South End Fire Station

The proposed fire station for the town’s south end has been placed on the back burner for now.

Select Board member Gary Sagar had proposed a special town meeting for September.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the decision was made to wait until the November town meeting in order to collect data on the cost of the project.

Although Board Chair Michelle Hines explained she was “absolutely in favor” of the project, she noted Sagar was not a part of the building committee. No members of the building committee were present.

“Right now this project is dead in the water,” Hines said. “Even though there’s a faction outside that wants to resurrect it.”

Sagar cited the town’s growing population and the need to reduce response times as reasons why a new fire station is necessary.

The $9.5 million project was rejected at the May town meeting by a vote of 112 – 108. A two thirds vote was needed to pass the article.

Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said in order for the project to go ahead, town meeting voters would need to approve funding for architectural services.

At last May’s town meeting, Fire Chief Shaun Whalen explained that if the station were to be built, some firefighters would need to be reassigned from the other two stations – the Banna station on Pine Street and the Police/Fire Headquarters on Taunton Avenue. Additional staff would also need to be hired.

“It’s been very clear the need for a South End fire station, said Michael Healy, who previously served as Fire Chief. “There’s been a staffing problem for a long long time. We have to collectively, as this board, decide how we’re going to get staffing done.”

Voters at the May 2020 town meeting allocated $425,000 for the design of the facility at the site of the former school administration building at 69 School Street. The town intends to demolish that property. The 8300 square foot building would have consisted of three components, including dispatch, living quarters, and fire suppression.