By Allison Drescher, Contributor
After several dozen board and community meetings have already been held to discuss replacing Westwood's existing Fire Station 1 (FS1), the community forum at Westwood Public Library on Wednesday, September 30, to discuss Westwood Select Board's proposal for a new $39.98 million FS1 construction project, was sparsely attended. But residents in attendance took the opportunity to ask questions that revealed curiosity and concerns about issues of energy efficiency, stormwater management, and the impact on existing baseball fields at Select Board's chosen construction site of the former Deerfield School.
Select Board Chair Marianne LeBlanc Cummings stated that the FS1 construction project under discussion is "the product of a new process, a new team, and a new site, each reflecting what we have learned and what we believe this project needs to succeed,” she said. She continued, “that is not to say that the work is finished or that we take the support of our voters for granted.”
The Westwood Select Board, at its meeting at Westwood Public Library on Monday, September 28, voted to adopt a new scope and a not-to-exceed budget of $39,981,158 for construction of a new Fire Station 1.
Residents at the September 30 community forum asked more than 15 questions, raising issues from the proposed exit path for emergency vehicles from the Deerfield site to the energy efficiency and readiness for potential solar and heat pumps for the new building. Residents also asked about the stormwater management and drainage, as well as the size and orientation of the existing baseball fields at Deerfield.
Several residents praised the process. One specifically commended the graphics in the proposal. Many attendees commented on the multitude of conversations held on the project. By some counts, there have been over 70 meetings and public forums on the matter.
The new plan for FS1 proposes allocating approximately $5 million of existing town funds towards the $39.98 million project cost. These contributory funds consist of meals and hotel tax, free cash, sale of town-owned real estate and recreation funds. This would reduce the project's overall borrowing by approximately 12.5%. This lessens taxpayer impact by $10 million in debt service over the duration of the 30-year bond.
Related tax impacts will not hit residents’ real estate tax bills until FY 2029 (year starting July 1, 2028), according to the proposal. Since interest rates and bond issuance are subject to market conditions, the tax increase will not be immediate.
After heavy snowfall last winter, the existing FS1 on High Street faced increased structural concerns. Engineers determined that two station bays were inadequate, and a temporary service tent was erected to house fire apparatus and equipment. A portion of FS1’s operations moved to FS2, consolidating fire department operations in Islington.
Westwood officials will host a Special Town Meeting on October 26 as the first of a two-step process required for voter approval to fund FS1. If the project is approved with a two-thirds vote, the second step would a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion question that will appear as Question 10 at the November 3 state election. State law requires an affirmative vote on two separate votes to approve funding for the FS1 project.
If voters approve project funding, FS1 design work will begin in November this year and run through the summer of 2027. Construction would begin in fall or winter 2027, with a completion goal of mid to late 2029. Last spring’s town meeting allocated $325,000 appropriation funding for feasibility and schematic work.
Further information on Westwood’s FS1 proposal is available online. Questions for the FS1 Advisory and Community Engagement Committee (formerly the Steering Committee) can be submitted via email to FS1committee@westwood.gov.
Thanks to Allison Drescher, a Westwood resident who is a principal and manager of a family-owned real estate portfolio in and around Boston and president of the Small Property Owners Association. She is also a Community Reporting Fellow receiving training through the Journalism New England Career Lab. Fellows in JNE's Career Lab perform civic reporting that provides people in towns across New England with the information they need to be engaged in their communities. Ms. Drescher can be reached at westwoodtaxpayers@gmail.com.
Sunny, with a high of 72 and low of 51 degrees. Don't forget your umbrella! Fog in the morning, sunny during the afternoon, overcast in the evening, light rain overnight.
Thank you for this article! The simple rule of thumb for what is acceptable isONLY clean paper, cardboard, and empty bottles, cans, and rigid containers at least the size of a tennis ball.
54° and Light rain