Town Ponders Merger, Waits For State Law

Last year legislators in Connecticut failed to pass a law that would have required “regionalization” of the state’s public safety answering points (PSAP) in cities under 40,000 population, leaving local politicians wondering what to do as they consider next year’s budget deficits. Besides requiring consolidation, Senate Bill 312 would have cut off state funding for any city that didn’t merge with at least two other jurisdictions. It would also have required the state’s 911 agency to study the current PSAP arrangement, and determine an optimum number of consolidated centers. Recently the town of Ridgefield delayed spending $225,000 on new E911 gear, fearing the legislation may be revived and state reimbursement funds would be withheld. Selectmen in the town of 25,000 residents are also debating whether consolidation would really be a good idea. Read the failed SB312 legislation here, and some pros and cons about the bill here. Read about Ridgefield’s debate here.