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Date: 1/25/2023
HAMPDEN – The town of Hampden is engaged in a community needs assessment about the future of the town’s fire station. Tecton Architects, an architectural and design firm, has already worked with Fire Department staff and personnel to identify and prioritize the department’s goals and facilitate its needs. On Jan. 17, members of the public were invited to a “community conversation” to learn about the fire station’s options and share what they would like to be accomplished.
Jeff McElravy of Tecton Architects, said that several deficiencies had been identified with the existing fire station. Among them, the bays that house firetrucks and other firefighting apparatuses are “crowded and create safety hazards,” and there is no containment “support space” that keeps toxic chemicals from polluting the rest of the station.
A study of the fire station at 19 North Rd. was completed by Mitchell Associates in 2020. It outlined eight options for expansion, ranging from merely bringing the 5,011-square-foot building up to code to a completely new construction on 17,172 square feet. At the time, estimates for the options ranged from $2 to 12 million. McElravy, who specializes in public safety building architecture, emphasized that the costs would have substantially increased since then.
Resident Gary Weiner asked if the Mitchell study was reasonable. “Yes, but sometimes you have to balance” the town’s needs while keeping taxes manageable, McElravy said, adding that some communities can afford a 17,000 square-foot building and others cannot. “Finding a balance” was the goal of the conversations with the Fire Department and the public, he said.
When polled, members of the Fire Department listed their top three priorities as health, operational safety and bay capacity. Lower on the list were response time, training space, office space and living space, which can consist of kitchen areas, spaces to spend downtime between calls and places to sleep if needed. In the past, Fire Chief Ed Poulin has noted the station does not have a dedicated “turnout room,” where firefighters can put on their gear quickly.
When residents were electronically polled about priorities, the top three responses were the same as those listed by Fire Department personnel, in a slightly different order. Residents leaned toward the inclusion of an area for physical training and a classroom, office space, and a day room and eating area. The responses skewed away from sleeping quarters.
Nearly all residents who answered the poll in real-time said the station should include dedicated “support space” where firefighters can shed clothing and gear that may be tainted with toxic chemicals.
At the front of the existing fire station, there are two bays to house firetrucks and a smaller bay for more compact vehicles. A fourth bay exists at the rear of the building for smaller equipment. None of the bays meet the current standard of 14-feet high by 14-feet wide. Residents were nearly unanimous in the opinion that the bays should be sized for future equipment that will potentially be larger in size.
In general, most of the poll responses indicated the building should be designed with the next five to 10 years in mind, although some people felt the town should be looking 20 years into the future.
Resident Mary Ellen Glover made the point that Tecton Architects was not looking at the fire station expansion in conjunction with other town projects, such as the Senior Center expansion and the question of whether the Town House should be updated, or the offices should move. Town Administrator Bob Markel noted the proposal on the Town House’s use will be presented in February and will depend on the cost of each choice.
Resident Gina Dunn spoke in favor of giving the Fire Department the tools, saying, “Take care of the hands that take care of you.”
Resident David Turcotte wanted to know more about how the square footage would be divided. McElravy explained that the meeting was focused on general, big-picture ideas and a follow-up meeting would explore more detailed questions.
A resident asked about combining the fire station with a new town hall into a municipal complex. Markel explained that such a plan would greatly depend on the cost associated with the project.
Resident Robin Warner asked if the Fire Department has plans to become a full-time department with overnight staffing and questioned whether that was needed in Hampden. Poulin told her the needs assessment is not a way to pitch changing the Fire Department’s structure, but rather to supply feedback on what the community wants for its Fire Department.
After the as-yet-to-be-scheduled second community conversation, a report will be presented to the Board of Selectmen and any proposals for funding will go before Town Meeting.