South Thomaston Select Board tables ambulance bunk-room plan over fire-safety and cost questions

The South Thomaston select board on an unspecified meeting date tabled a plan to convert a ground-floor space into an ambulance bunk room, saying conflicting advice about fire-safety requirements and uncertain cost estimates must be reconciled before moving forward.

Board members said they received differing interpretations about whether a sprinkler system would be required for the conversion and noted two different cost figures in project documents — about $2,486 in one place and roughly $9,486 elsewhere — including an unexplained $7,000 line for electrical work. The board agreed staff should obtain written confirmation from the fire marshal’s office and additional contractor quotes before resuming review.

Members also discussed whether the proposed work would require a land-use permit; staff said the permit was not required but acknowledged the project record includes a land-use application that listed higher electrical costs. The board emphasized it had not budgeted for the full scope and asked staff to clarify which budget line — demo/debris, admin or a new capital line — should carry the expense.

Without the requested clarifications, the board voted to table the item and asked staff to return with a reconciled budget number and fire marshal confirmation. The board also requested that the fire chief follow up with the fire marshal’s office to confirm whether the conversion met the cited exemption (first-floor conversion for fewer than 10 people) and whether direct egress and firewall conditions were satisfied.

The decision to table is procedural; no funds were committed. The board did not adopt a final construction scope or contract at this meeting.