Volunteers sought to study Manchester dispatch options

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May 18, 2012

Volunteers sought to study Manchester dispatch options

By Andrea Holbrook Staff Writer The Gloucester Daily Times Fri May 18, 2012, 05:55 AM EDT

MANCHESTER — Selectmen are looking for seven people who have no affiliation with the Police or Fire departments and can be independent analysts to investigate public safety dispatch for the town.

The seven will serve as an ad-hoc committee, appointed by selectmen, and will include five residents, a selectmen and one member of the Finance Committee.

The committee will be charged with presenting a preliminary report to selectmen by Oct. 1, and a final report with recommendations by Dec. 5 for the Annual Town Meeting and budget planning purposes.

As part of this charge, committee members will:

Investigate the emergency dispatch system presently in use in Manchester and its capabilities.

Investigate the most efficient emergency dispatch systems for town public safety personnel.

Consider possible dispatch options, including the Essex County Regional Dispatch in Middleton, joining Hamilton and Ipswich in a shared dispatch model, establishing an emergency dispatch system in Manchester and other possible dispatch systems available.

Make recommendation(s) based on the safety of the residents as well as the responding emergency personnel.

Selectmen put out the call for volunteers Tuesday.

Those interested in serving or who have any questions should contact the selectmen's office at 978-526-2000. Otherwise, those interested should complete a committee volunteer application, found on the selectmen's page of the Town's website at www.manchester.ma.us, and mail it to the Selectmen's Office at Town Hall, 10 Central St.; fax to 978-526-2001; or email to thornep@manchester.ma.us.

Selectmen will make the appointments to the committee at their meeting Monday.

Andrea Holbrook may be contacted at 978-946-2256 or aholbrook@gloucestertimes.com.