councilors in Scarborough that officials in Old Orchard Beach had expressed an interest in contracting to have Scarborough perform the town’s 911 answering and dispatch services.
Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland began talking about consolidating their 911 answering and dispatch services in late 2004 because of a state mandate to reduce the number of PSAPs (public safety answering points), or 911 answering points. Old Orchard Beach entered into talks with the communities earlier this year.
The four communities have applied to the state for two PSAPs – one in South Portland that would also service Cape Elizabeth and one in Scarborough that would also service Old Orchard Beach.
There are currently 13 PSAPs in Cumberland County. The Maine Public Utilities Commission has tentatively approved five PSAPs to be housed in the county as part of the reduction statewide. Communities had to be part of a consolidated PSAP in Maine by July 1 of this year or the state would have made the decision for communities.
Scarborough Town Manager Ron Owens said officials in Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach had reached a verbal agreement that a target date for Scarborough taking Old Orchard Beach’s 911 and dispatch calls of Oct. 1 or Nov. 1 of this year. Those dates have passed and, according to Owens, Scarborough is waiting for issues to be resolved in Old Orchard Beach.
“Right now, (Scarborough) is waiting to see what’s going to happen,” Owens said. “We are hoping that some decisions are made so we know we can move forward with this.”
Owens said the agreement was reached because the arrangement would present cost savings for both communities and Old Orchard Beach would be able to avoid the cost of upgrading its dispatch equipment. Owens said Scarborough “has told Old Orchard Beach that it is willing to contract to provide full dispatch service,” but the details of the contract are still being resolved.
Both Old Orchard Beach Deputy Police Chief Keith Babin and Town Manager Jim Thomas confirmed that Old Orchard Beach did apply to have Scarborough be its PSAP, but the newly elected Town Council needs to make decisions on the direction of any agreement for total dispatch consolidation.
Thomas said he thought “Scarborough would be a good option for Old Orchard Beach” because of the relationship between the two communities.
“We do a lot with Scarborough right now and we have a very good working relationship,” Thomas said “I thought it would be a natural fit.”
Thomas said while Old Orchard Beach has applied to have Scarborough answer its 911 calls, whether Scarborough will answer all of the dispatch calls from Old Orchard Beach is unknown. He said any agreement that is reached between the two municipalities would be a “fee for service agreement.”
Thomas expects the Old Orchard Beach Town Council to take up the subject of dispatch consolidation with Scarborough in the next 60 days.
Comments