This post expresses the views and opinions of the author(s) and not necessarily that of Westwood Minute management or staff.
Letter to the Editor
The need to replace Fire Station 1 is not sudden, it is the result of more than a decade of careful planning. In 2013, the Town of Westwood conducted a comprehensive public safety review of the police station and both fire stations. That review concluded that all three facilities needed replacement.
Thanks to the growth in tax revenue generated by University Station, Westwood was able to construct new facilities for the Police Department and Fire Station 2 without requiring a debt exclusion (override) or a tax increase. Fire Station 1 is the final piece of that plan still to be addressed.
Some have suggested that Westwood has not planned properly. The facts show otherwise. Long-range capital planning has guided the town’s decision-making for years, covering repair and replacement of municipal buildings, roads, vehicles, and technology infrastructure. Each year, municipal departments update five-year capital projections, which are then reviewed and prioritized to ensure the best use of the town’s limited resources.
Of course, priorities must be balanced. That is why both general government and the School Department work together to align needs. A recent example was the new Pine Hill School, combining the Deerfield and Hanlon populations. The Massachusetts School Building Authority recognized the importance of that project and provided more than $20 million in funding support. Importantly, the project was financed as the debt from the construction of the high school over twenty years earlier was being retired.
With Pine Hill School now complete, replacing Fire Station 1 is the next identified priority. Years of analysis and design have gone into developing a facility that meets the needs of the fire department and the community. Postponing further will only drive costs higher and prolong reliance on a building that no longer meets operational or safety standards for our firefighters and EMTs.
We all share responsibility for ensuring Westwood’s infrastructure keeps pace with the needs of its residents. Old buildings do not last forever. Fire Station 1 has served the community well for decades but has reached the end of its useful life. Now is the time to invest in the right-sized Fire Station 1 facility that will protect our community today and for generations to come.
Respectfully,
Nancy Hyde
14° and Clear
