Chilmark selectmen Tuesday received an update from Dennis Ross, partner at Pacheco Ross Architects of Voorheesville, N.Y., on the feasibility of building a new fire station and Tri-Town Ambulance building on a 1.4-acre parcel of land behind town hall.
“What we’re charged with is finding out if the site that the town wants to purchase is feasible,” Mr. Ross said. “Does it fit the operational-response needs today, is it flexible and expandable for tomorrow, and will the EMS component fit in it?”
Mr. Ross is preparing an operational-needs assessment report that will include a room-by-room analysis of square-footage needs. A final report is expected Jan. 12.
“My gut is that there is some form of building that is doable there,” said Mr. Ross.
While most agree that the current fire station and ambulance barn is inadequate, questions include whether to build a new building to house the ambulance and fire service or renovate the building for use by the ambulance service and move the fire department. The challenge is to find land suitable for a new fire station, particularly in the center of town, which remains the preferred option of selectmen.
Selectmen arranged for an analysis by an expert after Chilmark Fire Chief David Norton expressed concerns about the size of the parcel, the need to share a parking lot with town hall, and emergency trucks entering and exiting Beetlebung Corner from Middle Road.
Selectmen signed a purchase and sale agreement in November for $975,000 with Sam Carroll, the executor of the estate of Bette Carroll, the former owner of the property and the grandmother of Chilmark executive secretary Tim Carroll. Mr. Carroll’s father and uncle Sam Carroll are the beneficiaries of the estate.
The sale is contingent upon approval at a special town meeting scheduled on Feb. 29 just for that purpose. The deal must be closed by May 15.
Selectman William Rossi, a real estate agent, told The Times that Tim Carroll was not involved at all in the negotiations, or in executive-session meetings at which the property was discussed. “We were very careful about that,” Mr. Rossi said.
Hancock Real Estate was offering the property for $975,000. Selectmen offered the asking price. The town assessment is $518,200.
Mr. Rossi said that there was other interest in the property from neighbors, and that the selectmen did not want to be in the position of losing another property in the center of town.
“We knew there were interested parties who could pay more than we were willing to pay,” Mr. Rossi told The Times, “so we wanted to act quickly and secure the property in case the vote is decided to move ahead with the project.”
Mr. Rossi said the town has made many different attempts over the years to acquire properties for the purpose of building a new facility. “I hope the fire department and Tri-Town Ambulance appreciate those efforts and support it at the end of the day,” he said.
“I think it’s too small for what we are trying to accomplish there,” Chief Norton told The Times. “I’d like to wait for a bigger piece.”
Chief Norton said that sharing a parking lot with town hall may be a safety issue, and that response time could suffer going to Menemsha and the North Road areas, particularly in summer. He is also concerned there may not be enough radius for the large trucks to turn toward Menemsha or Beetlebung Corner.
Architect Ross agreed that sharing a parking lot raises concerns. “As you add parking, you add people who are not familiar with fire response,” said Mr. Ross. “These are 40,000-pound vehicles filled with water, adrenaline is pumping, and they step on the accelerator. I don’t want to be the guy who designed the driveway that caused that accident.”
Chief Norton was not the only person with concerns about the parcel location. Selectmen Tuesday heard from David White, artistic director and executive producer of the Yard, which is adjacent to the proposed new fire house. “We don’t want to feel that this thing is looming over us,” said Mr. White.
Selectman Rossi said options are limited. “It’s either go with what we have now, or wait another five or six years before something comes up — it’s up to them,” said Mr. Rossi, meaning fire and EMS officials.
Mr. Rossi said he has been actively searching out properties that he thought would be suitable, and that he also approached properties that would be attractive for this purpose, but they were just not for sale.
“I would rather not attempt at this time to acquire property by eminent domain; we’re not looking forward to being in that position. We would much rather buy something that becomes available on the open market. It would be very convenient for the town to own that property, and we hope it works out.”
Pending a favorable report that the parcel works for its intended purpose, and voter approval, selectmen would buy the property and then begin preparing plans for the fire department and the Tri-Town Ambulance building.
Mr. Ross expressed no uncertainty on the question of utilizing the existing fire building, or converting it for future use.
“In my professional opinion, you’d be throwing good money after bad, and even then, the best you could hope for is mediocre. Knock it down. It’s a hard-use building that gets used hard and put away wet. Asbestos is the least of its problems. It has structural problems, and there are code issues.”
