Task force presents fire-rescue building plan

BUCKFIELD —  A plan to build a new $900,000 fire-rescue building in Buckfield was presented to the public Tuesday by members of the task force assigned to look into the building. 

About 25 people attended the public hearing. Buckfield Fire-Rescue has been requesting a new building for decades.

According to Buckfield Fire Chief Tim Brooks, the old building – built in the 1950s –  is hazardous for fire-rescue staff.

Brooks said the building's small size, poor lighting and lack of ventilation put the health and safety of rescue workers at risk whenever they went out on a call.

According to Brooks, the structural integrity of the building's roof is questionable. He reported having to patch leaks in the roof after almost every rainstorm.

He further reported that the building's heating system was outdated and ineffecient.

Town Manager Dana Lee said the current building is too small for all the town's rescue equipment – two vehicles are kept in remote stations and rarely used.

The task force looked at several options including the old Oxford Networks building and rehabilitating the current fire-rescue building, Lee explained, but recommended tearing down the old building and constructing a new, 8,000 square foot facility in its place.

Rehabilitation was determined to be financially unpredictable and the majority of the committee found it to be a "short term inadequate solution," Lee reported.

Brooks, who sketched the preliminary building design, told the assembly the task force kept the building as small as possible while still accommodating personnel and equipment.

Lee told the assembly that the $900,000 price tag was based on construction per square foot. He acknowledged the true cost would be closer to $1 million.

The cost could probably be borne by the town without an increase in taxes, Lee said. According to the budget committee chairman the town is due to become debt-free in 2017, so taking on new debt would not place a strain on town finances, Lee said.

He agreed no one wanted new debt, but could not foresee a time when the town would be able to pay for new construction up front.

Lee reported that the soonest the building could be ready was fall 2014.

Reception to the plan at the meeting was generally positive, although some concern was raised about housing the vehicles during construction and balancing funding the building and necessary road improvement.

Considering how long the town has been contemplating the issue, some residents declared it was time to move forward with the plan.

"Sometimes you've got to put people and safety and health ahead of the almighty dollar," Lucille Allen told the meeting.

"It's time this town made a move to take care of the people in the town and the people who work for them in the fire department and the rescue unit."