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Westport Island faces choices for failing fire station; town preserves donation and funds planning work
Summary
Residents heard engineers’ findings that the volunteer fire station has structural failures; the town preserved a $1,032,000 donation for eventual repair or replacement and approved smaller appropriations to fund architects and engineers to develop options.
Westport Island — A lengthy discussion at the town meeting focused on the condition of the volunteer fire station, whether to repair or replace it and how to use a large donation earmarked for the station.
Why it matters: The town said there is approximately $1,032,000 in a capital account donated for the fire station’s future; committee members argued that preserving that principal while funding planning and professional services now will let the town make an informed decision about repair versus replacement.
What was reported: The fire chief described repeated engineering findings of significant structural failure, including cracked floors and undersized roof components; the chief and committee members warned that a major repair could be expensive and logistically difficult while keeping the station operational. The committee proposed, and voters approved, an allocation to bolster planning work — soils testing, architectural and engineering estimates — so professional recommendations can guide the larger decision. The meeting also included discussion about regionalization and mutual aid; several speakers said contracting out full fire coverage is not feasible for the island because local response capability would fall.
Budget and next steps: Presenters said recent capital spending from the fire accounts was limited and that the town should use smaller appropriations for studies rather than draw down the large capital donation. Committee members asked architects and engineers to provide comparative cost estimates for repairing the existing station versus building new, and they said the information should be shared with residents before any construction decision.
Key quote: "We're getting professionals, contractors, architects...so that we can make a full recommendation to the town and say, here's the choices," said the fire chief.
Ending: Select Board and the ad hoc committee will continue the planning process; voters approved the requested planning appropriations and a schedule of follow‑up to report recommendations to the town.
