BROCKVILLE – Looking for ways to trim the 2019 Brockville budget, the City of the 1000 Islands is looking at possibly following Cornwall by merging its police and fire emergency dispatch systems.
Brockville Police Chief Scott Fraser and Fire Chief Ghislain Pigeon have been asked to look into the Cornwall model and gather information after a budget meeting this week.
Brockville is already looking at a 4.36 per cent tax levy increase for 2019.
In July 2016, Cornwall police moved to take over dispatching for SD&G fire departments. All but North Dundas and South Dundas signed on (North Dundas did not because of an existing contract with Ottawa while South Dundas wanted to stay with Brockville because of its aid agreement with Edwardsburgh-Cardinal). The Cornwall Fire Department was already dispatched by the CCPS prior to 2016.
In Brockville, the Brockville Fire Department dispatches for Leeds-Grenville and South Dundas fire departments, with the exception of Gananoque. The Brockville Police Service handles its own force. Like Cornwall, it’s thought that merging the two dispatch centers could save money through economies of scale when it comes to equipment.
The idea has been floated in Brockville before but was put on the sidelines during the years-long investigation into possibly going with the O.P.P. for the city’s policing needs. That proposal was turned down by council in February 2017 after the municipality found out it would be cheaper to stay with its city police department.