Deep River firehouse committee narrows A&E selection steps; counsel says referendum funds cannot buy new site

The Deep River Firehouse Building Committee met at the Deep River Firehouse on Jan. 20, 2026, and reviewed next steps in procuring architect and engineer (A&E) services, project funding, and legal constraints ahead of a potential referendum. Committee Chair Nicholas Kornacki called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

Committee members reviewed recent addenda, supplemental information and responses to A&E RFIs and discussed refining selection criteria for the design team, including team composition, past performance, staff qualifications, project experience and references. The committee reaffirmed that all communications with bidders must be routed through formal channels to preserve legal and ethical compliance and said it will finalize the selection criteria at the next meeting when A&E proposals are reviewed.

On project funding, the committee reported that only the previously approved SLR expenditures — approximately $5,800 — have been spent from a preliminary project budget of about $33,000. Members said they expect to award A&E services by the end of February and anticipate the first invoice in April; an updated project milestone and payment schedule will be circulated to the Board of Finance for review.

Legal counsel Jane Marsh advised the committee that referendum funding may be used for replacement or renovation at the current site, but not for site acquisition. Committee members noted that acquiring an alternate site would require a formal recommendation to the Board of Selectmen and approval by a town vote, steps that are outside the committee’s direct authority.

The committee also reported that no viable alternate sites are currently available; the selected A&E firm will be asked to evaluate any alternate sites during the programmatic phase if necessary. Members unanimously agreed to exercise caution in public communications about potential alternate sites to reduce community concerns.

Procedural actions taken included unanimous approvals of the minutes for the Nov. 6, 2025 and Dec. 16, 2025 regular meetings (motions and seconds recorded), and a motion to adjourn at 7:32 p.m., which also passed unanimously. The committee did not bring forward any new business at the meeting.

Next steps: finalize A&E selection criteria at the next meeting, complete the anticipated A&E award by the end of February, circulate an updated milestone/payment schedule to the Board of Finance, and ask the selected A&E firm to evaluate alternate sites during the programmatic phase.