By Rita Savard
The Lowell Sun
CHELMSFORD, Mass. — Special Town Meeting last night overwhelmingly approved spending $25 million to build a new fire headquarters and upgrade the Department of Public Works.
Ultimately, Town Meeting members said a bad economy was on their side to help bring a big cost savings to two major building projects.
Voters approved building a new fire station for about $12 million at Chelmsford and Wilson streets, the site of softball fields, and to move the DPW from Richardson Road to the former Old Mother Hubbard dog-food plant on Alpha Road, off Route 129, at a cost of about $13 million.
With Town Meeting approval, both projects will now be placed on a special election ballot in October to give all the town’s registered voters a chance to weigh in.
Last night, Fire Chief Jack Parow said he is very excited and “a little bit surprised” by the vote.
Early on, the DPW project seemed to have garnered more support from residents and town officials, with selectmen approving the project in a 4-1 vote.
But when it came to building a new fire station, selectmen shot down the proposal in a 3-2 vote.
Parow said he believed a few public tours of the Center Fire Station helped change residents’ minds.
Built in 1952, the station was meant to serve the town’s population of about 9,400. Today, the concrete floor is hoisted by support beams and is crumbling in some sections.
“Economically, it’s a bad time, but it’s also a time we can capitalize on,” Parow said.
Supporters last night said the town could move forward on the building projects at the lowest construction and loan interest rates seen in years, saving millions in the long run.
Opponents argue that taxpayers are already feeling the squeeze on their wallets and can’t take much more.
Permanent Building Committee Chairman Pat Maloney said that after reviewing the issue for more than a year, the committee recommended both projects.
Relocating the DPW for about $12.8 million is a steal, Maloney said, compared to building a new facility for about $31.2 million. By relocating to the Old Mother Hubbard plant, other cost savings will follow.
Currently, the DPW is spread across four locations, including the Sewer Department’s office on Kidder Road, which costs the town $74,100 a year in rent.
The new Fire Department building will address the need for training and office space, and will include five vehicle bays.
There is talk of moving the softball fields that will be displaced to Southwell Field.
By doing both projects together, the Building Committee estimated that the town can save another $300,000 by sharing personnel and other resources.
“All we wanted all along was for the townspeople to decide what they thought was best for the town,” Parow said. “Tonight, we heard the voice of the voters.”
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