Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Firehouse topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board reviews engineer report that flags firehouse safety and possible insurance impact
Summary
Board members reviewed an engineer's damage assessment for the town firehouse that included a suggested $300,000 estimate for replacement in some scenarios, identified parts of the building as unsafe to use, and will forward the report to MMA to learn whether the town's insurance coverage is affected.
The Select Board reviewed an engineering assessment of the town firehouse that documented progressive structural damage and outlined immediate repairs and longer-term options, including a suggested $300,000 figure for a new building in certain scenarios. A board member who read the report said the engineer advised that at least the north bay should not be used and included a checklist of seven or eight immediate items that would need attention if the town does not replace the building.
Board members agreed to send the engineer's report to MMA (the town's insurer) and wait for guidance about whether the report affects the town's coverage. The board emphasized transparency: the report will be posted so residents can see the assessment and the town's plans for next steps.
A board member said they were "surprised" by the roughly $300,000 suggested price for a new firehouse and noted the engineer included photographic comparisons to a 2015 inspection to show how the condition has progressed. The board discussed staging an action plan that uses recommendations from the new report together with the 2015 report to prioritize repairs, identify interim vehicle housing if bays are taken out of service, and select engineers or architects for the next planning step.
The board did not take final action on building replacement at the meeting; instead, members directed that the report be sent to MMA and that the board and staff determine a public posting and a clear sequence of next steps once insurance guidance arrives. The board also noted that some repair work listed in the report could be done immediately to limit risk while longer-term options are developed.
