Regional Dispatch Decision Reaches a Crossroads

The cost of emergency dispatch could increase by $180,000 if Hamilton stays on its own ion fiscal 2014.

The cost of emergency dispatch is “deeply critical” to any final decision on the fiscal 2014 Hamilton town budget, Finance Advisory Chairman John McWane told Selectmen on Monday night. Hamilton Selectmen are faced with the prospect of a $180,000 increase in costs to stay on its own and continue to offer emergency dispatch from the Hamilton Public Safety Building. Wenham has decided to leave the two-town dispatch center where it has been a member since the 1960s and join the Essex Regional Communications Center, which is under construction in Middleton. The new dispatch center is expected to begin operations this summer. Hamilton now needs to decide whether it wants to join the regional center, go it alone or try to partner with a different…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Letter to the Editor: First Responders to Collect Food for Acord on Saturday

For the 19th straight year, police officers, firefighters and dispatchers from Hamilton and Wenham will collect food on Saturday for the Acord Food Pantry.

To the Editor: On Saturday, Nov. 17, police officers, firefighters and dispatchers from Hamilton and Wenham will collect food for Acord Food Pantry. We have done this for 19 years and sincerely appreciate the response from the two communities. Acord needs our support during these difficult economic times. The clients are local people who may need some temporary help or may be some of our seniors whose Social Security check does not cover rising heat and medical costs. These people are our neighbors and Hamilton and Wenham have never failed to reach out and help. Please place your non-perishable, non-expired donation in your recycle box and have it out by 9 a.m. on Saturday. Acord composts all expired food items and recycles all the cans …

• Photos (2)

Ipswich Takes 'First, Bold Step' Toward Possibly Joining Hamilton Dispatch

Ipswich will study the possibility of joining Hamilton dispatch with a technical feasability study.

Hamilton and Ipswich will know in just a few weeks what it will take to bring both towns together in the existing emergency dispatch center in Hamilton. On Monday night, the Hamilton Board of Selectmen will be asked to sign an intermunicipal agreement with Ipswich to undertake a Technical Feasibility Study that will look at what would be needed to connect Ipswich into the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center. “(Ipswich) has agreed to take the first, bold step, formally,” said Hamilton Town Manager Michael Lombardo on Friday. The study will cost up to $2,500 for both Hamilton and Ipswich and a draft report will be completed in 4-6 weeks. Hamilton and Wenham have been partners at the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center – in the Hamilton Public …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Hamilton Begins Talks With a Possible New Dispatch Partner

Hamilton has found a possible partner to join its dispatch center after Wenham leaves to join the new regional dispatch center in Middleton.

Hamilton officials are in talks with another community that is interested in becoming an emergency dispatch partner after Wenham’s departure from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center. Hamilton Town Manager Michael Lombardo told the Board of Selectmen this week that he has made contact with one town that is interested in examining the possibly of partnering with Hamilton to provide emergency dispatch services. Wenham joined Hamilton in 1960 to form the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center, which is housed in the Hamilton public safety building. It handles police, fire and ambulance calls around the clock, 365 days per year. But last year Wenham officials decided to join the Essex Regional Emergency Communications Center, which will be located …

• Photos (1)

Wenham Police Handle More Than Two Dozen 'Irene' Calls

Wenham police handled a range of calls during Sunday's storm, including

Wenham police handled 26 calls during Tropical Storm Irene Sunday and nobody was injured, according to Chief Ken Walsh. At least three roads were impassable for a time during the storm, according to a storm wrap-up compiled by Walsh. Grapevine and Great Pond roads and Porter Street were also closed for a time because of fallen trees or power lines. A primary power line also came down on Pleasant Street, he said. A home was also struck by a fallen branch on Porter Street. The areas hardest hit by power outages was Porter Street, a part of Pleasant Street and Great Pond Road, which all went longer than 24 hours without power. Cleanup was completed by both the Wenham Department of Public Works and National Grid, Walsh said, later adding that …

• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

Police Log

Solicitors and Accidental Alarms in Wenham

A roundup of Wenham Police and Fire Department activity for June 15-19.

The following activity for the Wenham Police and Fire Department comes from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center log for Wednesday, June 15 through Sunday, June 19. Wednesday, June 15 11:25 a.m. Somebody was taken to the hospital after an ambulance call to Main Street. 6:06 p.m. A report was written after assistance was provided on Grapevine Road. 6:13 p.m. Solicitors were reported at a Perkins Street address. 6:26 p.m. A lost and found call was handled at the Gravely Pond trail barriers. 6:34 p.m. An animal call was handled on Main Street. 7:42 p.m. Assistance was provided on Grapevine Road. 7:59 p.m. Assistance was provided on Grapevine Road. 10:02 p.m. A vehicle was disabled at Main Street and Fairview Avenue. 10:20 p.m. Assistance was …

• Photos (1)

Wenham Chiefs: Regional Dispatch Transition on Track

The Wenham police and fire chiefs brought the Board of Selectmen up to speed on Tuesday about the ongoing work to transition to a new regional dispatch center in Middleton.

Wenham public safety officials said Tuesday that preparations continue toward transitioning the town's dispatch services to a planned regional center in Middleton. The update comes weeks before Town Meeting voters will face a question asking them to chime in on what they prefer for the town's emergency dispatch operations. Currently, the town’s emergency services are dispatched from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center at the Hamilton public safety building. But next year, Wenham is scheduled to become part of a proposed new dispatch center, to be built on the Essex County Sheriff’s Department property in Middleton that would serve six Essex County communities. Hamilton has, so far, decided against moving to the new center in Middleton and…

• Photos (2)