The Town of Rochester would like to replace its aged main fire station on Pine Street with something like what the Town of Mattapoisett built along Route 6 before the COVID-19 pandemic, but post-COVID construction costs and supply-chain issues are straining the building industry at large.
Nonetheless, Rochester officials were quite interested in checking out Mattapoisett’s new public-safety facility during Tuesday’s Tri-Town Select Board meeting.
Mattapoisett Fire Chief Andy Murray, who would conduct a group tour and take questions, estimated the hard construction cost of the 16,500 square-foot structure at $7,400,000.
“Other than that, we were able to stay under budget,” said Murray, who leaned heavily on the expertise of Mike Hickey, a retired engineer and former call firefighter for a decade. Hickey chaired Mattapoisett’s building committee.
“Through the whole process, we had to scale back and change. We started the project as much larger. …,” explained Murray.
As built, the Mattapoisett station completed in 2021 has nine garage doors with 4.5 bays. The two-floor facility has four full-time employees on site and can sleep many more. Equipment includes giant touch screens on the walls of the meeting and conference rooms and a grant-funded fitness room.
Asked by Rochester Select Board member Adam Murphy if there were issues that came up for Mattapoisett that Rochester officials could proactively address, and Murray recommended a soil test.
“We ran into unsuitable soils,” he said, noting that the resultant dig went down to the groundwater table.
Rochester Town Administrator Glenn Cannon asked about contingencies. Murray said the town set aside over $500,000.
The rest of the Tri-Town Select Board agenda consisted of some substantial discussions about issues especially affecting one of the three communities but of interest to all three.
Marion Town Administrator Geoff Gorman asked the stakeholders as to any interest in discussing a potential municipal agreement with the towns’ departments of Public Works to share services and especially heavy equipment.
With each town’s DPW projecting out 10-year capital plans, the opportunity to join forces was considered mutually attractive.
Mattapoisett Select Board member Jordan Collyer asked if such a cooperative would complicate insurance coverage. Gorman indicated belief that need not be a sticking point.
Rochester Select Board member Brad Morse said, “It’s up to our Highway (Department) guy (Jeff Eldridge.) Are we in favor of it? Absolutely.”
Murphy suggested sharing equipment is better for the equipment itself and noted that the Tri-Towns’ Fire and Police departments share mutual aid.
Town officials will discuss the matter among themselves.
Rochester Select Board Chairman Paul Ciaburri indicated that the town would like to leave its regional dispatch based in Duxbury, and he asked if there is any mutual interest in a Tri-Town dispatch.
“Unless we find another regional center to go to, our hands are tied,” said Murphy, noting that Rochester is currently under contract and pays for dispatch service. “We’re looking for something closer.”
Rochester is in the first year of a two-year contract with the Duxbury-based dispatch (18 months remaining.) Murphy said the State 911 office wants regionalization in order to minimize feedback.
Rochester has another complication, as its Police Department recently went to a digital system but the Fire Department has not.
Expanding the concept to address road repair, Marion Select Board Chairman Toby Burr considers it worthwhile for the Tri-Towns to join together when it can on bid processes for repairs to various roads. A coordinated effort would minimize redundancies and save each town money.
Mattapoisett Select Board Chairman Jodi Bauer said she would love to see a solar array in the Old Rochester Regional High School parking lot. In discussing Rochester’s complications in trying to reach agreement with the contractor in the case of the solar canopy planned for the elementary school, Macallister indicated he can help. Murphy plans to contact Macallister to consult on the matter.
Cannon suggested a regional approach to the broadband grant program. He said that the Southeastern Massachusetts Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) is involved with the Municipal Digital Equity Grant Program that provides towns with a signal-gap analysis. “A regional application usually carries more weight with the state,” he said.
The membership agreed that it has been over two years since the Tri-Town Select Board has met. It was agreed that the boards will reconvene in the middle of June and that Marion will host the meeting.
The Rochester Select Board voted to enter an executive session, while Mattapoisett members took a short break in advance of their own public meeting.
The next meeting of the Tri-Town Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment but is anticipated in June.
Tri-Town Select Board
By Mick Colageo