Monday, April 9, 2018

Article 13 - Fire Headquarters Replacement

Barry Orenstein, Deputy Moderator presiding.
Article 13 is now open.
ARTICLE 13 — APPROPRIATE FOR 45 BEDFORD STREET/FIRE STATION REPLACEMENT To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the design and construction of a new Fire Headquarters, located at 45 Bedford Street, including the payment of costs of demolition, architectural and engineering services, original equipment, furnishings, landscaping, paving and other site and traffic improvements incidental or related to such construction; determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds, by borrowing or by any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen)

The funds requested by this Article will used be for the design and construction of a new Fire Headquarters. A debt exclusion for this project was approved by the voters in December 2017.

MOTION That $18,820,700 be appropriated for design and construction of a new Fire Headquarters Station, located at 45 Bedford Street, including the costs of demolition, architectural and engineering services, original equipment, furnishings, landscaping, paving, and other site and traffic improvements incidental or related to such construction, and that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow $18,820,700 under M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7, or any other enabling authority. Any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 20 of the General Laws, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount.

The Presentation is HERE

RECOMMENDATIONS
BOS: 
AC: Unanimously in Support
CEC: Unanimously Supports

Question Mic: TMM/P5 Trade wars between US & China, where China provides most of our solar panels?
A: Solar is not part of this project.

Question Mic: TMM/P6 Concerned with expanding footprint of building instead of adding a third floor. Would appreciate an explanation
A: The reason is because the current apparatus bays don't support current equipment.
Q: Has the Historic District Commission restricted you?
A: No.

VOTE of TOWN MEETING (2/3 majority)
YES: 143
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION CARRIES

The Meeting is now open on Article 14.