Boston Globe 10/17/10: State grants will fund study of regionalizing emergency dispatch. Two sets of area communities recently received state grants to study the pros and cons of regional emergency-services dispatch centers.

Public safety officials said the study will look at whether a combined communications facility could save money and provide better emergency services for the neighboring towns.

The State 911 Department awarded a $182,000 grant for Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Sherborn, Sudbury, and Wayland to study a regional dispatch center and prisoner lock-up facility. In addition, the department awarded $150,000 for a feasibility study on a regional dispatch center for Acton, Boxborough, Concord, Lincoln, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston.

Sudbury and Wayland are included in both studies, based on their locations between the two clusters of communities, and will be able to explore all of their options, Sudbury Fire Chief Kenneth McLean said.