The Ontario Civilian Police Commission has approved the disbandment of the Hanover Police and Fire Dispatch Centre.

A public hearing was held on the matter in August and the Commission’s ruling has now been released.

With the ruling now in place, the Hanover Police and Fire Communication Centre will disband on December 31st of this year.

This will impact eight dispatch employees -- six full time and two part time.

In the meantime, the Hanover Dispatch Communication Centre will continue to provide police and dispatch services to several services this fall.

There are 21 fire departments and three police services in Grey, Bruce and Huron Counties, that must switch over to new communication providers in the coming months.

Hanover made the difficult decision to disband its dispatch service earlier this year, after its biggest client West Grey decided not to renew it's contract.

Police Board Chair Bob White says financially, Hanover could not afford to offer the dispatch services without the West Grey.

Come January 1st, Hanover will begin contracting their police and fire dispatch services through Owen Sound Police Services.

This represents a saving of 160 thousand dollars for Hanover.  Their police dispatch budget will drop from 230 thousand to 70 thousand dollars.

White stresses the switch over will not impact the quality of policing that Hanover residents have been accustomed to receiving.

The Hanover Police Service Board is currently in negotiations with its dispatchers over  severance package payouts.

White is hopeful they will be able to accomplish this without arbitration.

He’s confident a fair and reasonable deal can be struck for both sides.