Blackstone being courted on dispatch

Town mulls Millville’s request to regionalize dispatch services

BLACKSTONE — Town officials in Blackstone say they will consider neighboring Millville’s request to negotiate an inter-municipal agreement to regionalize dispatch services, but only after a thorough and careful operational and financial analysis to make sure the agreement benefits the residents of Blackstone.

Millville selectmen voted last month to approach Blackstone to see if public safety and town officials in both towns can explore developing a regional dispatch communications agreement. The concept is not a new. The two towns tried to negotiate a similar agreement years ago but were unable to reach an accord. As a result, Millville ended up entering into a regional dispatch agreement with the town of Mendon.

The regional agreement with Mendon expires in November and Millville officials say they want to explore regionalizing with Blackstone because Mendon’s radio system is unable to transmit a clear signal to Millville, despite a technology upgrade by Mendon last year that were supposed to solve the problem. Blackstone’s radio system is more compatible with Millville and therefore Millville is reaching out to that communi-

ty.

“The Millville Board of Selectmen wants to demonstrate to Blackstone that Millville is both sincere and truly committed in its desire to negotiate in good faith and in as transparent a manner as possible,” Millville Town Administrator Jennifer Callahan said in a letter to the Blackstone Town Administrator Daniel Keyes.

“The Millville Board of Selectmen also realizes there has been a history of previous negotiations in which attempts to produce an agreement was not arrived at between the two towns,” Callahan’s letter continues. “The board does not want to repeat that history and we remain hopeful that an agreement between the two towns to share public safety dispatch communications is possible.”

In her letter, Callahan suggested designating a negotiations subcommittee that would be made up of two selectmen from each town, the two town administrators and the police and fire chiefs from each town.

The Blackstone selectmen say they are willing to explore the idea as long as there is a benefit for both towns and that both communities can define the pros and cons and quantify the financial implications of such a move.

Blackstone Selectman Robert J. Dubois said no permanent decision should be made until that process is completed. Dubois also suggested that all selectmen from both towns should sit on the negotiating subcommittee.

“We need to make sure we fully explore the merits of this,” he said. “Cooperation works both ways.”

The Millville board’s vote to approach Blackstone was the result of informal discussions between Callahan, Keyes Millville Police Chief Ronald Landry and Blackstone Police Chief Ross Atstupenas at a recent administrative meeting.

Atstupenas told the selectmen Tuesday that he has no problem partnering with Millville, but said there are many factors, cost and otherwise, to consider, including the fact that Blackstone’s dispatchers are unionized.

Selectmen Chairman Daniel Keefe said he believes its worth exploring.

“It would be a good fit as long as this is negotiated in the best interest of Blackstone,” he said.

At the suggestion of Dubois, Keyes, Atstupenas and Blackstone Fire Chief Michael Sweeney will report back to the board in two weeks with cost estimates, potential savings, staffing requirements and other information.