Kevin Rickett carries a dummy down the ladder after receiving it from fellow firefighter Scott Dray during a demonstration in October 2020 at the Auburn Fire Department on Minot Avenue. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal file
AUBURN — A $45 million bond to build a new public safety building for the city’s police and fire departments will go to a vote Nov. 7.
At Monday’s meeting, the City Council voted 5-1 in approval of sending the project to voters, as they had in September — a second reading is required by law before a question can be put out as a municipal referendum
The cost of the project is estimated at up to $45 million, although city leaders stressed that the final cost may not be that high. With the average interest rate at the proposed bond at approximately 4%, the total amount of debt for the city over 30 years could reach up to $82.8 million.
Mayor Jason Levesque pointed out, however, that the city has the option to pay off the debt sooner, so the $82.8 million figure represents the highest possible amount that will need to be paid.
The proposed public safety building would replace the central fire station at 550 Minot Ave. and house the police and fire departments, both of which city officials say are in desperate need of new homes.
The police department has been operating at Auburn Hall at 60 Court St. since 2011, a then-temporary solution because its former station at 1 Minot Ave. needed costly repairs. The location was only meant to be a five-year solution until a headquarters could be built.
Challenges for police — who share space in the Auburn Hall with other city operations — include space constraints, safety concerns involving prisoner interaction with the public, access to officer safety equipment, gender accommodations, adequate locker rooms and a lack of restrooms, training space and storage space for evidence, equipment, uniforms and supplies.
The fire department lacks space for its primary ladder truck, which officials say should be centrally located. The station, built in 1972, no longer meets the needs of modern services, lacking decontamination and training spaces, ADA compliance and storage space, according to a statement by city officials.
Also at the City Council meeting, Counselor Richard S. Whiting formally apologized to the mayor and the council after making a “rude gesture” at Levesque during the last council meeting.
“Totally uncalled for,” Whiting said, “unwarranted. I apologize to everyone in the room.”
The counselor described the action as “totally out of character for me,” and said he was particularly shamed by his actions after hearing about the good works of homeless advocate Dan Campbell, who was awarded for his efforts earlier in the meeting.
Levesque accepted the apology and the meeting continued.
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