Lewiston 9-1-1 plans, Auburn call-center proposal and county collaboration discussed; no relocation decision made

Director Hall presented the 9-1-1 budget and updated the council on relocation conversations. He said the search for a new permanent home for the Lewiston center began in 2021 when Auburn planned its public-safety building, and that 85 Park Street (a Lewiston-owned facility under discussion) was chosen for more detailed review earlier in the process. Director Hall said construction estimates for a fully hardened 9-1-1 center at some alternatives he and staff reviewed would be substantial; he noted a previously estimated cost of roughly $4,000,000 for certain retrofit scenarios and that the city and county have studied options.

Councilors asked whether other municipal spaces could accommodate the day-to-day operations of the Lewiston center. Director Hall said he had reviewed city-owned properties and found no practical, ready-to-occupy alternatives large enough for the center and its needs without major renovation. He also described operational collaboration with Androscoggin County: current systems are interconnected and mutual backup is already in place for high call volume. Director Hall said the county and city already collaborate on computer-aided dispatch and radio infrastructure; the county helped fund a shared radio tower and certain IT work.

Councillors asked about co-location and consolidation. Director Hall said that footprint-wise, 85 Park Street could accommodate county and municipal operations if redesigned and that conversations about shared services continue; he cautioned, however, that co-location reduces physical redundancy (if both centers are in the same building they share some single points of failure). The council did not take a final vote on relocation or consolidation at the meeting.