The Board of Selectmen Friday morning approved a resolution recommending an increase in the appropriation and bond authorization for the new fire house from $9.3 million to $10.4 million and the amount to be financed by the town from $3.5 million to $4 million.
A town meeting date was set for Monday, October 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Botelle School to take action on the resolution.
The cost of the fire house increased by about $1 million this spring. The town went out to bid almost simultaneously with the Trump administration’s announcement of a tariff on brass that made contractors leery of rising costs for the material.
The Fire House Committee went back to the drawing board and revamped the proposed plan, eliminating much-desired items such as a hose-drying tower and a rooftop ventilation monitor.
With Inland Wetlands Agency and Planning and Zoning Commission approvals for the modified plan, the town sought new bids, which were opened Tuesday. The new bids reduced the cost by $429,000 with the possibility of further cuts when all figures are complete and the firefighters further review different options.
First Selectman Matt Riiska said the electrical and fire alarm system must be rebid yet again because the low bidder withdrew his offer.
Riiska is on the record as wanting to restore the hose tower to the plan, which is estimated to cost about $500,000. “It’s a possibility, but we’re continuing to work on getting the cost for the project down,” he said. “Our goal is to get the cost down below $10 million.”
The Fire House Committee is slated to meet Monday, September 29, to review the bids and discuss construction plans and finances.