Town Meeting OKs New Dispatch Center, Police Station Addition

Town Meeting on Monday backed the $5.5 million plan to build a new dispatch center, renovate the police station and build an addition.

The Salem News reported that town officials are hoping to bring other communities on board to join the dispatch center. Salem and Hamilton are two communities that have shown interest.

Danvers previously explored joining a regional dispatch center at the Essex County Sheriff’s Office in Middleton, but ultimately decided against it.

The Board of Selectmen received three police station options that ranged in price from $4.4 million to $6.5 million. The proposal brought before Town Meeting on Monday was the second option that will include a two-story addition that is smaller than the most expensive option and would put the dispatch center on the first floor.

Police and town officials said the addition and new dispatch center are needed because the current dispatch isn’t big enough and the station needed updating. The police station has not been renovated since it opened in 1977.

Read more about the Town Meeting vote.