Adams joins regional 911 dispatch

Adams is the latest town to transfer its emergency calls to the regional dispatch center run by the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office. The town will continue staffing its own dispatch office at scaled back hours, however, in a compromise approved by the Board of Selectmen last month.

While Adams’ 911 calls will be routed to the regional dispatch center in Pittsfield, which provides services to 25 cities and towns and a population of 34,000, two dispatchers will continue to staff the town’s dispatch center and receive calls to the town’s administrative number from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays. Staff in the town dispatch center will also serve people who walk in seeking assistance.

One dispatcher will be paid from the town’s general fund, while the Adams Ambulance Service and Adams Fire District will contribute $50,000 annually to fund a second dispatcher, Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco told the Berkshire Eagle. The third dispatcher position that currently exists will be eliminated.

Even while retaining two dispatchers, the town projects savings of at least $95,000 annually, with additional savings in the future due to the elimination of capital costs.

The move is also contingent upon Adams receiving a $700,000 Regional Emergency Communication Development grant from the State 911 Department.
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