County officials discuss spending emergency funds

BANGOR – In East Millinocket, mill cutbacks are putting increased pressures on the local fire department for equipping and training emergency response teams, while in Newport, firefighters have to contend with outdated radios.

Tough decisions lie ahead in Penobscot County as police, fire and local government officials have to decide how best to distribute nearly $1.2 million in federal grant money intended to prepare the region for a worst-case scenario of a possible terrorist attack.

It’s a decision that requires a thoughtful process yet one that has the immediacy of putting the preventative measures and response resources in place before such a incident could happen.

That process, still in its infancy, took a step forward Wednesday when about 30 people met in Bangor to start discussions about where to best place the funding. The meeting of police and fire chiefs and state, municipal and county officers was the first discussion of its kind in the state. Other counties are expected to follow suit, according to a state official.

The Department of Homeland Security’s funding includes money earmarked to eight specific municipalities in the county as well as $422,547 pooled as a countywide resource and another $296,312 set aside for Bangor and the surrounding region designated as a high risk community.

Distributing that money in a way that the state hopes will promote cooperation, regionalization and an interdepartmental communications system won’t be easy.

“Serious competing interests” is how Arthur Cleaves, director of the state’s Emergency Management Agency, described the deliberations that are now before the county representatives.

And although Tom Robertson, the county EMA director said the $1,175,705 currently available could put a substantial dent in the county’s needs, some wanted assurances that a structured review would be in place to make sure the funds didn’t just go to those who first applied for the money.

Chief Deputy Allen Stehle of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department said he didn’t want to see the disbursement of the funds turn into a foot race where only those filing first would win. He saw it as a more cooperative effort.

“We all have to cross the line together,” Stehle said.

While EMA officials are expecting to see fire and police department wish lists cross their desks, communications has become a top contender for the funding, although even there, no strong agreement has emerged. Gov. John Baldacci has asked communities to set aside at least half of their grant money for communications.

Hampden Public Safety Director Joe Rogers said his town is willing to put all of its expected $38,531 toward improving communications and he pressed for other communities represented to stipulate a percentage of their funding to go toward communications.

But others at Wednesday’s meeting said that it was too early to make that commitment, that more information was needed.

“I don’t see how we can commit to anything without a plan and a dollar amount,” said Brewer Fire Chief Rick Bronson.

Improved communications is an issue that likely will be heard around the state as other counties and the state itself grapple with a fractured communications system that doesn’t always allow immediate access between emergency agencies.

A recent assessment found that the cure would be an expensive pill to swallow. Steve Burgess, deputy state EMA director, said it would cost the state $200 million to have interoperable communications.

Orono Fire Chief Lorin LeCleire thinks it can be done for less. Leasing frequency access to a radio tower in Mattawamkeag would give a countywide channel that could connect firefighters with police or transportation workers anywhere in the county at an annual cost of $4,800, he said.

With requests for this round of funding being accepted into 2005, local officials still have time to assess their needs and press their cases.

“Right now we’re trying to find out the rules of engagement,” Old Town Fire Chief Charles Brush said as he left the meeting.