FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners gave the director of the county communications center the go-ahead Tuesday to get information on the cost to provide dispatch services to Livermore Falls in Androscoggin County.
However, they also told Director Stan Wheeler that improving dispatching communications in Franklin County needs to be his No. 1 priority. Wheeler agreed.
Wheeler reviewed the preliminary results of a comprehensive communications study of the Franklin County system with commissioners Tuesday.
Livermore Falls pays $33,941.55 to Androscoggin County for emergency dispatching services. That is in addition to the taxes the town pays to the county, he said.
Wheeler said he learned that several towns in Androscoggin County pay for dispatching services above their county taxes.
Franklin County might want to look into charging towns in Franklin County to provide emergency dispatching services, he said. That may be a way to bring in more money to help pay for communications improvements.
Livermore Falls Town Manager Kristal Flagg sent a letter to Wheeler saying selectmen voted Feb. 26 to see if Franklin County is interested in investigating the cost and feasibility of dispatching for Livermore Falls.
Franklin County dispatches NorthStar EMS ambulances and emergency medical calls to Livermore Falls. When someone in that town dials 911, the call goes to Androscoggin County and is transferred to Franklin County dispatchers.
There is also some cross dispatching when Jay needs assistance from Livermore Falls police and when Livermore Falls needs assistance from Jay.
Town officials believe there has been some “delay” and “confusion” over two counties dispatching ambulances to the town, according to Flagg’s letter.
Wheeler said he sent an email to Androscoggin County Clerk Patricia Fournier per Franklin County commissioners’ directive about Livermore Falls’ request and asked that she give it to Androscoggin County commissioners.
Wheeler asked Franklin County commissioners Tuesday for permission to study providing the service.
There are a number technical issues that would need to be addressed, he said. One of them is how much the cost would be for the migration of Livermore Falls data from Androscoggin’s County’s IMC’s computer-aided dispatch program and public safety record-keeping system.
The two counties use the same software, but Livermore Falls would need to switch its license for the program to Franklin County.
Whenever he has discussed the cost of the migration of data, Wheeler said it has been expensive. That might be a show-stopper right there, he said. He will wait to see how much it would cost before moving forward with the study.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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