The Fire House Committee continued trimming the proposal for the new facility on Shepard Road Wednesday evening when it met with James Nall, an architect with Silver Petrucelli.
Substantial reductions have been made to the early estimate of $9.3 million. For instance, a three-bay utility shed at the rear of the firehouse will now be a prefabricated Morton building, reducing its cost by about half.
“We’re trimming constantly, taking things out to get the cost down,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska.
Similarly, the hose-drying tower has been reduced in height to 26 feet, its windows have been removed and a ventilation system substituted. Nall told the committee that 26 feet will be sufficient for drying hose, but that the space beneath the peaked roof can also be employed if the firefighters want more height.
The interior of the firehouse will now be barebones. “There is no carpeting anymore and furnishing will be something the firefighters will have to take care of, unless there is money left over at the end,” said Riiska. “We have cut quite a lot out. It’s very utilitarian.”
There is no estimate yet of how much the cutbacks will save.