March 28, 2024

Rehoboth to Get New Public Safety Building

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After years of fighting for a new Public Safety headquarters, the Board of Selectmen have come up with an economical solution. Selectmen Chairman Gerry Schwall announced an agreement with the town of Dartmouth to purchase a modular building for $225,000. “The deal fell in our lap,” Schwall said Monday. “It was too good to pass up.”

The new facility will be 8000 square feet and will accommodate the needs of the police and fire departments, as well as ambulance operations. “They need and deserve our respect and support,” Schwall said.

The current 2600 square feet facility on Anawan Street has been criticized by officials for a shortage of space and poor health conditions. “We’re tripping over each other,” said Police Chief James Trombetta, noting the new building would provide a “nice working environment” for officers and the public.

The funding for the purchase will come from the Sale of Real Estate reserve account, which was established for the construction and improvement costs for the public safety building.

The Town of Dartmouth had housed their police department in the modular unit for the past three years. The purchase also includes all the furniture and light fixtures in the building.

In 2017, voters rejected a $9.3 million municipal government complex which was to include town offices, the police and fire departments, Rehoboth emergency management, and the ambulance service. The facility was to be constructed on the site of the current public safety headquarters at 334 Anawan Street.

Schwall thanked the Dartmouth Board of Selectmen for their cooperation and said the town would be able to complete the project without any further expense to the taxpayers of Rehoboth. “It’s a good day for us,” Schwall added.

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