Corners cut to get fire station cost down

Getting the cost of a new fire station down to appeal to voters has caused the architect to switch to materials less friendly to the environment. The latest plans also cut back on space by reducing the number of bays for fire apparatus.

Architect Brett Donham gave a detailed explanation of how costs were saved at the fire station building committee's March 13 meeting. When he was done answering questions, the committee approved plans for a Central Village station "not to exceed" $7 million.

The cost includes $5.9 million for the building construction and another $1 million for items like a wastewater system, architectural and engineering fees, furnishings and $100,000 for a project manager.

One of the main changes is reducing the number of bays for apparatus to four from the five bays shown in the design last November. The reduction means there are accommodations for nine apparatus, down from 12. Mr. Donham said the space in the apparatus room was reduced by 25 percent.

Fire Chief Brian Legendre said the station will still meet the town's needs for about 30 years. He resisted any calls for further reductions.

Mr. Donham said the building's square footage would have to be reduced by another 20 to 25 percent to save another $1 million.

The committee planned to make a presentation to the Finance Committee on Tuesday, March 18.

Some of the changes made to cut costs have eliminated construction materials that are friendlier to the environment. They include:

* $400,000 saved by switching to vinyl siding from a combination including brick veneer

* $320,000 saved by changing from metal roof to asphalt

* $70,000 saved by changing from steel framing to wood

Also gone is the possible use of wind power at the site.

Committee member Gary Mauk said he would like to find a way to pay for a metal roof, which has a longer lifespan. Veronica Beaulieu said the cost savings amount to $10,000 a year over the life of the 20-year debt exclusion the town plans to use for financing.

Ms. Beaulieu and Chief Legendre both said grants may be available, particularly for environmentally friendly materials. But Mr. Donham said the grants are generally for items like solar hot water and photovaltaic technology, not for roofs.

Ms. Beaulieu said that if they find savings elsewhere during the bidding or building process they can "revisit it and put something back in."

Mr. Donham said savings have also been achieved by:

* Taking 500 square feet from the office; thus, the deputy chief will not have an office here but at the Briggs Road station.

* Removing some stairways, eliminating 13 doors and eliminating a drive-around on the west side.

* Not using radiant heat in some areas.

The lack of municipal water and sewer has driven the cost up by about $238,000, Mr. Donham said.

Mr. Mauk suggested the town save money by using the highway department to clear trees and grade the lot. Mr. Donham agreed to that approach. He said bidders would have an easier time with trees removed from the site, which encompasses five acres behind Beech Grove Cemetery.

Chief Legendre said he could not "advocate" for a building with any further reductions. "The building is going to be full once we move in."

In response to a comment that the voters would be more amenable to a building that cost about $5 million, Chief Legendre said that if the town wanted a $5 million building, it should have asked Mr. Donham to design one.

Saying he wanted time to further examine the plans, Mr. Mauk abstained from the vote to approve the project. A retired engineer, Mr. Mauk said he was the only committee member to thoroughly go over the plans.

Among the items Mr. Mauk wanted nixed was a brass plaque with the committee members' names on it. Mr. Donham said it had already been taken off the plans.

It would have been a relatively low cost item but Mr. Mauk said, "We've got people out of work and we're asking for a tax increase. We need to be reasonable. We've got to serve all the citizens of Westport."

Mr. Mauk also said "congratulations" for taking the fitness room out. "We're not here to build a gymnasium."

In response, Mr. Legendre said they have a "dual responsibility not to make it frivolous and not to waste taxpayers' money" by building something inadequate for the town's needs.

Cost to taxpayers

Town Treasurer George Foster calculated the cost of a $7 million debt exclusion at 5 percent interest over 20 years. The estimate is based on an average house value of $438,000.

The first year, the cost would be $84. It would decline each year to $75 in year five, $65 in year 10, $52 in year 16, and $44 in year 20, or the final year.

Bonding costs were estimated at $70,000.

by peggy aulisio

paulisio@eastbaynewspapers.com

Copyright © 2003, The East Bay Newspapers