Oct. 05--CHATHAM -- On Monday night, voters get another chance at approving a new fire station, this time with a decision on a $10.3 million Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion.
A $9.5 million proposal was turned down at a May 2012 town meeting amid criticism that it was too large and too costly.
The new design is almost 5,000 square feet smaller, a 15 percent reduction over the original plans. But the price tag grew by $800,000 due to a combination of higher construction costs and a more detailed plan than the one presented last year.
The Finance Committee unanimously endorsed the project, and selectmen also approved it by a 4-1 margin, with Selectman Sean Summers dissenting.
Despite labeling himself a fiscal conservative, Selectman Timothy Roper, board chairman, found that the need for a new station outweighed his reservations about spending more than $10 million.
"I have voted against many other things along the way. This is not a sexy thing to be buying, but it is something that is the most basic of town needs," Roper said.
Roper has been the point man in the effort to get support for the new station. He said presentations to town committees have met with almost universal support.
"I have heard no negative comment," he said, but was concerned that forums held for voters have been poorly attended.
Supporters say the department has outgrown the capabilities of the old fire station, which was built in 1952 for what was then an all-volunteer force. Fire engines were smaller, and there were no rescue vehicles.
Today, ambulance runs to Cape Cod Hospital and rescue calls around town and to other towns for mutual aid constitute the vast majority of the workload.
Three 25-foot-long rescue vehicles are crammed into bays that are crowded, making it hard to open vehicle doors and for firefighters rushing to get ready to leave on a fire or rescue call. Plus, a whole host of other needs such as a decontamination room, medical supply storage areas, office space, oxygen storage and training space are all unmet by the current station.
"We listened to what people said after the last town meeting and addressed those issues and I think we did a pretty good job at it," said Fire Chief Michael Ambriscoe.
Ambriscoe said the project cost voted on at town meeting is a conservative estimate he believes will prove to be on the high side once bids are returned. The cost of construction and site development on Depot Road is estimated at $9.85 million, including $372,000 to temporarily relocate to the Highway Department building while the new station is being built.
There is a $492,000 contingency fund.
Finance Director Alix Heilala estimated that borrowing $10.3 million for 25 years at 3.75 percent interest would add $105 to the property tax on a $750,000 home in the first year. That amount declines over the term of the loan and would average $80 a year.
Summers believed the cart was being put before the horse. He wants to re-evaluate Fire Department policies that he thinks create more overtime and drive the need for a larger station.
"When you have people staying overnight, you have to build bedrooms and bigger living areas, which wouldn't be necessary if you went back to an eight-hour day," Summers said. "I feel we need to tackle these issues before we build a building."
While Roper agreed with Summers on the need to look into the issue of departmental overtime, he said it would not change the fact that Chatham should build a new fire station.
"Grappling with all that stuff before building a fire station doesn't hold water," Roper said, pointing out that the project had been on the capital plan for 10 years already.
"I think it's foolhardy to penalize (the Fire Department) by not building a fire station," Roper said. "We have an urgent need to replace the fire station we have now."
Copyright 2013 - Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
