ATHOL — The selectmen have signed a requested letter to the state 911 Department, elaborating on the board’s decision to withdraw from an intermunicipal agreement to regionalize the town’s dispatch services.
The letter explains voters at a special town meeting on Feb. 6 overwhelmingly supported terminating the intermunicipal agreement and on Feb. 21, the selectmen honored the sentiment of that nonbinding vote by issuing a notice of termination allowed under the agreement. The selectmen voted unanimously this week to authorize Town Administrator Shaun A. Suhoski to draft the letter.
The proposal was to consolidate Athol police and fire dispatch with that of Gardner and operate in a regional emergency communication center in the new Gardner police station. The agreement angered many residents and selectmen voted last month to withdraw from the agreement give the required 18 months’ notice to terminate the plan.
Frank Pozniak, executive director of the state department tasked with coordinating and implementing enhanced 911 service, had asked Suhoski to provide public safety benefits associated with terminating the project and address the potential impact of radio coverage in the town.
Pozniak also asked if the public safety benefits outweigh the benefits the town identified in its requests for State 911 Department Development Grant Program funding. In a separate letter, he said he needed the town’s response by Friday, March 24.
Pozniak did not reply to an email requesting comment before press time.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.