By Amanda Pinto, Register Staff
08/22/2008
Officials Thursday dismissed rumors that Madison and Clinton were in talks to merge their police departments, saying the plan never moved beyond discussion stages.
Madison First Selectman Al Goldberg acknowledged that, within the last two months, he discussed a plan to combine the towns’ police resources with Clinton First Selectman William Fritz, but that both towns decided they did not want to pursue the issue.
Goldberg said he and Fritz meet regularly to discuss sharing assets. He said the subject of the police departments was discussed as part of a “long list of things” the towns were considering as ways to work together.
“We have decided that the police aren’t on our list,” Goldberg said.
He declined to say what other issues are on that list.
Fritz was out of the office Thursday afternoon and could not be reached for comment.
Clinton Police Chief Joseph Faughnan said if the police department merger were to be explored, it would be initiated by selectmen in each town and then discussed with the police departments.
Faughnan said he has not had any discussions about the issue with Clinton selectmen.
Combining services along the Shoreline is a topic that has been discussed in the past. Towns are already coordinating for some services, such as garbage removal, Goldberg said.
Madison and Guilford considered regionalizing an emergency dispatch center as recently as two years ago, Madison Board of Police Commissioners Chairman Emile Geisenheimer said.
Asked if regionalizing dispatch were still a possibility, Goldberg said: “It’s not a live issue, as far as I’m concerned, but it should be investigated from time to time.”
Goldberg said selectmen are not discussing merging the dispatch centers.
Ronald Suraci, executive director of the union that represents Madison police officers and dispatchers, said no plans to combine services were under way.
Amanda Pinto can be reached at apinto@nhregister.com or 789-5734.
İNew Haven Register 2008