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Seymour board tables plan to shift police dispatch to regional center pending budget review
Summary
The Board of Selectmen discussed moving Seymour Police dispatching to the Northwest Connecticut Public Safety Communication Center, heard two cost scenarios and concerns about training and liability, and voted 6-0 to table the proposal pending further vetting and resident feedback.
The Seymour Board of Selectmen discussed a possible transfer of the town’s police dispatch to the Northwest Connecticut Public Safety Communication Center and voted to table the plan while the board examines budget implications and seeks public input.
The discussion opened with the chair noting prior presentations by the police chief and a draft set of frequently asked questions compiled by staff member Kurt. Members said they had two general options from the chief: an immediate regionalization that would require a substantial initial outlay (members referenced figures of about $300,000 this year and $400,000 next year) or a lower-cost path focused on training local staff at roughly $100,000 so the department could maintain interim dispatching while planning a longer-term solution. “I don’t think it’s financially feasible for us to do this,” the chair said, adding that regionalization is likely the future but that the timing must fit the town’s budget priorities.
Several selectpersons raised liability and staffing concerns if training is delayed. One member said that without trained dispatchers “we would be open to liability since we publicly recognize the fact that they're not trained,” and urged the town to ensure at least some staff are trained even if regionalization proceeds later. Members also discussed state grant opportunities tied to regionalization and reported outreach to neighboring mayors as part of valley-level talks on consolidation.
Board members questioned the Northwest center’s past performance after hearing anecdotal reports of problems from some dispatchers and former dispatchers; one member said those accounts require careful vetting. The board also objected to the term “dark room” for remote dispatching as misleading and agreed to circulate the FAQ publicly so residents can submit questions and feedback.
Following discussion, Selectperson Scott moved — and Trish seconded — a motion to table the dispatch transition and to consider it in the 2026–27 budget cycle; the motion carried 6-0. The board directed staff to finalize and distribute the FAQ and to gather resident questions and cost alternatives ahead of future budget deliberations.
Next steps: the board will collect public feedback on the FAQ, continue conversations with neighboring municipalities about regionalization and review possible grant funding and phased training options during the upcoming budget process.
