The towns of Gray and Raymond have scheduled a Jan. 15 meeting to discuss issues relating to shared public safety services between the two towns.

The 7 p.m. meeting at the Gray Public Safety building resulted from correspondence between the neighboring towns that was prompted by the Raymond Public Safety department in December.

Raymond Fire Chief Denis Morse, and Rescue Chief Cathy Gosselin went before the Raymond board of selectmen on Dec. 4, where they asked the board to raise concerns to the Gray Town Council about the cost of responding to 911 calls from Gore and Brown roads in Gray.

Gray Town Council members quickly agreed to the meeting after Gray Town Manager Deborah Cabana read a letter from Raymond Town Manager Don Willard asking for the joint meeting at a Dec. 17 town council.

Maine Emergency Management Services protocol designates Raymond as the first responder to Gray residents of Gore and Brown roads who call 911, since their public safety building is close to those homes, which are on the side of Little Sebago Lake opposite the rest of Gray.

In December, Morse told the Raymond Select Board that calls from Gore and Brown roads have cost the public safety department about $30,000 last year. Frazier said if that is true, Gray needs to compensate Raymond.

Despite the geographical logistics, some Gray residents feel that their own town should step in and make sure they, as taxpayers, are taken care of. Justin Frazier, who lives on Gore Road, said he has called 911 in the past while he was experiencing chest pains, and received assistance from Raymond Public Safety workers.

“If (Gray Public Safety) can’t answer the calls because they’re so far away, and they have someone else do it, they’re basically leasing out another service,” said Frazier. “It’s just like anything other responsibility you have.”

Although officials from each town have in the past expressed a willingness to work together amicably on this issue, Gray Town Councilor Tracy Scheckel said she would like to know how public safety assistance from Gray to Raymond compares to the assistance Raymond provides Gray.

For instance, Scheckel said that the town of Gray often responds to emergency calls on North Raymond Road.

“What I would like to know is, who gets where first, and my guess is there is probably going to be a wash,” said Scheckel. “If we are indeed doing the same things for each other, it’s kind of stupid to be charging money back and forth.”

Scheckel added that she does not view the issue as “a big competition”, and that the key is for everyone to cooperate.

“If it turns out that we don’t handle any calls for them, then we’re going to have to compensate them, because we’re not paying taxes to Raymond,” said Scheckel.

Raymond Selectman Joe Bruno commended Gray’s swift response to the request for the meeting, and said he is looking forward to discussions.

“I think Gray recognizes there is a problem, and you’ve got to give them credit for that,” said Bruno. “I think we’re going in with an open mind. We’re not going to draw a line in the sane at all.”

Although the decision on what to do about the issue of shared services is ultimately up to town council and select board members, it is expected that public safety workers, including Morse, Gosselin, and Gray Fire Chief Ricky Plummer, will supply their respective town officials with suggestions.

One idea Plummer has mentioned is the possibility of building a new public safety building in Gray, which would be closer to residents on the other side of Little Sebago Lake. However, such a project requires approval in the town budget.

“I’m looking forward to the exchange of information and I’m curious to see what (Gray) thinks is fair and equitable,” said Morse.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. .