Millville could save thousands, get state grants if it shares such services with local towns

By SANDY McGEE

MILLVILLE — As a means to reduce costs during a recession, the Millville Police Department is looking at ways to regionalize its dispatcher services for both police and fire.

“We are definitely exploring the possibility of regionalizing,” said Millville Police Chief Ronald S. Landry. “The push behind it is obviously financial. It is a great opportunity for every town to save money. That’s the goal.”
The town could gain a total of $150,000 per year pending approval of a state grant, which is specifically designed for regionalizing emergency communication services. Savings in the thousands are also anticipated through personnel reductions, according to the police chief.
“The first benefit is obviously the money involved,” Landry said. “It’s quite a lot of savings. There’s always been talk in town about regionalizing services. There are certainly incentives.”
Landry recently discussed the possibility of merging services with Mendon and Hopedale officials at a Board of Selectmen meeting in Mendon. These two towns already have plans to consolidate their own dispatcher emergency services by July 1.
While Landry has spoken with officials in Hopedale and Mendon, the town of Millville could partner with other communities.
“We’re not sure what towns we will go with at this point,” Landry said. “We are trying to find the best fit for Millville.”
Landry planned to meet with officials from Uxbridge and Blackstone last week.
If the plan to regionalize becomes approved by the Millville Board of Selectmen, current dispatchers would most likely be laid off.
“It’s a difficult thing,” Landry said about the loss of employees. “We do very well here with our dispatchers.”
The estimated savings in personnel reductions is about $125,000. The town currently employs three full-time and nine part-time dispatchers.
The town could also become eligible to apply for a state grant initiative, entitled “State 911 Department Regional and Regional Secondary Public Safety Answering point (PSAP) and Regional Emergency Communication Center (RECC) Development Grant program.” This program provides funding for start-up and existing regional emergency communication centers.
“They (the state) gives large amounts of funding in grants to regionalize,” Landry said.
If the proposal is approved, residents would see changes at the Millville police station.
While services over the phone would remain the same, those visiting the  station would no longer be able to speak in person with a dispatcher.
“The walk-in service would be impacted,” Landry said. “The station will remain open. You just won’t have the opportunity to speak with a dispatcher in person. You would still be able to come into the station and there would be a phone, where you could call the hosting community.”
In other words, dispatchers in the partnering communities would work from one central communication station outside of town. Those phoning Millville police or fire would be connected with a dispatcher at another location.
The dispatcher would then in turn contact a police officer, firefighter or other appropriate individual in Millville. The town would still employ an administrative clerk for the station during daytime hours.
“This is all preliminary,” said the police chief. “We’re still discussing it and working out the best arrangement.”
Landry hopes to have a presentation ready for the Board of Selectmen within a couple weeks. If approved by the board, fully implementing regional services could take three to four months to complete.