Officials from both towns have high hopes for a recently struck deal to have Standish dispatch emergency calls for the town of Sebago starting in July when the new fiscal year begins.

“I think it’s going to work phenomenally. It’s going to be seamless,” said Martin Jordan, Standish Fire Chief. The deal will have Standish dispatchers handle both fire and emergency medical service calls. The contract cost the Sebago Fire Department about $8,000 for the one-year contract and includes an option to be renewed next year.

Sebago emergency services currently has a dispatch contract with Naples Fire and Rescue. Standish and Sebago do not have police departments, both use the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, for law enforcement.

Sebago Town Manager Robert Nicholson said he’s more than pleased with the dispatch service Naples has provided in the past, but said its bid this year was about $10,500; more than 25 percent more than the Standish dispatch offer.

“Standish is like the local hardware store that gives you the same prices Wal-Mart would,” said Nicholson “You don’t have to leave town and you get the same deal.”

Nicholson said Naples also offered an inclusive contract that would require Sebago to help pay for dispatch equipment that breaks down, while Standish did not.

“We’re very sad to lose them,” Deb Plummer, communications director for the Naples dispatch center. “It’s been a great working relationship with them. Unfortunately, we can’t go lower with our price.”

Standish and Sebago town officials are also discussing the idea of a joint fire station in Sebago along Route 114 that would serve both towns.

“It makes a lot of sense because we do so much joint training with Sebago,” said Standish Town Manager Gordy Billington. Firefighters from both towns regularly work with each other,

“We go to all of their calls where a ladder (truck) is required because they don’t have a ladder,” said Jordan. He said the two towns have not finalized anything any plans for the joint station, but they are both interested.

Nicholson said Sebago’s Tanker 2 must be replaced in two years. A new one will cost about $300,000. A possible solution would be for Sebago to build a fire station in the Long Beach area and Standish would buy a new tanker. While Standish would own the new vehicle, it would respond to calls from both towns.

“It’s about sharing costs,” said Nicholson.