Canton Voters To Decide Emergency Radio Funds

CANTON, CT — Voters Wednesday will have the final say on an appropriation that could, very well, save lives in the form of new, modern emergency communications equipment.

The Town of Canton will have a special town meeting on Wednesday, Sept 14, at 7 p.m. at the Canton Community Center to vote on accepting an award to pay for the upgrades.

In May, the State Bond Commission voted to award the Town of Canton a $550,000 grant for the replacement of its communications console and to renovate the room in which the console is housed.

On Sept. 8, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, state Rep Eleni Kavros-DeGraw, D-Avon, and local leaders announced this investment in the Canton Police Department and the town's public safety services.

“After the men and women who comprise any town's public safety-and law enforcement network, the communication system may be the next most important aspect to ensure a safe community," said Canton Police Chief Christopher Arciero in a Town of Canton Facebook post.

"The dispatch center is the hub of the wheel which many stakeholders rely on for safety communications. The upgrade to Canton's radio console is an important step toward the future build-up of our radio system.

"As such, the CPD extends its sincere appreciation to state Rep Eleni Kavros-DeGraw for her actions and results achieved, and support from the Governor's Office, town officials and the state bond commission.

"The radio console upgrade will support the continued critical communications needs for the PD, FD, EMS, Emergency Management/Operations Center, Public Works and CERT.”

For more information, visit Townofcantonct.org.