Liberty dispatchers plan meeting on 911

LIBERTY -- Township police dispatchers will have an informational meeting at 7 tonight at the township administration building to discuss a possible merger with Trumbull County 911.
Dispatcher Cindy Emmert, who is in charge of communication for the local Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said it's the union's understanding that the merger will take place in January.
Township administrator Patrick J. Ungaro said trustees have made no decision on a merger, but the state auditor recommended that the township pursue some sort of merger as a cost-cutting measure.
Ungaro said that because of $2 prescription co-payments for the police department and because the township is self-insured, insurance costs have increased from $500,000 to $800,000 annually.
Emmert said there are other ways for the township to cut costs. Also, the township had been a member of the county emergency system but it didn't work out, she added. The township has four full-time and four part-time dispatchers.