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County commissioner tells Rockport Select Board 911 center fully staffed; new county fire/EMS coordinator named
Summary
Knox County Commissioner Mark Ratner told the Select Board the county 911 call center is now nearly fully staffed (one vacancy) and introduced Bob Coombs as a new county fire and EMS coordinator intended to improve coordination across towns and departments.
Mark Ratner, county commissioner for District 3, addressed the Rockport Select Board during public comment to introduce himself to new members and provide updates on county public-safety services.
Ratner said the county's 911 call center is doing "really, really well" and that the operation is effectively fully staffed aside from one recent resignation. He also said the county has nominated Bob Coombs as a county fire and EMS coordinator, a position intended to help towns and fire departments work together by offering technical expertise and coordination without taking operational authority away from local chiefs. "He's really knowledgeable," Ratner said of Coombs.
Ratner also corrected a campaign claim from a recent candidate debate, clarifying that Rockport police officers still bring arrestees to the 72-hour facility in Rockland and that county transfers are handled by Knox County as before.
Why it matters: Staffing and coordination in dispatch and emergency services affect response times and local public safety. Ratner's update signals county-level attention to maintaining 911 operations and improving intermunicipal EMS/fire coordination.
What's next: Ratner encouraged board members to raise questions and thanked them; board members expressed appreciation for his work and the progress at the 911 center.
