In light of the state's desire to reduce the number of Public Safety Answering Points statewide, the Town of Cape Elizabeth has joined with Scarborough and South Portland in recommending that one point be established for the three communities.

The point, or PSAP, would be a call center for 9-1-1 emergencies and would not at this time replace individual dispatch centers.

In April 2004, Town officials recommended that Cape Elizabeth not merge its Public Safety dispatching services with South Portland. Although the Town might have realized some monetary savings by merging its dispatching center with South Portland, Town Councilors agreed that the savings would not be worth losing round-the-clock service and support provided by the Town's Public Safety dispatch.

But this time, officials are recommending a consolidation with South Portland and Scarborough as the state's Emergency Services Communication Bureau seeks to reduce the number of PSAPs in Maine from 48 to between 16 and 24.

Because of the area's large population, more than 50,000; and because the three communities are already sharing Public Safety resources and providing some services jointly, Town Manager Michael McGovern said that it makes sense to consolidate PSAPs for the three communities into one. Cape Elizabeth either had a choice of working with Scarborough and South Portland, or begin lumped with Cumberland County. "We weren't interested in being part of a county system," McGovern said in a telephone interview.

Leaders from all three communities have recommended a joint South Portland/Scarborough/Cape Elizabeth PSAP to the Public Utilities Commission. McGovern said the PUC will likely issue a report of its recommendations in January, and the next step, if a joint PSAP is approved, would be to decide where the PSAP should be.

While the PSAP would handle only 9-1-1 calls initially, the communities are continuing to look at combining dispatch services over all. "There is a real push at the state level to look at regionalization," McGovern said.

McGovern said he approves of a centralized office for 9-1-1 emergency calls. More than one dispatcher at a regional office could handle more simultaneous calls than could a single dispatcher in the Cape Elizabeth. But, he said, he is not convinced that consolidating all dispatch services would result in savings of operating dollars or improve service. More information is needed.

McGovern said, "I am not endorsing consolidating dispatch. But I do endorse a look at it."

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• Savings not enough to warrant Public Safety dispatch consolidation (04/14/04)