BIDDEFORD – More than 20 city officials and department heads from Biddeford and Saco met Thursday night to discuss consolidating services to save money in the twin cities.

The cities have had cooperation agreements in various departments for more than a decade. As each one works to finalize its budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, officials are looking for ways to save more money through such agreements.

“We cannot be the only ones struggling through (difficult) financial times,” Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey said.

The discussion at North Dam Mill focused on consolidating public safety dispatching.

The cities’ fire departments now have automatic aid agreements and share standard operating procedures.

Biddeford Fire Chief Joe Warren and Saco Fire Chief John Duross agreed that consolidating dispatching would help the departments increase safety in operations, provide more efficient responses and save money for both cities.

The two police departments share statewide operating standards but don’t operate cohesively as the fire departments do.

Biddeford Police Chief Roger Beaupre said because the city already dispatches for Dayton, Lyman and Arundel, the technology is in place to take on calls from Saco as well.

Consolidating the dispatching could save Saco $300,000 to $400,000 a year, Beaupre estimated. With about $75,000 needed to make the transition, he said, dispatching could be consolidated within 60 to 90 days.

“But we can’t do that without your council’s approval,” he said to Saco’s city officials.

Consolidation has been discussed at least three times. The Saco City Council voted it down each time, said Saco City Administrator Rick Michaud.

Saco City Councilor Marston Lovell said a few councilors were concerned that, with the consolidation, the front window of Saco’s police station would be left unstaffed. A dispatcher now staffs the window.

Officials asked for the police and fire chiefs from both cities to develop a plan for consolidation that would include exact savings and address staffing the front window in Saco.

They are expected to meet next week to discuss the consolidation further before the city councils consider it.

The group also discussed possibilities for working cooperatively in the finance and assessing departments.

Biddeford Finance Director Curt Koehler said the cities use similar systems for some functions but agreed with Saco Finance Director Cheryl Fournier that sharing one director would be difficult.

Fournier said there may be ways for the cities to share software licensing, but it would require the two cities to form a company as one entity.

Lovell said that with Saco’s assessor nearing retirement, another possibility would be to have one tax assessor for both cities.

“If we leave here tonight, then nothing happens, it’s a shame,” said Biddeford City Councilor Ray Gagnon. “We talked about a lot of great ideas.”

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

ebouthillette@pressherald.com