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Farmington council approves statement of needs for three‑station fire plan, appoints building committee
Summary
The Farmington Town Council unanimously accepted the ad hoc committee's statement of needs and charged a building committee to advance designs for two new stations and a major renovation, approving a preliminary project budget of $30 million to $35 million and directing staff to pursue grants and schematic designs.
The Farmington Town Council on May 12 unanimously accepted a statement of needs and authorized a fire station building committee to advance plans for three major projects intended to modernize the town's volunteer fire facilities.
The ad hoc Fire Station Committee recommended constructing a new East Farms station (estimated $9,000,000), renovating and expanding the Farmington station (estimated $12,100,000) and building a new Tunxis Hose station (estimated $10,000,000). The committee presented a total project range of approximately $30 million to $35 million and urged aggressively pursuing grant funding to reduce net municipal cost. "These facilities are critical infrastructure that support emergency response, firefighter safety, and the town's ability to continue providing high quality fire protection services," Town Manager Kathy Blonsky said during the presentation.
Committee members and council liaisons said the recommendation follows a 16‑month review that included touring stations, meeting with chiefs, reviewing prior studies and evaluating long‑term financial forecasts. The ad hoc team told the council that major renovations would still risk uncovering unforeseen structural issues, and that new construction offered greater predictability and more efficient operational layouts.
Council members voiced support for the recommendation while urging caution about cost. "They take care of us. I think it's incumbent on us to take care of them and make sure they have a great and safe work environment," Councilor Bruce (speaker identified in the record as S12) said. Several members said the town should seek a firm legal and financial footing, pursue state bonding and grant opportunities through the legislative delegation, and obtain an independent cost estimator and schematic designs before committing to final appropriations.
The council voted to accept the statement of needs, disband the ad hoc committee and move the project to a newly created fire station building committee charged to advance design and cost estimates and prepare the referendum materials required under the town code. The motion passed unanimously.
The next steps the council outlined include appointing additional building committee members, engaging an architect and third‑party cost estimator to produce schematic designs and preliminary pricing, and returning to the council with recommended funding strategies and a timetable for a potential referendum.
