Pepperell Selectmen Vote to Terminate Regional Emergency Dispatch Contract

PEPPERELL — September 25, 2017 — Pepperell selectmen voted unanimously Monday to terminate the town's agreement with the Northern Middlesex Regional Emergency Communications Center, setting aside a proposed April ballot question on the dispatch question. The board had tabled any vote at its previous meeting to allow a subcommittee to confer with public safety officials; Chair Melissa Tzanoudakis said two meetings in the past week were so productive they changed her own position, with Fire Chief Tyler and other public safety officials each affirming the group was "on the same page finally to move forward." Selectman Roland Nutter had originally moved to suspend — not terminate — the contract and place a voter question on the April ballot, but a public commenter, Crystal Jeffries of Heald Street, prompted the board to swap "suspend" for "terminate," and a member's amendment stripped the April ballot question entirely. A potential alternative dispatch arrangement involving towns in the regional school district was described as preliminary, with no partner town having made a commitment.