FARMINGTON — A public meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 28, in the Franklin County District Court building to hear comments on the state’s proposed consolidation of 911 communication centers.

The courthouse is at 129 Main St.

“It’s a very important issue. If we don’t address it, sit back and be quiet, we may regret it,” Tim Hardy, Franklin County Emergency Management director, said Friday.

During the county budget public hearing Thursday night, those attending were encouraged to take interest, attend the meeting or post comments on the Public Utilities Commission’s website.

“It’s the most important thing we have going on,” Rangeley Town Manager Perry Ellsworth told the audience.

With the county’s geographically mountainous terrain and remoteness, plus an influx of people here all four seasons, having the PSAP here means more timely, efficient service to the public and the ability to get first responders out quicker. Dispatchers know the geography and where they have the ability to communicate, Hardy said.

The county would still fund a dispatch here but calls to 911 would be answered outside and transferred to the dispatch leaving the local service without a screen showing exactly where you are, he said.

This is the final leg of the process and the state has provided questions for the county to answer by the July 12 deadline. County officials are looking for input from people  throughout the country, he said.