Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Foxborough signs one-year IMA to align regional emergency communications leadership; officials praise World Cup public-safety work
Summary
The board approved a one-year intermunicipal agreement to have the executive director oversee SEMRECC and Medway emergency communications as part of a staged merger; officials also updated residents on World Cup operations, saying public-safety coordination limited traffic impacts though some uptown businesses reported slow trade during matches.
The Select Board on June 23 described an initial one-year intermunicipal agreement (IMA) intended to advance a planned merger between the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Emergency Communication Center (SEMRECC) and Medway’s communications center (MECC). Under the agreement the executive director, Rob Ridone, will serve as director for both entities to help shepherd a future full merger. The IMA is renewable for one to three years by mutual agreement, either party may terminate with 180 days’ notice, and the first invoice under the arrangement will be issued Aug. 1.
Town staff said the agreement is administrative only: each governance board will retain authority over its respective entity, employment relationships and liabilities will remain with the original employers, exempt staff can be assigned to support the other entity, and the IMA sets a conflict-resolution process. The memorandum also provides a financial arrangement in which MEC will pay SEMRECC $200,000 annually reduced by a $26,000 consulting credit for initial work.
Separately, the town manager updated the board on World Cup-related operations at Patriot Place. Officials said they are more than halfway through matches and reported relatively manageable traffic, crediting close coordination with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and MassDOT and robust public-safety preparations. The board acknowledged anecdotal reports that some uptown businesses have seen decreased foot traffic during match times but said public-safety planning prioritized safe, navigable access and event security.
No formal board vote was recorded on the IMA during the publicly stated update; staff said the arrangement is framed to support a future full merger and to help control costs through shared executive leadership.
