The Town will forego an estimated $42,847 annual savings that could have been realized by consolidating Public Safety Dispatch services with South Portland and retain the local dispatch center in Cape Elizabeth.

Town Councilors voted unanimously April 12 to accept the recommendation to keep local dispatchers made by the Town Manager and by the Police and Fire chiefs.

While consolidating services would save money, councilors and Town officials believed the savings do not approach the benefits of having round-the-clock local coverage of the dispatch center, as well as the other services the Town's four dispatchers provide.

"If we looked at dispatching as an isolated service, one could financially justify a consolidation," said Town Manager Michael McGovern in his recommendation to the council. "But answering 9-1-1 phone calls is not the only service provided by the dispatchers. There is no other clerical support for police personnel. The dispatchers issue permits, greet the public who need to meet with police personnel, maintain departmental records, serve as an information center 24/7 for the community and perform numerous other responsibilities ... " he said.

The estimated savings translated into a savings for the average taxpayer of $8.37 a year, or less than .2 percent of their estimated Fiscal Year 2005 average tax bill of $4,282, McGovern's memo said.

While councilors rejected this proposal for regionalization of services, some said they believed the study was worth the effort.

"Our dispatchers do more than wait for calls for fire and ambulance," said Councilor Carol Fritz. "But it's an exercise worth going through." The Town should continue to pursue ways to work with other communities to streamline and consolidate services, she said.