BRATTLEBORO -- The Selectboard will discuss the affordability of a new police and fire station facility at a special meeting tonight.
The police and fire station is just one aspect of the town's capital plan that the board must consider prior to finalizing its fiscal year 2011 budget, which goes into effect on July 1, 2010.
The police and fire stations are in the town's capital plan for 2012.
"We need to make a decision on whether we really want to go toward a new facility," said Barbara Sondag, Brattleboro's town manager.
The plan to build a new police and fire station is "in jeopardy" because of a looming decrease in tax revenues and the increase in the costs of services, said board member Dick DeGray.
"We really have to prioritize what we need to get done," he said. "Some stuff can be deferred."
One thing the board has to take into consideration, though, before it decides if it should delay the police and fire station, said DeGray, is the money that might need to be invested in the current police and fire stations for maintenance and repairs if a new facility is deferred.
"I don't want to sink a couple hundred thousand dollars into those buildings and then go forward with a new facility," he said.
Even if the board does decide to push forward with the new facility, it may still have to appropriate some funds for basic maintenance and repairs.
"It might take two or three years to get the project off the ground," said
Board member John Allen said his position on the fire and police station issue is unequivocal.
"I'm not even on the fence on this," he said. "At this time, it's not in the cards. We've got other serious problems."
Board member Martha O'Connor said the town should consider taking out a bond to finance the construction of a new facility, which she said she supports.
"I can't help but think that in the long run, combining the two will save money," she said.
The two departments could share resources if they were in the same building, she said, such as computers and other office equipment.
She also said a new "green" building would save money for the town through reduced energy costs.
And, said O'Connor, it just doesn't make sense to keep spending town money for repairs to the old facilities.
The board scheduled a pair of special budget meetings for Tuesday and Thursday night of this week to encourage more public participation in the process.
In the past, it has scheduled its budget meetings at 7:30 a.m.
The turnout at Tuesday night's meeting was small, with only three members of the community showing up.
"I'd like to see more than three people come to a meeting," said Allen. "It's really discouraging when you hear the talk around town, but when you have a meeting, nobody shows up."
Tonight's meeting is scheduled for 6:30 in the Selectboard Meeting Room in the Municipal Building.
Bob Audette can be reached at raudette@reformer.com, or at 802-254-2311, ext. 273.
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