OLD ORCHARD BEACH – The town’s 911 calls and non-emergency dispatch calls will soon be handled by the Sanford Regional Communications Center.

Town councilors voted unanimously this week to turn over 911 emergency calls, which are now handled by Scarborough, and non-emergency calls, now handled by Old Orchard Beach dispatchers, to Sanford to save money.

The town will sign a five-year contract with Sanford, said Town Manager Jack Turcotte. While the contract will cost the city $300,000 a year, he estimated it will save $135,000 a year.

The Old Orchard Beach Police Department now has six dispatchers for non-emergency calls. Turcotte said those employees have found new jobs, with Sanford or other services.

“Our dispatch personnel anticipated this coming,” Turcotte said. “All those that needed employment would have had it in Sanford if they wanted.”

The Sanford Regional Communications Center answers all 911 calls from a dozen York County towns, and dispatches the towns’ police, fire and rescue personnel for non-emergency calls.

The consolidation is expected to happen April 1 and will cost the town $124,000 to complete, Turcotte said.

He said that making the change in the spring will give Sanford time to get accustomed to dispatching for Old Orchard Beach before its population increases from 9,000 to close to 90,000 during the summer.

Staff Writer Emma Bouthillette can be contacted at 791-6325 or at:

ebouthillette@pressherald.com