Central Firehouse Project Vote Before RTM Tonight

The proposal to build a new Central Fire Station will be presented to the Representative Town Meeting tonight - marking the last legislative hurdle to approve the project.

The town has proposed relocating the staff of the Central Fire Station and their equipment to temporary quarters to be erected on a portion of the Horseneck Lane commuter parking lot, across from the Boys & Girls Club. Fire officials have said the move is necessary because the building that opened in 1937, at the corner of Havemayer Place and Mason Street, continues to decay as rain seeps through the limestone facade, causing the plaster interior to peel and crumble.

The RTM is scheduled to vote whether to grant municipal improvement status to the project at its 8 p.m. meeting today at Central Middle School.

The $20 million project has been greenlighted for municipal improvement status by the Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Preservation proponents have maintained the building is of historical significance and should be preserved or retrofitted for another municipal use if it is too expensive to update it to meet building and safety codes. However, town officials lead by facilities manager Alan Monelli maintain bringing the building up to required international building standards would add $9 million to the project cost.

On Sept. 1, First Selectman Peter Tesei issued a letter and report supporting the municipal improvement status to RTM members. (Please see document at right.)

Earlier this year, the RTM approved $2 million for the relocation of the station, staff and equipment to the Horseneck Lane site and for design of the new headquarters which will look similar to the current facility.

Building the new station will complete the public safety complex that already includes a three-story police headquarters which opened in 2009. Fire officials and firefighting staff have said the decrepit conditions have a negative impact on morale, especially in the shadows of the new police headquarters.

Officials wanted to be able to begin the relocation to temporary headquarters this fall.