STRATHAM PLANNING BOARD
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Agenda: The
Town of Stratham, Planning Board conducted a Public Hearing on
New
Business:
Presentation and Discussion of the proposed new Fire Station and
Police Station.
Members Present: Chair Janet
Johnson, Jeffrey Hyland, Mary Jane Werner, Bruno Federico, Timothy Mason, Kirk
Scamman, and Town Planner, Charles (Chuck) Grassie.
Ms. Johnson explained how this Presentation and Discussion would be run. Lucy Cushman from the Public Safety Complex Committee introduced the committee members that were present. Those members are: Martin Wool, Selectmen’s Representative; David Emanuel from the Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management; Lissa Ham; Police Chief Michael Daley; and Police Officer Richard Wood (Woody). Stan Walker from the Fire Department was not present.
Ms. Cushman gave brief history of this project. In 2003 the Town approved a $5,000,000 Bond
for a Public Safety Complex. Last year
the Committee brought the plan for a Public Safety Complex before the Planning
Board. The plan was not well
received. The Committee has since come
to the conclusion that the sites that the two departments like are not
conducive to a joint Public Safety Complex.
After much additional discussion, the Committee is recommending two
separate buildings. Ms. Cushman
indicated that there would be Warrant Article meetings before Town Meeting for
discussions on whether or not that is a wise move. For this evening she asked that the public
concentrate on the architectural plans for the Police and Fire Departments. Ms. Cushman stated that they hope to locate
the new Police Station on property the Town purchased on
Architect Kelly Davis from Sumner/Davis Architects in
Architect Michael Keane was there to do a presentation for the new Fire
House. He gave a history of the Fire
Department, which is all volunteer; how the Fire
Department is funded; the various types of calls they respond to; training the
members go through; vehicles the Fire Department would like to acquire in the
future; and the lack of space in the existing building. Mr. Keane went over the plans for the
proposed Fire House. He noted that there
will be a separate department for the Office of Emergency Management. He stated that it is separate organization
from the Fire Department. He said the
Office of Emergency Management responds to civic and emergency responses to any
natural or manmade disasters. They also
coordinate with local and state officials, federal emergency agencies,
etc. Mr. Keane explained where they
propose to locate the Office of Emergency Management in the new building, and
how it would be set up. He indicated
that they were planning a building that would meet the needs of the Fire Department
and the Office of Emergency Management for the next twenty years. He said that sometime in the future they
anticipate the Fire Department will be either partially or entirely a paid
department. Mr. Keane went over the
plans for the proposed building, and the proposed site plan. He stated that the
fire trucks would be exiting onto
There were discussions on: the basement design; the cost of the building;
the number of calls the Fire Department responds to each year, and what type
they are; the drainage problems on the shared site with the Historical Society
building and the existing Fire Station; the siding for the new building; the
entrance onto Portsmouth Avenue; a possible control blinking signal for
Portsmouth Avenue for fire trucks; snow storage/removal; school buses that drop
off and pick up children in the parking lot of the existing Fire Station; and
making sure there is no duplication of equipment regionally since mutual aid is
a reality. Assistant Fire Chief David Emanuel explained how the Committee decided
on what equipment was necessary. There
were additional discussions on: moving the building 5 feet further back from
the Historical Society building; the location of the dumpster; the location of
the sign; whether or not the intersection of
Selectman Marty Wool indicated that each department has been allocated $2 million to use. He felt that $2 million would not be enough money to build a 27,000 square foot fire house. He asked if the Committee working on the new fire station had a plan on what they would do, if the Town’s people won’t approve more money. Mr. Keane stated that he had prepared the original concept plan and three plans so they can get prices for different options. The first option is to build the shell of the building, leaving the second floor unfinished; the second option is to build the apparatus area as the first floor putting the office/living quarters/emergency operations areas on the second floor, and not building the training/meeting area, at this time; the third option was to remove items that had been added to the exterior of the building for aesthetic appeal (pitched roofs, overhands, etc).
Hearing no further comments, Mr. Mason made a motion to adjourn at
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Beaudoin
Secretary Stratham Planning Board