Committee discusses regional services, dispatch and Cross Insurance Arena operations during budget review

Committee members used the Dec. 19 meeting to press the county on regionalization and shared services, asking where county consolidation could lower municipal costs. Dustin Ward, a select board member from New Gloucester, and other committee members urged the county to take a leadership role while respecting town home-rule.

Theresa Grover said the county has already provided regional services for assessing, dispatch and general assistance and will continue to work with towns when they request partnership. "We've proven it through our assessing office with dispatch, general assistance," she said, adding the county typically waits for towns to request services rather than imposing consolidation.

Committee members also scheduled follow-up presentations from Cross Insurance Arena management, emergency management (EMA) director Michael Durkin and communications/dispatch staff. Grover reported the Cross Insurance Arena "turned another profit a year" and that arena management projects about 120 events and per-capita revenues when the full arena budget is finalized in March; the arena is also planning capital work including roof-truss reinforcement and sound-system upgrades.

Committee members asked communications/dispatch to provide call-volume numbers, 9-1-1 answered calls, false-alarm statistics and call-type breakdowns for 2023. Members also discussed purchasing and fleet consolidation opportunities for supplies, vehicles and equipment at a regional level.

The Finance Committee will invite Cross Insurance Arena, EMA and communications/dispatch to future meetings for operational briefings as part of the budget review.