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Committee discusses $100,000 placeholder to extend water main to fire station and options for temporary modular offices
Summary
After a Selectmen workshop, the committee examined a $100,000 placeholder to extend a 12‑inch, 900‑ft water main to the fire station (estimated ~$1,000/ft), and debated a three‑year modular lease and septic/pump repair options tied to station renovations.
The budget discussion moved into Capital Improvement Program items when the committee considered running a 12‑inch, 900‑foot water main to the town fire station, a project Chair (S4) estimated at roughly $1,000 per foot and therefore entered as a $100,000 placeholder in the operations/CIP budget.
Public Works director David Benton (S5) described operational and safety benefits: bringing water to the station would provide an on‑site hydrant, allow interior truck filling, and support future sprinkler systems for any rebuilt or expanded station. Benton also raised a quality concern: "the water at the fire station is turning the toilet bowl brown," which committee members said should be tested and was presented as additional rationale for bringing water to the site.
Members discussed the cost driver of crossing Route 5 and noted grants that might have reduced costs in the past; Chair (S4) said past grant timing made earlier work less feasible. The committee also reviewed a proposal for a three‑year modular building as a temporary office solution next to the parking lot with setup/utilities costs and an annual lease (roughly $25,000 setup and $25,000 yearly lease were discussed) and plumbing options for a modular unit (pump vs. new leach field estimates ranged from a few thousand to $5–7,000).
A recent camera inspection found a sag in the septic pipe that the DPW expects to dig up and repair in spring; chair reduced an earlier larger septic estimate to $15,000 as a potential repair budget. The committee also discussed insulation and thermal efficiency work to address heat transfer to the attic and potential remediation for less than the $65,000 estimate shown in the CIP for an insulated roof.
Why it matters: Extending the water main and addressing septic/insulation needs are capital choices that affect safety, station functionality and future renovation costs. The placeholder amount gives the town a notional figure to weigh against grant opportunities and other CIP priorities.
Next steps: No vote was taken; the committee recorded the meeting and will revisit the placeholder and modular options during further budget deliberations.
