Town Administrator Michael Mullen announces that Dighton town officials were honored to accept a $201,000 state Municipal Fiber Program Grant from Lt. Governor Karyn Polito last week.
On Thursday, June 2, Lt. Gov. Polito presented Town Administrator Mullen, Fire Chief Chris Maguy, Police Lt. Shawn Cronin, and Board of Selectmen members Leonard Hull, Peter Caron and Kenneth Pacheco the grant at Taunton City Hall.
Grant funds will be used to connect Dighton’s police and fire department technology with fiber. Currently, the Dighton Police Department, Dighton Fire Station #1 and #2 each have separate internet provider service contracts with no hardwired interconnection between the three facilities. With the assistance of the Taunton Municipal Light Plant, the town will install fiber connection points between the three facilities in an effort to streamline communication between emergency personnel and departments.
“This grant award is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening Dighton’s public safety technology for our first responders and residents,” said Town Administrator Mullen. “Not only does this grant help Dighton invest in its public safety technology, but it envisions and plans for future municipal fiber connections between other town facilities and properties, while, providing for adequate service backups in the event of an emergency. We are grateful for the continued partnership of the Baker-Polito Administration and our legislators to support funding for these important initiatives.”
This grant funding and its subsequent initiative also build upon the town’s future plans for municipal fiber hookups from Main Street, up Route 138 and to Station #2 on Chase Street.
Dighton was one of more than 70 communities to receive funding from the first round of funding awarded through the Baker-Polito Administration’s Community Compact Cabinet.
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