Pembroke Select Board approves public safety building contracts, addresses beach overcrowding concerns
Fire station construction bids come in more than $1 million under budget, with groundbreaking expected after Labor Day as board also tackles Little Sandy Pond issues.
PEMBROKE - July 23 - The Pembroke Select Board approved construction contracts for two new fire stations Wednesday night after receiving bids that came in more than $1 million under budget, Town Manager Bill Chenard announced.
Tower Construction of Cranston, Rhode Island, submitted the low bid for the substation at Monroe and School streets, while W.T. Rich Company of Newton, Massachusetts, won the contract for the headquarters station at Barker and Washington streets.
"I am pleased to announce that the bids came in under budget, more than $1 million under budget, with an opportunity for additional savings if we don't completely eat into our contingency money," Chenard said. "I am super excited about that, that we are going to save the residents some substantial cash."
The substation will take an estimated 14 months to complete, while the headquarters station requires 21 months for construction. Chenard expects groundbreaking to occur after Labor Day, following site cleanup at both locations.
The board also addressed ongoing concerns about overcrowding and littering at Little Sandy Pond, with Chair Tracy Marino raising the issue during old business discussion.
"I feel like we're getting a lot of complaints about the mostly Little Sandy being overrun by so many people that there's trash everywhere, and the police are being called down there all the time," Marino said. "And what are we doing about it?"
Chenard reported the town has installed a police camera system at Little Sandy similar to the one on Mattakeesett Street to capture license plates and monitor activity for enforcement purposes.
"The problem we were having is people were calling. Not everybody was calling the police. Very few people were calling the police, unfortunately," Chenard said. "They call us Monday morning. We can't do anything Monday morning."
The town manager emphasized residents should call the police non-emergency line at 781-293-6363 when witnessing violations so officers can respond immediately. The camera system has already led to some enforcement actions, with violators being required to return and clean up their trash rather than receiving fines.
Marino suggested implementing a parking sticker program to limit access, noting that while state law prevents municipalities from restricting access to great ponds, they can regulate parking. The board agreed to place the beach issue on a future agenda for further discussion.
In other business, the board accepted a donation of an ADA-accessible picnic table to honor the late Joel Sugarman, a longtime Pembroke resident and community volunteer. Wayne Owen, representing families with Down syndrome children who formed a support group with Sugarman, presented the proposal.
"Joel was a resident here for many, many years and very deeply involved in Pembroke's community," Owen said. "We thought this would be a great way to keep his legacy alive in the community center."
The picnic table will be placed at the community center, where Sugarman spent considerable time during retirement. Donors also plan to plant a tree or shrubs near the table with additional fundraising proceeds.
The board approved an alteration of premises application for Wolves Den Sports and Entertainment LLC at 340 Oak Street to add outdoor entertainment and a patio bar. The addition includes 20,000 square feet of outdoor space with volleyball courts, pickleball courts, and seating for 50 people.
Manager John Poirier said entertainment would be minimal and not amplified, possibly featuring "a guy on a guitar, maybe a couple people out there. Nothing really too loud."
Board member Dan Trabucco suggested establishing policy guidelines for future outdoor entertainment applications to ensure consistent review processes.
The board also adopted a new public comment policy after weeks of discussion. The policy includes provisions allowing the chair discretion to manage public comment periods and outlines rules for speakers during meetings.
Chenard provided several other updates during his report:
• The community center's air conditioning issues have been fully resolved after contaminated coolant was replaced under warranty
• Pembroke Public Library will close Wednesday through Friday next week for HVAC unit replacement requiring crane installation
• Furnace Pond was treated for water quality Wednesday and should not be used until Friday
• The town expects high heat index conditions Thursday and Friday, with beaches and the air-conditioned community center available as cooling locations
The board approved live entertainment permits for Angel Pizza to host indoor karaoke Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 254 Church Street.
Chair Marino announced the Hometown Heroes banner program's second round, with applications due Sept. 1. The program honors veterans who lived in Pembroke, with banners costing $176.40 and a scholarship program available for those needing financial assistance.
The board's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 6, featuring a Fire Chief presentation on Massachusetts Fire Service Commission accreditations and service awards.