In a sharp response to recent criticism of the way officials are handling the plan for a new fire station on the former Rochester Country Fairgrounds, Rochester’s Select Board Monday clarified the facts with help from members of the Public Safety Facility Building Committee.
At the board’s last meeting two weeks ago, Select Board member Adam Murphy said a recent letter from residents is critical of town officials for their spending and lack of “transparency” related to the plan. On Monday, Murphy and Town Administrator Cameron Durant counteracted that criticism.
Durant said the planning stage is an effort to recognize the needs for a new fire station under modern requirements for a safe and effective department headquarters. “A fire station requires specialized design elements to accommodate modern emergency response operations,” he said.
He added that important considerations when building a fire station or other municipal buildings include complying with bidding law, “robust” information technology and communications infrastructure to support emergency dispatch operations, a specialized ventilation system for fire engine exhaust and hazard-zone separation and decontamination spaces owing to the nature of fire emergency work. Important considerations for developing the site at 65 Pine Street include that there will be no water or gas service without plans for a sizable cistern and an underground propane tank.
Durant said the January 27 Special Town Meeting approved $55,000 for site work and engineering to determine whether 65 Pine Street is a viable location for the new fire station, and that crucial work has just begun. “We are going through what is mandatory for the best value possible,” he said. “The committee is carefully reviewing the initial design to prioritize essential needs over optimal features. The next step is to finalize the design and obtain cost estimates.”
Murphy explained what has been spent to date. A 2023 Public Safety Feasibility Study conducted by Cambridge-based Gallant Architecture Studio, Inc. cost the town $105,619.72, of which $50,000 was funded through a state ear-marked grant. He said a total of $119,918.12 has been spent so far on design plans. Out of that $50,000 came from a grant.
Public Safety Facility Building Committee Chairman Arnold Johnson then said what will likely satisfy the plan’s critics the most. He noted that Gallant was replaced with the current consultant, Catalyst Architecture Interiors, because Gallant was not willing to yield for the sake of saving costs on what building materials should be used. He noted that the town reduced construction cost of the Rochester Memorial School building project with similar choices.
Johnson said the site work is just starting for the building foundation. The progress of this phase will be discussed at the next Public Safety Facility Building Committee meeting on March 13. “We will value-engineer the plan and drill down on needs versus wants,” Johnson promised.
The lone question from meeting attendees came from Zoning Board of Appeals member Jeffrey Costa, who asked if a schematic of the plans is available. Murphy answered that the committee has not gotten this far yet, that it will know more about the eventual plan when it meets on March 13. Committee member David Arancio added, “Value engineering (of the plan) will continue even as construction begins.”
In other action, the Select Board approved the Patriot Half Marathon to take place in town on June 14 and the Cranberry Trifest Triathlon on August 24.
The board signed the Solect Energy Development contract and its plan to install solar panels at Rochester Memorial School. In a previous meeting, Murphy had raised questions about the Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) agreement within the pact. On Monday, Murphy said he had received clarification on this point.
The board signed the Rochester Police Department body camera Memo of Understanding. Under the new Police Union contract, all patrol officers have agreed to wear body cameras. In exchange, the Police Union has been granted a raise in the private detail rate to $65 per hour.
Select Board Chairman Brad Morse announced performance reviews for the town administrator and Police Chief Michael Assad will be scheduled soon.
The board appointed Murphy to meet with Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School representatives regarding the School Resource Officer budget.
The board approved the Peter Crapo Cartway as a new public way.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, March 17, at 6:00 pm at 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco