Plympton Town Meeting Approves $978,000 for New Fire Station Design
Town votes to borrow funds for engineering and bid preparation, addressing outdated 50-year-old facility
PLYMPTON, MA - May 15 - The town of Plympton has approved borrowing up to $978,000 for the engineering and design of a new fire station, addressing concerns about the outdated current facility built over 50 years ago.
At the Annual Town Meeting on May 15, residents voted to move forward with plans for a modern fire station that will better accommodate the department's growing needs and equipment.
Jon Wilhelmsen, chair of the Plympton Town Properties Committee, explained the necessity of the project to attendees.
"Our existing fire station was built over 50 years ago to house a small call fire department," Wilhelmsen said. "Since that time, we have seen the department grow and adapt to meet current demands and needs of our town."
The size of fire apparatus has nearly doubled in the last five decades, Wilhelmsen noted, partly due to safety regulations prohibiting firefighters from riding on the outside of vehicles.
"We simply do not have that space in the current building," Wilhelmsen said.
The $978,000 will fund the development of complete design and construction documents, bid documents, and site testing for a "purpose-built, multi-bay, up-to-code, safe, and modern facility," according to Wilhelmsen.
Town officials emphasized that this step will allow them to solicit actual bids for the new station, providing a more accurate estimate of construction costs.
The measure required a two-thirds majority to pass and was approved unanimously by the town meeting attendees.
The fire station project was one of several items addressed during the annual town meeting, which also included discussions on zoning bylaws, budget appropriations, and other municipal matters.