SCARBOROUGH — Old Orchard Beach can now move forward with its plans to contract with Scarborough for emergency dispatch services, beginning in February.

The Scarborough Town Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a contract to take over dispatching services for Old Orchard Beach as of Feb. 1. The Old Orchard Beach Town Council approved the contract on Aug. 5.

Sanford Regional Communications Center currently provides emergency dispatch services for Old Orchard Beach, and has done so since 2011. Prior to this arrangement, Old Orchard Beach had its own dispatch center. The town had decided to outsource dispatch services to Sanford to save money, and the state was encouraging dispatch consolidation under a proposed plan.

Scarborough Town Manager Thomas Hall said Wednesday night that the town had already budgeted to provide the additional services, and the move won’t bring any additional costs to taxpayers.

Scarborough Town Councilor Katherine St. Clair said she “wholeheartedly” gave the proposal her endorsement. St. Clair said she thought it would be “safer and better” for Old Orchard Beach to be serviced by a town close by, adding that Scarborough dispatch is the “best of the best.”

Scarborough Town Councilor James Benedict said he spoke with town dispatchers and the police department about the arrangement.

“They are 110 percent on board,” he said.

The contract will run from Feb. 1, 2015 through Dec. 18, 2018. The agreement will save Old Orchard Beach about $21,000 annually, though there will be about $62,000 in one-time start-up costs for equipment and technology, according to Old Orchard Beach Town Manager Larry Mead.

Under the terms of the contract, the agreement can be terminated by either Scarborough or Old Orchard Beach, as long as they notify the other town in writing six months prior to the date of termination.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.