LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Brian Camenker Argues for Keeping Existing Size of Fire Station

Where should we go from here with the Fire Station project? It’s where we should have gone in the beginning.

In 2023 the Select Board paid an independent fire consulting company a considerable sum to analyze our fire department operations – for the present and the foreseeable future. The study determined that our current Fire Station capacity was sufficient for our needs. In fact, the Islington Fire Station remains underutilized with empty space.

For some disturbing reason, the Select Board chose to ignore that expensive study and instead presented an outrageous design that was 2 1/2 times the size of the current one. They were able to pass it in Town Meeting by packing the room with their friends and changing the rules of procedure. There was also a shameful and offensive online campaign of harassment against critics of their plan (which still continues). But the voters prudently voted it down – twice!

Now the Select Board is playing another game by presenting a basketful of designs, which appears to be another scheme to confuse the public.

All we really need is to replace this fire station with an up-to-date one that’s approximately the same size. Without hidden backroom politics getting in the way, that should be pretty simple to do.

And let’s be honest. The reason we’re having to do this at all is that our town neglected to maintain the building, and it fell into complete disrepair. Had the town officials been doing their job, it might need remodeling – but not a teardown. (Our officials are conspicuously avoiding that discussion, but it needs to happen.)

Please – let’s just do the right thing this time!

Brian Camenker, Westwood resident

Thanks to Brian Camenker for contributing these comments to Westwood Minute. Mr. Camenker authored the argument against the ballot question for Westwood's September 9, 2025 Special Town Election that was sent to voters, along with other information, in advance of the election. At the special election, residents were asked to approve the funding mechanism required to pay for costs of constructing, equipping and furnishing a new Fire Station 1 on Westwood's High Street, in excess of limitations on taxes imposed by Proposition 2-1/2.

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