For years
now, I have been suggesting the closure of the Lisbon Communication Center and
having the Androscoggin County Dispatch take over the responsibility of
dispatching Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical. And for years, the Town Council has voted to
keep Lisbon Communication Center open.
The cost to operate this facility, in
the last budget, was $345,246.00. Now it is a fact that two former Councilors
investigated this very issue and found that the town could save approximately
$200,000.00 taxpayer dollars a year by having Androscoggin Country Dispatch
perform the Lisbon Communication Center functions. To me $200,000.00 is not
chicken feed and should have been considered seriously. However,
Fern LaRochelle, did not want the town to lose control.
During the
Town Council workshop on January 15, 2019, Chief Hagen presented a proposal to
perform dispatching for Gardiner. During
the discussion of this Chairman Norm Albert ask a very important question for
Chief Hagan. It was and I am quoting
from the minutes of January 15, 2019 minutes:
“Councilor Albert asked if
the state would be forcing Lisbon into dispatch service with them. Chief Hagan said eventually, yes, but
probably not within three years. He said
eventually the equipment we have will fail and the cost to replace it will be
significant. Councilor Albert said the
administrative fee should be worth our while.”
This brings
up several important questions:
First
question: “Why are we waiting for the
state, why not do it now when we have an excellent offer from Androscoggin
County Dispatch?”
Second
question: “Why are we waiting until the equipment fails and puts the town in a
crisis?”
Third
question: “Why is the town going to pay a very significant amount of tax
dollars to replace this equipment when the state is going to force us to join
them?”
To me, these
are very important questions. They can all be
eliminated if the town allowed Androscoggin County to take over dispatching
responsibility. It is a fact that by closing the Lisbon
Communication Center will save the taxpayers tax dollars. It is also a fact that it is impossible to
tell the exact amount that will be saved, however any cost saving will help
reduce the operating cost of the town and reduce our taxes. Reducing our taxes should be the number one priority of the
Town Council and the Town Manager.
Unfortunately, they are NOT interested in saving money or reducing
taxes.
Call your Councilors and Diane Barnes
and tell them it is time to start saving tax dollars and no more tax increases.
Larry Fillmore
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