New Shoreham committee moves to define needs for fire‑rescue‑dispatch facility after $3.5 million federal appropriation

A New Shoreham public‑safety facilities committee met to outline next steps for a proposed fire, rescue and dispatch facility and to plan a formal needs assessment now that a $3,500,000 federal appropriation is in place.

Committee members said the town has recognized a long‑standing need for upgraded public‑safety space but lacks a written program defining required spaces, equipment and phasing. Participants described a gap between that need and past, preliminary cost estimates, which committee members recalled ranging from roughly $12–25 million depending on scope and configuration.

Members discussed two broad approaches: build a new facility sited off the existing footprint (Plan A) so current operations would not be interrupted, or add on to the current building to save time and money. The committee reviewed concept drawings that call for multiple new apparatus bays and roughly 4,300 square feet of first‑floor addition (the existing building was described as about 2,600 square feet in the presentation) and discussed an upper floor of roughly 5,000 square feet for meeting, sleeping and support space.

Committee members and staff raised several site and operational concerns. Sea‑level rise and access during flood events were flagged as a potential problem for the existing Ocean Avenue site: while the parcel sits on higher ground, low areas near nearby access routes could leave the building isolated in some scenarios. Members also pressed for planning to account for equipment size (a ladder truck cited at about 41 feet, other apparatus averaging in the low‑30s of feet), trailer pumps that require taller doors (13 feet was mentioned), vehicle exhaust capture, decontamination and HVAC, and temporary vehicle storage during construction.

To fill the program gap the committee endorsed inviting a consultant recommended by several participants — Scott Catell (identified in the meeting as a retired South Kingstown fire chief who is now assistant chief in Exeter) — to perform or advise on a formal needs assessment and preliminary cost work. Members asked the chair/staff to contact Catell and to have him attend the next meeting to review requirements, likely scopes and estimated fees.

On process the committee scheduled two follow‑up meetings: Wednesday, Feb. 19 at noon and Wednesday, March 19 at noon, both to be held in the town chambers with a remote option. Those dates were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote at the meeting. Members directed staff to assemble existing concept drawings, cost ranges and any prior preliminary engineering so that the consultant can produce early budgetary options.

Discussion also covered temporary logistics during construction (heated temporary shelters large enough to protect equipment, possible use of town transfer‑station space afterward), zoning and regulatory steps (historic‑district review and a special‑zone or overlay to be considered), and the need for both architectural and structural engineering services once the program is set. Several members expressed a preference for a project sized and designed to avoid repeating a rebuild in 15–20 years.

The meeting produced no formal vote adopting a single preferred design; instead the committee set next steps (engage Catell for a needs assessment, compile prior plans and cost information, and reconvene in February and March). The meeting adjourned after the committee finalized the schedule and asked staff to begin outreach to the recommended consultant.