Task force recommends new fire-rescue building

Photo: Peter L. McGuire

SLATED FOR DESTRUCTION? — A task force has recommended the town tear down the current Buckfield Fire-Rescue building – pictured – and build a new facility in its place. A report submitted to the board of selectmen by the task force said the old building's plumbing, ventilation and septic systems badly need updating and new construction would prove more cost-effective and expedient. The task force estimated the cost of a new building at around $900,000.

BUCKFIELD — Tear it all down and start over.

That's the recommendation made in the Buckfield Fire-Rescue Building Task Force report submitted to the board of selectmen at its August 7 meeting.

The report recommends seeking voter approval to demolish the old fire-rescue building and neighboring town garage and building a 8,000-square-foot facility on the property. The estimated cost would be $900,000.

Board members tabled the proposal, requesting a public hearing on the matter before further discussion.

"We need to have a public meeting before we go any further and spend any more money at all," said selectwoman Martha Catevenis.

"We need to find out what the public wants, period."

Board Chair Robin Buswell suggested that, depending on when the project began, the true cost could be much higher.

"We gotta get people's input, lots of people's input," he said.

In March, selectmen authorized the task force to examine what it should do about the town's current fire-rescue building – the building's systems are not up to code and it is too small to house the town's equipment.

The task force, composed of the town manager, a selectman, members of the budget committee and planning board, the fire chief, rescue chief and citizens at large, examined four different options.

Purchasing the old Oxford Networks building was rejected – the building is currently in the process of being sold and was found unsuitable except as a temporary location if a new station is built.

Building on vacant property near the town garage was deemed inappropriate due to lack of visibility to the road – task force members preferred to keep the facility at its current location.

Renovating the existing fire-rescue building was also rejected by the task force – renovation would include tearing down the neighboring old town garage, rebuilding a two-bay facility and connecting the two buildings.

It reported that renovation costs can run between 30-40 percent higher per square foot than new construction. 

Renovation would include a complete roof-replacement and the installation of new electric and ventilation systems.

The report states the building's exterior cement is cracking and it would be difficult to make it "minimally energy-efficient."

Additionally, there are fears that the building is unhealthy and unsafe – the task force recommended conducting an air quality assessment and a structural study of the building to determine its safety.

According to the report, a $55,000 grant the town was due to receive six years ago to update the ventilation system was revoked after the grant agency deemed the building too obsolete to invest in.

The fire station, along with other issues including a fireworks ordinance and terminating a conservation easement will be discussed at a workshop and series of public hearings.