Last October 6, 2015, Chief Brooks orchestrated a dog
and pony show in order to keep the Lisbon Communication Center from closing
after, he, himself worked for months with Sheriff Samson on the details for consolidating
the communication center with the Androscoggin County Dispatch to provide
emergency dispatching. As a result of this performance the Town
Council voted to stop moving forward.
Councilor Bickford made the
motion and Councilor Metivier seconded the motion. Councilors Brunelle and Crafts vote in favor
of stopping the consolidation. As a result of
this vote the town has been forced to pay, as of May 31, 2016, a total of
roughly $222,530.00 tax dollars. Had the town continued to move; the
town would have been receiving emergency dispatching from Androscoggin County
Dispatch. This would have saved the taxpayers appropriately $100,000.00 in
this year’s budget instead of feeding one man’s ego.
I have shown in numerous
articles the fraud, waste and abuse this communication center has cost the
taxpayers of this community. Each day
that goes by, cost the town more and more tax dollars. Androscoggin County Dispatch needs several
months to move Lisbon/Durham emergency dispatch over. It is not like Central Maine Power; you throw
a switch and it is done. That means more money will be wasted
during this process.
The previous Town Council was convinced that it was
the right thing to do because they were already in the process of making it
work. Chief Brooks stabbed the town in the back by
forcing these Councilors to vote to stop moving forward to improve our
community. The town has to get the “Good Old Boys”
network out of politics and force the Town Council to vote what is best for the
community instead of their friends and neighbors.
A critical factor to consider is that ALL
emergency situations MUST go through the Maine State 911 Emergency system to
ensure our citizens receive the fastest and best service available. When an emergency situation is received
it should be by the best qualified personnel receiving the call and they should
dispatch our First Responder directly within having to relay information through
our communication center before First Responders can be dispatched. Androscoggin County Dispatch has 911 operators and Emergency
Medical Dispatchers on duty at all times.
Lisbon’s Communication Center does not have any dispatchers qualified as
911 operators or Emergency Medical Dispatchers and therefore are unable to
provide the best service possible to our residents. Time is the
most critical factor in an emergency medical situation and non-qualified
personnel cannot provide this service. Keep in mind, only Emergency Medical
Dispatchers can determine an Emergency Medical Code that is needed by First
Responders to provide critical services to victims that will increase their
chances of survival.
Please call your Councilors and demand that they vote to
continue on with switching emergency dispatching to the Androscoggin County
Dispatch or whatever Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) where qualified
personnel can dispatch First Responder directly upon receiving the 911 call.
Larry Fillmore
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