Dispatching turf

During his 1994 campaign and the early days of his administration, Gov. Angus King wisely suggested that municipalities concerned about taxes should look not just to Augusta for relief, but within as well: neighboring communities should consolidate services wherever possible, and emergency dispatching would be a good place to start.

In an interview last week, the governor expressed considerable frustration that his good advice has largely gone unheeded, with efficiency and effectiveness losing out to worries about local control and turf. The opposition by Bangor police, firefighters and dispatchers to the Penobscot Regional Communications Center is one example.

The arguments raised by the city workers, that joining the new regional system would sacrifice public safety, personal attention and accountability, have a strong emotional content but little substance.

The regional center has on board experienced communications officers with training that surpasses that needed for state certification. The equipment is state-of-the-art, communication between the station and those at the scene is in no way compromised. Nothing prevents a department from having a person at the front desk 24 hours a day to deal with the public — he or she just won’t be juggling face-to-face contact with taking emergency phone calls. Accountability is ensured by each community’s representatives on a board of directors.

And, as a bonus, participation in the program could save Bangor taxpayers at least $50,000 the first year and more than double that thereafter.

After 18 months of pondering, the City Council will decide whether to join the regional effort Monday. That Bangor’s participation hinges upon negotiations with its police and fire unions suggests that this is an issue more about organized labor’s wants than the public’s needs.

Already, there are suggestions that the city wait another year or so to see how the system works. The additional delay is unnecessary — Bangor is not blazing trails here. Other counties — Washington, Oxford and Lincoln — have gone regional and the results have been both effective and thifty. Knox County towns, after years of wrangling, appear on the verge of settling their differences and joining hands.

The governor raised a valid, if conveniently ignored, point — City Hall is just as adept at wasting money as is the State House. Advances in communications technology are delivering more bang for the buck in business, education and every other field of human endeavor. Municipal taxpayers should be allowed to enjoy the fruits of this progress as well.