BERNARDSTON — Following contentious discussion earlier this month concerning possibly using a property at 12 Church St. to construct a new fire station, two of the property’s tenants shared their feelings with the Fire Station Expansion Committee.
Fran Petran, 72, and her partner Sherwood “Skip” Lenois, 76, are two of the tenants living at Frank “Bud” Foster’s rental property at 12 Church St. who would be displaced should the committee accept Foster’s offer to donate his land to the Fire Department.
Though Petran and Lenois said they’d be reluctant to move from their home of 19 years, they also expressed support for the committee.
“I’m not against anybody wanting to make things better,” Petran said. Her primary hope, she continued, is to stay in Bernardston.
The two attended Tuesday’s committee meeting to stay informed about the committee’s land acquisition decisions. The locations under consideration are 1 Brattleboro Road — which could possibly be combined with the 12 Church St. lot — and 23 Kringle Drive.
“We’ll make sure that you folks are aware of everything that’s going on,” said committee member and Selectman Stanley Garland. “We’ll make that promise to you.”
The idea of using the 12 Church St. property has resulted in differing opinions from residents. Bernardston Fire Chief Peter Shedd read three letters and emails the committee received.
“It is very important that they be able to stay in their home,” Bernardston resident Sharon Sharry wrote of the two families renting from Foster. “I am happy to pay more for a new site that is located anywhere else.”
Previously, Stevens & Associates, the engineering and architecture firm overseeing the project, estimated the total project cost at Kringle Drive would be $3,801,000, just $68,000 more than the total project cost at 1 Brattleboro Road and 12 Church St., which would be $3,733,000, though actual costs could vary as much as 30 percent more or less.
Committee member Jane Dutcher, who is also Finance Committee chair, said previously a $3.5 million project would cause taxes for the owner of a $200,000 house to increase by $400 a year. These figures produced concern among residents.
“The generous donation of land would be financially foolish to refuse,” wrote Bernardston residents Bill and Susan Cameron. “The tax base is not strong enough to support such an ambitious project and a more conservative approach would be a relief to us all.”
“To us, it would be fiscally irresponsible to pass up free land versus burdening us with such a big jump in our real estate taxes,” wrote Bernardston residents Gloria and Earl Freyenhagen.
Further discussion focused on ways to keep costs down.
“There really is a substantial difference without acquisition costs,” Bob Stevens, founder and president of Stevens & Associates said during the meeting.
By constructing a station with four apparatus bays at 12 Church St. alone, Stevens said costs would decrease to around $2.6 to $2.7 million. The current station could also possibly be used for further storage, though Stevens estimated an additional $20 per square foot for any capital improvements to the 1970s building.
However, the committee also voted to have Stevens & Associates to continue to pursue solid construction figures at the Kringle Drive lot.
“We’re not saying we’re buying the Kringle lot,” Garland said. “We’re saying we want to finish the feasibility study … We’re looking at everything.”