Acting town manager's contract renewed; Emergency dispatchers saluted for duty.

Byline: Ellie Oleson

OXFORD - Selectmen voted unanimously last night to reappoint acting Town Manager Joseph M. Zeneski to a second 90-day contract.

Mr. Zeneski, 57, first agreed to a 90-day contract Jan. 23, two weeks after longtime Town Manager Dennis A. Power resigned because of illness. Mr. Zeneski's first contract will run out April 23. The new contract will run through July 22.

"I feel comfortable in the position. I've been trained well, I have the skills and I enjoy working with selectmen," Mr. Zeneski said after last night's meeting.

Selectman Henry J. LaMountain said, "It has been awesome, seamless, just what we were hoping for. I look forward to working with him for another three months."

Mr. Zeneski thanked the board and said, "I hope you continue to be satisfied. It is quite humbling to be in this position."

Jennie L. Caissie, board chairwoman, said the permanent town manager's position had been advertised nationwide.

Selectman Daniel P. Coonan said about 22 applications have been received from as far away as the Midwest and Florida.

Mr. Zeneski served as town planner and engineer for 16 years until his appointment. William V. Scanlon is now serving as acting town planner.

Selectmen last night declared the week of April 8-14 to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Oxford and presented the town's emergency dispatchers with plaques honoring their work.

Catherine Bonin, head dispatcher, who has been on the job for 20 years, said it was nice for her team to be recognized, noting, "When an incident occurs, people remember the fire and police (officers), but forget we're the ones who get the ball rolling."

Joann Somers has been a dispatcher for 26 years, though the average dispatcher lasts 3.7 years on the job, she said.

Police Chief Charles K. Noyes recognized each dispatcher: Ms. Bonin; Ms. Somers; Allen Jeskey; Johnna Gingras, who also serves as a registered nurse at UMass Memorial Medical Center; Ricci W. Hall, who is also a history teacher at University Park Campus School in Worcester and a part-time police officer; Kyle Morrissey, who is also a Millbury firefighter; and Joel P. Daoust, who recently became a full-time dispatcher in Auburn.

Chief Noyes said, "Our dispatchers have a wealth of experience. These are the people that are there on Christmas Eve, holidays and weekends, whenever they are needed."

"Thank you for being there. I know you field tough calls," Selectman Susan M. Gallant said. She first suggested two weeks ago that the board give special recognition to dispatchers.

Ms. Gallant quoted from "A Tribute to Dispatchers," written by Loveland, Colo., Police Chief Thomas Wagoner: "Dispatchers are the unsung heroes of public safety. (They) sit in darkened rooms looking at computer screens and talking to voices from faces they never see. Dispatchers are expected to be able to do five things at once, and do them well. They are people who were selected in a difficult hiring process to do an impossible job."

"People don't realize how much you mean to us," Ms. Caissie said.

Mr. Coonan agreed, "You are the lifeline of our community."