Arundel Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to terminate the town’s Public Safety Answering Point contract with Sanford and signed a Public Safety Answering Point and dispatch services contract with the Biddeford Police Department.
Sanford Regional Communications Center has fielded Arundel’s emergency calls since 2009. As Arundel’s Public Safety Answering Point, Sanford transfers the town’s 911 calls to Ken
nnebunk where the calls are dispatched.
Arundel Town Manager Todd Shea at a meeting Monday said because Kennebunk chose to regionalize its dispatch services to Sanford, Arundel had to decide where to go with its dispatch services.
Arundel Fire Department recommended the town terminate the existing contract with Sanford and consolidate both services to Biddeford.
Biddeford costs just over $78,000 for three years and Sanford costs nearly $86,000. Biddeford requires additional start up costs of around $13,000 and Sanford has a 3 percent increase per year.
Shea said the town in four years will recoup the start-up costs.
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I think it might be time to look at consolidating and or contracting out fire services. Keep the rescue in town as those extra few seconds saved on a call can save a life. Half the fire department in Arundel is tied to Biddo hence the recomendation. I wonder if we contract out, how much money we will save. Between Kennebunk, Port and Biddo, I would think fire service would be just as good, and savings can be had.
ReplyDeletehuh, how much of our budget is Fire? I agree Rescue should stay in town for sure, but since we are contracting out, that might be cheaper...
ReplyDeleteAnyone know how much of our budget is for Fire Services?
If anyone wants to know what the budgets are for any department, you can go down to town hall and ask, or even pick up a town report book to get the answer that you are looking for.
ReplyDelete