The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Saturday, January 30, 2016

QUALITY OF SERVICE

Back in December 21, 2015, I submitted Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) requesting information from the Town. The FOAA read and I quote “Respectfully Request a copy of ALL certification of Dispatch personnel that pertain to Emergency Service/Dispatch.” Since Lisbon has four (4) regular Dispatchers and six (6) Reserve Dispatchers this should be a simple task. I received information on only nine 9 Dispatchers. One Dispatcher apparently does not have any training or no longer works for the town. However, anytime you are dealing with the Police Department it is never simple.

I received on January 26, 2016, what I perceived to be the information I had requested, especially since it cost me $50.50. I received 71 pages of information which broke down to this: 11 duplicate pages, 5 pages had the Course Name redacted, and one blank page. Since I had to pay $.50 per sheet, 17 pages were completely useless but I still had to pay. Chief Brooks always tries to bury me in paperwork making it more difficult to extract the information I am looking for. Before I accepted this packet, I asked the Town Manager, Diane Barnes if she was comfortable with the information. I also asked the Town Clerk, Twila Lycette, if she was comfortable with the information I was being provided in response to the FOAA. Both said “YES” but I have 17 useless pages.

This gets even worst because even though I submitted this over the Christmas holidays it took 29 days to be completed. Normally, dealing with the Police Department it is around 30 days before I get any response. During the course of this FOAA, I received emails from the Town Clerk. One was asking me to come in the next day between 03:00-03:30 to review the training packets which I refused. Since I asked for copies there should have been no need for me to come in. In another email, I had to explain again, that I was looking for certification of training.

Now, I am going to provide you with a sample of what I received on one Dispatcher:

COURSE NAME DATE COMPLETED

Maine State Police Tier 2 Security Awareness Training 09/11/2015

MAARS-View & APU Operator Certification (State Enhanced 9-1-1 System) 04/5/2001

EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH 12/14/2006

Re-certification (Course Name Redacted) 12/5/2014

Certificate of Attendance (Maine IF&W and Dispatch) 04/10/2013

Certificate of Attendance (School Violence) 04/10/2013

Certificate of Attendance (State Police Cell Analysis Team) 04/10/2013

EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH 12/14/2006

Weapons of Mass Destruction First Responders Awareness Level Course

02/2/2004

EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHER 10/22/2003

Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness Level Course 10/20/2003

Re-Certification as Terminal Operator 07/01/2003

Dispatcher & Domestic Violence Crisis Communication Training Program

10/24/1999

WMD/HAZMAT Awareness – Role of the First Responder 12/18/2007

WMD/HAZMAT Awareness – Impact of WMD/HAZMAT Incidents 12/18/2007

WMD/HAZMAT Awareness – Response, Control and Communication 12/19, 2007

WMD/HAZMAT Awareness – Incident Protective Actions 12/19/2007

WMD/HAZMAT Awareness – Identifying Presence 12/19/2007

This is a sample of what I received for “Certification pertaining to Emergency Services/Dispatching.” I understand a lot of this has to do with Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and HAZMAT Awareness training which could be mandatory training for Dispatchers but I never asked for Certification for Attendance.

This is the quality of service one can expect from the Town of Lisbon.

Larry Fillmore