DEDHAM — It appears the Dedham Fire Department will be switching to the Penobscot Regional Communications Center (PRCC) for its dispatching services.

At the Feb. 7 selectmen’s meeting, a memorandum of understanding between the Fire Department and the PRCC was approved. The agreement outlines the purpose of the relationship and what responsibilities each party agrees to.

“This is only a draft,” Fire Chief Craig Shane said. “Some minor wording choices needed to be changed, but it has been approved.”

Once the new draft is approved and signed, it will act as the agreement between the two parties. The agreement allows either party to end the service if problems arise down the road. There would be no contract deadline restriction.

The move is a change Shane has been working toward since communication issues started between the Dedham and Ellsworth fire departments.

The choice to switch to the PRCC from the Hancock County Regional Communications Center was based on a couple of factors.

“The first major reason for making the move was we could have paid the same amount to Hancock County, but the level of service wouldn’t have been much better,” Shane said.

The amount per year for the PRCC’s services hasn’t been firmed up, but Shane estimated it could be roughly within the same area as the amount listed on the draft memorandum.

“The other reason was most of the mutual aid we receive comes from other departments within Penobscot County,” Shane said.

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