OPINION: Let's Put Safety First

The following opinion article represents the views and opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of Westwood Minute.

By Kathy Wallace

With all due respect to Peter Ittig PhD, I need to respond to his 1/8/24 opinion piece in the Westwood Minute. I have closely followed the conditions and circumstances at the Westwood Fire Department for the last 18 months.

• Fire Station 1 is an accident waiting to happen. The building is crumbling. The entire apparatus floor is being supported by "temporary" steel beams, that were installed over a decade ago.
• The roof leaks impacting the expensive equipment and living quarters.
• The plumbing leaks. When someone showers, the wastewater drains onto the heads of firefighters in living and dining areas.
• The station was built 75 years ago and has not had a meaningful renovation since 1975.
• The station is used 24/7 365 days a year, causing more wear and tear than other municipal buildings. Firefighters live in this building.
• The station was rated “fair to poor” in 2019.
• These deplorable conditions could (and have) result in injury to WFD staff and potentially damage millions of dollars of equipment. The need for a new station is urgent.
• The building lacks a modern decontamination area to protect the health of our firefighters.
• There could be significant liability to the town if an accident is deemed to be the result of negligence and could result in financial harm if an insurance claim was denied.
• WFD inspects our schools, senior care facilities and other buildings to ensure safety. No one inspects the fire station and it likely would fail an inspection.

I agree taxes are high and it negatively impacts everyone. It is a valid question to ask if the town can do a better job managing expenses. Residents should contact Select Board members and attend Select Board meetings to share their thoughts.

The solution is NOT to delay the Fire Station 1 Project. Marianne Leblanc Cummings, Select Board Chair, narrated a 5 minute video about the need for this project. Please take 5 minutes to watch this video; it is very well done. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMtrwH5q2gc&t=12s

Let’s come together as a community on Wednesday 1/17/24 6:30pm in the Westwood High School Auditorium and show our collective support for this design funding for the Fire Station 1 project and for our incredible firefighters, who risk their lives to keep us safe. The approval of the design and bid documents will not impact taxes. This will be a quick town meeting as there are only two articles. I hope to see many of you there. Thank you.

Thanks to Kathy Wallace, a Westwood resident, for contributing this opinion article to Westwood Minute. 

Westwood Minute takes no position on the opinion articles that it publishes, but seeks accurate and thoughtful commentary on topics that matter to our community, from a variety of differing viewpoints. Feel free to reply with your reaction below, or submit another perspective to WestwoodInAMinute@gmail.com.

For local news/opinion/events in your inbox, subscribe to Westwood Minute!

You may also be interested in reading:

- OPINION: Relatively High Westwood Tax Rates are Reason to Delay Costs of New Fire Station

- Special Town Meeting (Calendar event)

- How to Estimate Your Tax Bill from the Westwood Property Tax Rate Increase for FY2024

- Westwood Minute’s Roundup of Local News from 2023