Commission reviews $4 million headquarters renovation, $12 million training center and SAFER grant prospects

At the February meeting, commissioners reviewed capital projects tied to the fire department's capital improvement plan and discussed the FY27 budget and potential external funding. The fire headquarters renovation was listed with an estimated capital cost "almost $4,000,000," and a shared municipal police-and-fire training center was listed at about $12,000,000, with initial funding activity reported.

Mayor Ellen Zapposaso said the commission had received an initial tranche of federal support: "we took in the first tranche of funding for 3,000,000—well, 3.15, I guess, from Congressman Larson" for the training center. The commission discussed seeking private funding and state grants, with a likely city bonding component once acquisition and construction costs are known.

Chief Hart also reviewed FY27 budget planning and described potential SAFER grant terms as he understood them during conversations with FEMA’s New England representative: "it's 75% the first year, 75% the second year, and the 35% in the third year," with grant support tied to first-year firefighter salary costs; he said training costs have risen and cited a training cost example of $8,600 per recruit and a training-line increase of about $1,000 since last year.

The commission noted an upcoming Board of Finance workshop for fire and police budgeting on March 4 and encouraged community attendance. No final appropriation or bond action on the large capital projects occurred at this meeting; discussion centered on funding strategy and project scoring on the commission scorecard.