Stoughton Fire Station Proposal PRESENTATION TO THE SELECTBOARD

Stoughton Fire Station Proposal PRESENTATION TO THE SELECTBOARD – AUGUST 3, 2021

Our Staff Team Robin Grimm – Town Manager Marc Tisdelle – Exec. Director of Development Services Craig Horsfall – Assistant Town Engineer Fran Bruttaniti – Procurement Officer Susan Herman – Financial Analyst/Internal Auditor Paul Giffune – Associate Superintendent of Public Works Michael Carroll – Fire Chief Jackson Macomber – Assistant Fire Chief

Our Outside Team Owner’s Project Manager – Pomroy and Associates Architects – Dore and Whittier

Our Charge Develop a plan to provide state of the art fire services with optimal response times, comfortable quarters, and the ability to sustain at least 50 years of growth and development in Stoughton. Take into consideration already established programming needs. Ensure the most affordable options while providing top tier services

The Major Needs A site with optimal response time when considered in conjunction with Station 2. Ideal locations would allow for responding fire houses to sit on somewhat opposite sides of Town and allow for responses to be swift – and to avoid neighborhood streets where possible. Larger bays to accommodate newer equipment. Reasonable dormitories to allow for growth in numbers – and to accommodate increase in female firefighters. Facility design to recognize changing challenges in firefighting (i. e. hazmat decontamination, etc. ) The ability to move an ambulance back to Station 2 (which was originally planned).

Challenges Finding a site Initial programming/design required approximately 3 -4 acres with public facing frontage to account for headquarters activities and associated parking that provided optimal response. Ensuring a location optimal for response that would complement Station 2.

Alternatives Thinking outside the box…. Our needs…. A fire response plan that covers Stoughton with minimal response times without increasing staffing A headquarters and public access facility (i. e. fire prevention) that is easily accessible with parking, etc. , ideally near other municipal services for public convenience. Facilities for training, storage, and Emergency operations A consideration of general public health and accessibility Nothing dictates that any one building needs to accommodate all of these requirements…. So….

The Plan New Station 1 - Reduce plan for new construction to include necessary equipment bays for all necessary response vehicles for that side of Town, advanced dormitory facilities, hazmat decon, etc. , and general vehicle maintenance. Re-advertise for sites to accommodate this as smaller sites now are able to be considered Result of advertisement are two potential sites (400 Prospect Street - the old American Legion - and a portion of 850 Park Street). Both properties are viable options – and are under review for compliance with bid specifications and requirements.

The Plan Station 2 – Remove headquarters. Convert to dormitory space. Revive original plan of Ambulance at Station 2 location

The Plan Establish a municipal fire, emergency operations, and Public Health headquarters that would serve the public and accommodate associated foot traffic – while offering a training center, an Emergency Operations center, and a community area for public health (i. e. testing centers, distributions areas), etc. Requires central location, easy access, good parking, and proximal location to other major Town departments

The Plan Freeman Street! Establish a campus feel where the public can “one-stop” shop with licensing, projects, development issues, etc. Encourage downtown foot traffic Free space in Station 2 to host ambulance as originally planned – and with better Town response coverage Allow for all response needs with NO increase in staffing as those at headquarters would be day staff anyway Avoid the public driving in and out of areas where fire apparatus is pulling in and out of Incorporate Restore facade. Public Health facilities more conducive to mass health issues a historic building downtown with effort to replicate original

The Cost Preliminary costs with plans for all-inclusive fire station – approximately 30 million APPROXIMATE Costs for current plan Purchase of land – $1. 15 -$1. 5 million Refurbishing Restoration New of Station 2 – $50, 000 – 100, 000 of Station 1 – $3 - $5 Million fire station – $15 -$18 Million Total approximate costs – $18 – 24 million Potential Funding Sources – ARPA, Historic grants, CPC

Overall Benefits A new state-of-the-art, reasonably priced fire station located in a prime response time area Optimization of Station 2 A centralized headquarters, EOC, public health headquarters downtown with public accessibility Reduction of cost of approximately 33% from preliminary discussions Reuse of a historic building that is part of Stoughton’s history and fiber Creation of a cultural/historic space within Freeman Street Utilization of a building that, if sold, would result in limited income and loss of control over a downtown use – and likely demolition of part of the landscape of downtown. One-stop shopping for the public Increase Downtown evening parking Central and efficient emergency operations center