ROCKLAND - Rockland residents are once again called to the polls for a crucial decision on the future of the town's fire department. A Special Election is set for Saturday, September 13, 2025, to decide the fate of a revised $26.1 million Fire Station Building Project and a $2 million Fire Department Ladder Truck. This vote serves as a "tiebreaker" after both proposals faced a split decision in the spring, failing at the Annual Town Election in April but passing overwhelmingly at the Annual Town Meeting in May.
For either project to move forward, a proposition 2½ capital/debt exclusion must be approved by voters at the ballot.
The Urgent Need: A Station Outgrown and Outdated
The current Fire Station Headquarters at 360 Union Street, with sections dating back to 1939 and an addition in 1978, has been deemed too old, too small, and the site itself inadequate for modern firefighting operations.
Fire Chief Scott Duffey emphasizes that the department's mission has drastically changed over the decades. What was once primarily fire suppression now includes emergency medical response, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue. This expanded mission requires larger apparatus and more specialized equipment, which the current station can no longer accommodate.
Key challenges at the existing station include:
• Health and Safety Risks: Firefighters are exposed to diesel exhaust, cancer-causing contaminants, and chemicals due to a lack of separation between vehicle bays, living quarters, and office spaces. Firefighting is recognized as a profession with a significantly higher risk of certain cancers. There's no proper area to clean and dry contaminated gear, leaving it exposed in shared spaces.
• Operational Inefficiencies: Apparatus barely fit, creating hazards and blocking internal access. Sleeping quarters lack privacy, and there are no dedicated training areas, forcing firefighters to conduct training off-site. The building also lacks ADA compliance and proper meeting rooms.
• Long-Term Costs: Town officials argue that continuing to invest in renovating the current facility would be "good money after bad". Renovation options would require costly temporary relocation of operations for up to 18 months, at an estimated cost of $1.7 million, without fully resolving the fundamental space and safety issues.
Voters' Feedback Led to a "Plan B"
The initial $33.2 million fire station project was rejected by voters in spring 2023, with feedback indicating it was "too big" and "too expensive". In response, the Select Board, Fire Chief, and Fire Station Building Committee went back to the drawing board, developing a new "Plan B" that is significantly smaller and less expensive.
The revised project reflects a 21% reduction in cost, from $33.2 million to $26.1 million. The building's footprint has been reduced by 22%, from 33,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet. In today's dollars, the original project would have cost approximately $36 million, making the current $26.1 million proposal an even greater reduction.
Highlights of the proposed new Fire Station at 99 Church Street:
• Location: Situated at 99 Church Street, at the corner of Church and Howard Streets (the old Lincoln School site).
• Health & Safety Focus: Features dedicated decontamination spaces and a "hot, warm, cold zone" design to prevent the spread of carcinogens and ensure a healthier environment for personnel and visitors.
• Improved Operations: Includes six apparatus bays large enough for current and future larger vehicles, an outdoor training area, and adequate space for personnel and equipment.
• Future Growth: The design allows for future expansion towards the back of the property if needed.
• Community Integration: Features a public meeting/training room, a brick facade to match other town buildings, and landscaping, fencing, and retaining walls to buffer neighboring properties.
• Sustainability: Designed as an all-electric building with provisions for a future rooftop solar array.
Understanding the Financial Impact
For the average Rockland single-family home, currently valued at $517,355, the $26.1 million Fire Station project is projected to result in an average annual property tax increase of approximately $223 per year, or $0.61 per day, for the length of the 30-year bond. This increase would be nominal in the first two years, covering design work, before reaching the full amount from Fiscal Year 2028 through 2057.
Town Administrator Doug Lapp noted that despite this new debt, the town's overall debt service is projected to return to current levels by 2035, as older municipal debts are paid off.
The Ladder Truck: An Immediate, One-Time Need
Voters will also decide on a separate $2 million capital outlay for a new Fire Department Ladder Truck. The current ladder truck, purchased in 1999 and refurbished in 2018, has become a "mechanical headache". Approximately $79,000 to $80,000 has been spent on repairs in the last five years, and parts are increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to find due to the vehicle's age.
Chief Duffey emphasized the urgency, stating that new ladder trucks have a build time of 48 to 50 months (four to five years). The $2 million cost for the ladder truck would be a one-time tax increase of approximately $300 for the average single-family home, occurring for only one year (Fiscal Year 2026), and falling off the tax bill before the larger fire station debt increase begins. A FEMA grant application is pending, which could potentially offset up to $1 million of this cost.
Consequences of a "No" Vote
If the Fire Station project fails again, Chief Duffey warns that the existing problems will not disappear and will likely become more expensive with ongoing inflation. Similarly, a failure to approve the ladder truck means relying on an aging vehicle that is difficult to maintain, potentially impacting the department's ability to respond to emergencies requiring a ladder.
Get Informed, Cast Your Vote
The Fire Station Building Committee and town officials have conducted extensive public outreach, including informational meetings, tours of the current station, mailings, and updates on social media platforms. Residents are encouraged to visit the Town of Rockland website to access a tax impact calculator specific to their property value, along with FAQs, flyers, and presentation materials.
The Special Election on Saturday, September 13, 2025. A "yes" vote for each approves the project, while a "no" vote does not. This vote represents a pivotal moment for public safety in Rockland, offering residents the chance to invest in a healthier, more efficient, and modern fire department for the community's future.
Sources include WRPS recordings, South Shore News articles, and all the material available on the Rockland Fire Station Project web page.
