East Lyme - First Selectman Mark Nickerson has told the town's emergency dispatchers that he doesn't intend to move the local dispatch center out of town "anytime soon, if at all."

Nickerson wrote in a Feb. 26 letter to dispatchers that he was seeking to clarify his thoughts and actions, in light of "rumors and misstatements" about his intention to regionalize the center.

Nickerson said discussions on regional dispatch have been ongoing for years. He said he has discussed proposals for the town to join the regional dispatch Colchester Emergency Communications, also called KX in Montville, and for a proposed regional center for Waterford, East Lyme and New London.

"My determination is this: I have no intention of moving our dispatch center out of town anytime soon, if at all," he wrote. "I know this is [an] emotional issue for some; especially those whose livelihoods are dependent on these jobs. Additionally there is a sense of pride in our community that we serve and care for one another. That community spirit is a very special commodity that cannot be bought by a few dollars in savings."

His goal is "to make our dispatch center the finest, most professional service available with the most efficient cost to the taxpayers," he continued.

Council 4 AFSCME, which represents the town's full-time dispatchers, issued a press release on Sunday that lauded Nickerson's letter.

"This is great news," said Forrest Andrews, a 911 Dispatcher and president of AFSCME Local 1303-436 in a statement. "We look forward to working with our First Selectman and other leaders in continuing to deliver the gold standard of quality public emergency services that our community has come to enjoy."

Andrews said, in a phone interview, that there is concern that regional dispatch would take away East Lyme's "small-town community." He added that many dispatchers - who have experience as flight medics, paramedics and career firefighters - have been with the town for more than a decade.

"We feel our resources and years of experience bring a lot to the table and how we can serve the community," he said.

While there have been no formal announcements, Andrews said there is some concern that regionalization could bring layoffs, especially among part-time dispatchers.

Larry Dorman, public affairs officer for Council 4 AFSCME, said three-full time dispatchers belong to the union, and there is a vacancy. Dorman said the workers brought their concerns about public safety under a regional model to the selectmen and discussed them with the public safety community and on social media.

Discussions on regionalization of dispatch among East Lyme, Waterford and New London began years ago. A study on the consolidated dispatch released in 2013 said a dispatch center, recommended to be located in Waterford's existing facility, would lead to savings in equipment and manpower costs, as well as safety improvements. The study estimated the center would retain all of the 21 full-time dispatch positions in the three communities, but that 25 part-timers would not be needed. At the time of the study, East Lyme employed four full-time dispatchers and 16 part-time dispatchers.

State Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, introduced a bill in January in the state legislature that would enable the three communities to regionalize their dispatch operations, but the decision will be among the communities' three chief elected officials.

"It's my hope that the legislature will pass the bill with the enabling language, and at least then the three towns will have the opportunity for discussion," said Formica.

Nickerson said in a phone interview that nothing is being ruled out. He noted that the bill would need to pass the legislature before a proposal would formally come to the selectmen.

"At this moment, I'm not looking for ways to regionalize dispatch," said Nickerson. "I'm looking at ways to keep dispatch local and realize efficiencies within the department."

Waterford Lt. Brett Mahoney, one of the architects of the proposal to regionalize emergency dispatch centers, said he had heard nothing to suggest East Lyme was backing out of ongoing discussions.

With the three communities often sharing responses by police, fire and emergency services because of their close proximity, Mahoney said regional dispatch would bring better information sharing that would benefit the communities.

Day Staff Writer Greg Smith contributed to this report.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich