The pay phone's days are numbered, at least in Town Hall and at police headquarters. For years back in the pre-cellular telephone era, there have been three pay phones in the Town Hall/Belden Cromwell Public Library complex, and one at police headquarters.
Town officials had been paying $47 a month for each phone. But now, the phone company is raising its rates - substantially. And that's the hang-up. First Selectman Paul C. Beaulieu said officials have been notified that "AT&T is getting out of the pay phone business."
"I guess they have pretty much been supplanted by those cell phones that everyone seems to have now," he said. To smooth its exit from the pay-phone business, Beaulieu said, AT&T suggested the town contact another carrier: Pacific Telemanagement Services or PTS, "which has expressed interest in providing pay phone service at your location(s)."
If that's so, Beaulieu said, they had a funny way of showing it. PTS announced that it was increasing the amount the town has to pay for pay-phone service from $47 to $75 a month per phone. That, town officials said, was simply too much to pay for too little business. There is a phone in the atrium of town hall, one in the adjacent Town Hall gymnasium, and one in the library, Beaulieu said.
"I think in public buildings, there needs to be one," Beaulieu said - but only one, especially at the new price. "I think one would suffice," Deputy First Selectman Stanley Stachura agreed. Police Chief Anthony J. Salvatore said he made contact with phone company officials immediately after the change in service and price hike were announced. He determined that, on average, there is one call a week made from the phone in the police station lobby. "That phone will be coming out," Salvatore announced.
He encouraged Beaulieu to make a similar check of the call volume at Town Hall, as well. "My guess is you probably have one call every two weeks," he said. But, Beaulieu said, he believes there should be at least one pay phone in Town Hall. The fact the phone at police headquarters will be coming out raised concerns for Selectman Richard R. Newton. "If I was to get arrested and had to make my one phone call, what would happen now?" Newton asked. Salvatore sought to reassure him, explaining that for safety reasons, "We do not let them (arrestees) use the phone in the lobby." Instead, the chief said, people who are arrested "use a phone in the booking area."
Reassured, Newton agreed with Beaulieu. "I think in a public building, we should have one," Newton said. "Not everyone has one of those (cell) phones." "So, yes, one (pay phone) in a public building is a good idea," Newton said.
Town officials had been paying $47 a month for each phone. But now, the phone company is raising its rates - substantially. And that's the hang-up. First Selectman Paul C. Beaulieu said officials have been notified that "AT&T is getting out of the pay phone business."
"I guess they have pretty much been supplanted by those cell phones that everyone seems to have now," he said. To smooth its exit from the pay-phone business, Beaulieu said, AT&T suggested the town contact another carrier: Pacific Telemanagement Services or PTS, "which has expressed interest in providing pay phone service at your location(s)."
If that's so, Beaulieu said, they had a funny way of showing it. PTS announced that it was increasing the amount the town has to pay for pay-phone service from $47 to $75 a month per phone. That, town officials said, was simply too much to pay for too little business. There is a phone in the atrium of town hall, one in the adjacent Town Hall gymnasium, and one in the library, Beaulieu said.
"I think in public buildings, there needs to be one," Beaulieu said - but only one, especially at the new price. "I think one would suffice," Deputy First Selectman Stanley Stachura agreed. Police Chief Anthony J. Salvatore said he made contact with phone company officials immediately after the change in service and price hike were announced. He determined that, on average, there is one call a week made from the phone in the police station lobby. "That phone will be coming out," Salvatore announced.
He encouraged Beaulieu to make a similar check of the call volume at Town Hall, as well. "My guess is you probably have one call every two weeks," he said. But, Beaulieu said, he believes there should be at least one pay phone in Town Hall. The fact the phone at police headquarters will be coming out raised concerns for Selectman Richard R. Newton. "If I was to get arrested and had to make my one phone call, what would happen now?" Newton asked. Salvatore sought to reassure him, explaining that for safety reasons, "We do not let them (arrestees) use the phone in the lobby." Instead, the chief said, people who are arrested "use a phone in the booking area."
Reassured, Newton agreed with Beaulieu. "I think in a public building, we should have one," Newton said. "Not everyone has one of those (cell) phones." "So, yes, one (pay phone) in a public building is a good idea," Newton said.
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