Athol unions oppose regionalizing dispatch
Police dispatcher Becky Isakson works inside the Athol Police Station on Thursday. Athol’s police, firefighters’ and dispatchers’ unions have submitted letters objecting to regionalization. Recorder Staff/Domenic Poli
Published: 9/23/2016 9:32:50 PM
ATHOL The town’s three emergency services unions have submitted letters objecting to proposed regionalization of their dispatching and blasting what members view as a mishandled process to achieve it.
Unions representing Athol’s firefighters, police officers and dispatchers filed formal opposition with the Board of Selectmen, which two of the letters contend did not properly gather input from the unions. The proposal is 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.