After a much-publicized tit-for-tat, the Shumlin administration and the E911 board have agreed to a temporary detente over dispatch service.
Officials from the governor’s office and the board agreed to continue 911 dispatch service in Rockingham and Williston for the time being.
The E911 board issued a statement yesterday saying the Shumlin administration had asked for a discontinuation of local service as part of a cost-cutting measure. That proposal drew immediate fire from the Vermont State Employees Association.
On Tuesday, the two sides issued a joint statement. In future, the board and the commissioner of public safety agreed to “a deliberative process before pursuing any changes to 911 service.”
Gary Taylor, board chair of E911, and Vice Chair Roger Marcoux, and Secretary Justin Johnson and Commissioner Keith Flynn issued a joint statement:
“We want the public to know we are committed to working together to resolve any lingering budgetary or policy differences. Most importantly, everyone should know that regardless of any disagreements on policy, when you dial 911 you will have a dedicated state or local official on the other end of the line ready to respond. That is what we have today and we are committed to ensuring that continues to be the case going forward.”
