GRAND ISLAND, NY — There’s a growing concern on Grand Island over a proposal that could take emergency calls out of the hands of local dispatchers. Some fear it could slow response times and put lives at risk.
For years, Grand Island has operated its own fire dispatch center, staffed by people who know the roads, the neighborhoods, even the shortcuts. That local service could soon be replaced.
The Town Board is now considering a plan to dissolve the island’s independent dispatch system and shift emergency calls to Erie County’s centralized center in Buffalo. Supporters of Grand Island dispatch say the change doesn’t make sense and won’t save much money…