DALTON, Mass. — Discussions over the proposed public safety facility continue to prove contentious as officials debate next steps. 

 

During several meetings, Police Chief Deanna Strout has emphasized how the condition of the station, located in Town Hall, has been deteriorating for the last 28 years. 

 

It was determined early on by the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee that the basement of Town Hall is not a viable long-term location after reviewing documentation and touring the facility and other local police stations. 

 

During its Tuesday meeting, the committee decided to have its consultant, Brian Humes of Jacunski Humes Architects LLC in Berlin, Conn., conduct a feasibility assessment of the existing space.

 

"It's shocking to most of us in this room, the first time any of us have even heard that's an option, because we all know that it is not an option," Strout said. 

 

The goal is to determine if it can be renovated to meet the Police Department's needs by evaluating code requirements, space constraints, and potential costs.

 

This task is in addition to his work in developing a rendering of both a one-story and a two-story station on a "fictitious" parcel that resembles the lot next to the Senior Center.

 

The report on the current facility will detail the requirements for bringing it up to code, identify what may be lost in a renovation compared to a new build, and outline necessary additions during renovation.

 

"I don't think that's going to change the direction of what needs to be done, but it gives information to the Select Board [and] gives information to anyone that wants to read the report," committee member Ryan Flanders said. 

 

"It's nothing more than information, and then all of this winds up going to the Select Board for their final decision, whether it's vote it down and do absolutely nothing or whether we're going to invest the time and energy into going and getting all of this done."

 

Strout questioned why the committee would do this since it had been established early on that the current location does not have the space to provide what the department "legally needs." 

 

"We won't know that until we ask the professional to actually put time into it," committee member Craig Wilbur said. 

 

During the advisory committee meeting on Tuesday, the conversation turned heated at times and Wilbur resigned from his position as co-chair, opting to be a member instead. 

 

In a follow-up, Wilbur explained he does not have enough time to spearhead the development of the progress report but will actively engage in conversations around it. Don Davis has agreed to continue to serve as chair. 

 

One of Wilbur's concerns was having the committee's report ready by the December deadline. However, on Monday night the Select Board voted to extend its deadline to April. 

 

Board members did say they wanted an update on the progress that has been made; emphasizing how a lot has been done. 

 

Humes had toured the facility and created a space needs assessment which is not in alignment with the basement's existing conditions. 

 

"I have not been formally tasked with doing a renovation plan of the existing building … so it was my recommendation that you don't spend any money on a renovation scheme because it was not going to provide a viable option," he said. 

 

"It would not meet the needs as stated within your space needs assessment." 

 

A renovation of the current faculty would require supplementing square footage within the existing space, either within the building or through an addition to the building, Humes said. 

 

Davis said he believes that the station is already at its boundaries. 

 

"We haven't looked at this because we haven't decided as a committee to look at this in any detail. So, these are all speculations that would have to be addressed," Wilbur said. 

 

An added concern of renovating the existing space would be the station would need to stay in operation during the renovations, Humes said. 

 

Given the recent stalemates at previous meetings, Select Board member Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo informed the committee that he has recommended to the board that a fifth member be added to the committee.   

 

Pagliarulo was a member of the committee prior to being elected to the Select Board but stepped down due to it being a conflict of interest. 

 

During a Select Board meeting in November, the board approved crafting a request for proposals for a public safety facility site, to solicit potential private property sites for the proposed police station. 

 

The committee looked at several properties during this process, with four being ranked for the proposed police facility. 

 

Because of the high costs associated with purchasing the land and the discord surrounding the use of Senior Center land it might be advantageous to open the search up again, Pagliarulo said. 

 

Select Board member John Boyle cautioned against this with concerns that it would delay the process, given the need to evaluate the sites and negotiate costs. Despite his concerns, Boyle did vote in favor of the motion following discussion. 

 

The process should only take about two to two and a half months, Pagliarulo said. 

 

The voters need a comparison cost so Select Board Chair John Bishop also supported the motion. The motion passed unanimously amongst the three present board members.