LIVERMORE FALLS — Following a 30-minute tour of the Livermore Falls Fire Station on Tuesday evening, May 19, the Board of Selectmen appointed a 10-person committee to study the needs of the Fire Department.
“The committee will begin as quickly as possible so we can proceed ASAP,” Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Louise Chabot said. “We want to know how often the committee meets and the selectmen should be kept informed.”
She also wants a timeline for completion of the study.
The more than 40-year-old station on Park Street has been the focus of discussion for several months. Selectmen and other members of the public got a firsthand look at some of the building’s issues before the board meeting.
Among them are the closeness of the station to the railroad tracks, the back concrete wall separating from the concrete floor, a rotting roof and a hole in a section of a bay wall.
Assistant Fire Chief Alan Chretian said he removed some of the insulation from the roof and decided against going any further because he believes more serious problems could result.
Fire Chief Tim Hardy pointed out that the concrete wall appears bowed from the back of the building.
A study of the station was conducted by engineer Jim Thibodeau.
Because of the numerous construction issues, the Maine Municipal Association has lowered the amount it will insure it for.
Appointed to the committee were Selectmen Mary Young and Ron Chadwick, Town Manager Kristal Flagg, Hardy, Chretian, three members of the Fire Department, Tim Fournier and an as-yet unnamed member of the public. Consultant Neil Courtney also will sit on the committee.
Any resident who would like to be considered for the committee should contact the Town Office at 207-897-3321.
During the past few months, Flagg has also spoken with other towns about their solutions to fire station issues, and has investigated other possibilities, such as forming a fire district, joining with neighboring Jay for building a new station, building a new station for Livermore Falls and constructing a public safety building that would include the Fire Department, Police Department and ambulance service.
Flagg said she has also researched grants, which are not available now, and taking out a bond and the annual cost to the town.
Fournier suggested that the town put some money into the building now and look for something more permanent in the future.
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