LISBON

The Lisbon Town Council has decided not to move forward with the consolidation of the town’s dispatch services.

Dispatch consolidation has repeatedly come before the council in past years, most recently in 2015. After much debate, town officials ultimately decided, in a 4-3 vote on Feb. 21, against consolidating with Androscoggin County’s dispatch service, which currently handles the town’s emergency 911 calls.

The council, which has new members, revisited the option in recent weeks.

Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson outlined the dispatch process at a workshop last month: Currently, 911 calls are received by a county dispatcher who relays information to Lisbon’s dispatch center, which then takes appropriate action.

Former councilor Roger Bickford told the council last week that this is the seventh year he’s had to speak on this issue.

“Enough is enough, we have one of the best systems,” Bickford said. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Larry Fillmore, a Lisbon resident, said Androscoggin County receives Lisbon’s 911 calls and is mandated to call the Lisbon communications center before anybody is dispatched.

“Now that’s not the way the system was designed; that’s not the way it is with the rest of the world,” he said. “The rest of the world has the 911 operators dispatching first responders.”

Fillmore said the question should be which is the fastest way to deploy life saving services.

“I’m 70 years old, buddy, I’m not going to be around much longer. When I need somebody, I need them now. I don’t need a relay,” he said.

“If it’s not about the dollars and about the safety, you really need to look at what you’re doing,” Samson said. “The option you’re exercising now probably isn’t the most favorable for your community.”

However, many don’t want to give up local control.

“You’ve got guys and girls sitting in our dispatch that are trained. They are familiar with and care about community,” said Lisbon police officer Jeff Picard. “We’ve got frequent flyers if you will, and I think you lose that community awareness when you start looking elsewhere.”

Councilor Norm Albert said after the workshop, “We realized there are no savings.”

Any savings would be gone in order for Lisbon to hire two police officers to make sure the police station is staffed at night, he said.

“I’m a big fan for keeping it here, for all the right reasons,” Albert said.

Councilor Kasie Kolbe argued it is premature to shut down the conversation. There are other potential business partners the town should talk to, she said. The town can’t afford to keep doing everything in-house and if it does, at what cost to public safety, she asked.

Councilor Chris Brunelle made the motion not to consolidate and to keep dispatch as it is, which passed by a 4-3 vote. Kolbe and Councilors Kris Crawford and Mark Lunt opposed the motion.

The vote

• COUNCILOR CHRIS Brunelle made the motion not to consolidate and to keep dispatch as it is, which passed by a 4-3 vote. Councilors Kasie Kolbe, Kris Crawford and Mark Lunt opposed the motion.