Northborough is one step closer to getting a new fire station after a Town Meeting Monday, Oct. 7, communityadvocate.com reported.
After presentations and debate, an article authorizing the appropriation of $41.3 million was approved by a vote of 431 to 144, the report said.
With this vote, the project will be on the ballot on Nov. 5 for a debt exclusion vote.
The appropriation of $41.4 million is before the estimated $1.9 million in energy rebates, according to the report. Within the appropriation, the department is projecting a budget of $33.4 million for construction; $905,000 for furnishings, fixtures and equipment; $6.8 million for fees and expenses; and $3.7 million for contingency.
The current station, which was designed in 1974 when there were two people on duty, has physical limitations, the report said. There are two bedrooms and no separation by gender. The kitchen isn’t large; vehicles have gotten bigger; and one room houses the gym, training room, storage room and meeting room, according to the report.
The first floor of the new station would be 21,500 gross square feet and support a “clean station” concept, and the second floor would be 9,350 gross square feet, the report said.
For more information, please go to the Northborough Fire Station Project.