DIGHTON — Chief Christopher Maguy and the Dighton Fire Department would like to share with the residents of Dighton information on the upcoming Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 1, in particular the Article on the Warrant pertaining to the proposed Feasibility Study for Fire Station 1.
Article 5 seeks to allocate $150,000 to fund a Feasibility Study to provide recommendations on modernizing Station 1, located at 300 Main St.
Chief Maguy presented the details of the Article to the Dighton Board of Selectmen this week. This included showing photos of the current station, such as infrastructure in need of repair and modernization, crowded living quarters, improper storage areas and more.
The Feasibility Study would secure an architect for the Town to review the existing conditions of Station 1, perform a programming analysis, and provide a recommended schematic design along with applicable costs estimates. Proposed funding includes anticipated costs for site explorations and surveys to compare any identified options.
The Town owns property adjacent to the station, and plans will be considered to both construct a new building or make expansions/renovations to the current building.
“The goal of the study would be to provide taxpayers with the most information possible with all options on the table relating to moving forward with a Station 1 building project,” Chief Maguy said. “We hope that residents attend the Special Town Meeting next week to learn more about this proposed article so they can make as informed a decision as possible.”
About Dighton Fire Station 1
Station 1 was built in the 1960s as a Call Fire Station, and currently operates 24/7 with three firefighter/paramedics per shift while also continuing as a call station. It was built in close proximity to wetlands, causing moisture issues throughout many areas of the building. The station is in a known flood plain and inundation zone should Muddy Cove Pond Dam fail.
Shared spaces in the building include administrative assistant’s office doubling as a bunk room, a supply closet serving as a bunk room, and the day room serving as a bunk room with no privacy. The station is utilizing a cesspool installed when the building was originally constructed, there is no insulation in any of the exterior walls, and cracks in flooring and walls indicate potential structural building issues.
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