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Tamworth Select Board closes hearing on donated lot at 374 Tamara Road; emergency director says land could unlock grants for a new fire station
Summary
At a public hearing, the Select Board heard residents and emergency management staff discuss a donated lot at 374 Tamara Road as a possible municipal site. Speakers flagged insurance and response-radius implications and the emergency director said the land could help the town pursue grants for a new fire station.
The Tamworth Select Board on Nov. 26 opened and closed a public hearing on a potential town acquisition of a donated parcel at 374 Tamara Road (Map 202, Lot 35) that the board said would be for general municipal use under 'RSA 4114.' After public comment and staff input, the board closed the hearing by roll-call vote.
Residents and board members raised questions about how adding or removing fire stations affects which addresses fall within the standard five-mile radius of a rated fire station. One commenter warned that removing a station could put many addresses outside the five-mile radius, with the result that some homeowners could lose coverage or face higher insurance rates. A board member explained that insurance companies use information about station location, equipment and available water supply to rate risk, and that different carriers sometimes give inconsistent ratings.
Zachary, identified in the meeting as a captain and the town's emergency management director, said the acquisition 'opens up the possibility of being able to actually apply for grants down the road to build a new fire station' and noted there are multiple grant programs that could limit taxpayer cost if the town pursued construction in the future. He also told the board the town currently lacks a van for certain operations, a logistical point he said the town should consider in future planning.
Board members and attendees also noted some practical benefits of the parcel beyond major construction: a covered storage option for equipment and an existing concrete slab attached to a shed that could reduce initial site costs. The board recorded an assessment value for the lot of $277,200 and a tax burden described in the meeting as 'about $4,000.'
The hearing produced no immediate decision to acquire or build; the board closed the public hearing and will keep the record available for any future steps. The board did not vote on purchasing or accepting the donation during the meeting.
