Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects Fire topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board reviews scaled design and $3.5 million estimate for new fire station
Summary
An advisory committee and architects presented a revised, smaller fire station design and cost estimate; the warrant article asks voters to authorize a $2.5 million bond toward a roughly $3.5 million project.
Select Board members and volunteer committee members reviewed a revised design for a replacement of Fire Station No. 2 and a warrant article that would ask town voters to authorize a bond. Presenters described a substantially smaller design than last year’s proposal, with stated goals of reducing cost while addressing vehicle bay size, decontamination space, accessible offices and training areas.
Staff and the advisory committee said the total estimated project cost is $3,500,000 and the bond amount to be requested is $2,500,000; the New Hampshire Municipal Bond Bank quoted an estimated bond interest rate of about 3.9% in the town materials. Presenters said the full 25-year bond service would be roughly $160,000 per year when in full effect; they do not expect a first-year bond payment in the current fiscal year.
The redesign reduced building area and nonessential finishes, switched to wood-frame construction to save cost, and shortened the building footprint to reduce site work and paving. The revised plan includes larger apparatus bays to fit modern ladder and tanker trucks, separate firefighting and public areas for health and safety, women’s and men’s locker rooms, and a decontamination area so contaminated gear does not enter public spaces.
Residents and volunteer committee members cited health and safety concerns from diesel exhaust and urged inclusion of vehicle exhaust capture and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. A commenter with fire service experience urged adding vehicle exhaust capture and electric charging capability. Staff said exhaust capture is included and that charging infrastructure and other features were considered in cost estimates.
Funding sources mentioned in the presentation included roughly $500,000 in savings accumulated in the fire station capital reserve fund over several years, $200,000 in a previously awarded federal grant that staff called secure, and a portion to be raised by taxation this year (an amount described in materials as approximately $150,000). Staff also said the select board created an advisory committee that developed the smaller design and that public open houses are scheduled to answer questions before the warrant vote.
Ending: Select Board members encouraged residents to attend open houses and public sessions to review plans and cost estimates before the town vote.
