During tonight’s virtual joint meeting of the Finance and Public Protection committees, the pandemic, new dispatching center, as well as new hires will all be part of the discussion of the members attending.

They’ll be discussing an additional appropriation of $508,470 towards the new Westport-Fairfield Dispatching center, making the original 2017 proposal of 1.42 million a (now) total of 1.92 million dollars. The center will be housed at Sacred Heart University’s West Campus, or the former GE headquarters, in Fairfield.

They’ll also discuss funding related to four vacancies within the Westport Police Department’s ranks, as well a request for an additional $380,000 to be moved from the General Fund into the COVID-19 account for pandemic related costs, such as employee testing.

Hurricane Isaias will make its (monetary) return, with a $780,000 request of funds moved into the August storm’s specific account for all storm related expenses.

Click here for full agenda and Zoom link for the 6:00 PM virtual meeting.