Greenfield City Council Authorizes $250,000 to Replace Failed Emergency Dispatch Generator

GREENFIELD -- April 21, 2026, Greenfield City Council borrows $250,000 in emergency session to replace failed 911 dispatch generator. The council convened an emergency Zoom meeting April 21 and voted 11-0 to authorize borrowing under MGL Chapter 44, Section 8 for a replacement generator at the Police Department emergency response center at 321 High Street, which handles all 911, fire, and EMT dispatch for the city. Central Maintenance and Facilities Director Joe Puggs told councillors a semi-annual test had revealed critical winding failure in the existing unit, which is more than 15 years old, making repair cost-prohibitive; a rented backup had been running at up to $20,000 per month, a figure Puggs negotiated down to $14,000. The council also voted 11-0 against taking a previously tabled health insurance measure off the table, then learned the matter was already resolved: all city unions signed agreements last week to move employee coverage from Health New England to the Group Insurance Commission, maintaining the existing 80/20 HMO and 60/40 PPO premium splits.