Voters back $3.5 million firehouse bond

By NEAL RENTZ

Pound Ridge Fire District voters on Tuesday, by a 3-1 ratio, approved the second referendum in less than three years to allow the district to borrow money for the renovation and update of the firehouse in Scotts Corners. 

The additional $3.5 million bond for the firehouse was approved 249 to 79 on April 8.

In December 2022, voters approved a $6.5 million bond toward what had been expected to be a $7.75 million project. The rest of the money was to come from the department’s reserve.

In seeking approval of  a second referendum vote, the fire department told the Pound Ridge Town Board that the anticipated cost of the project increased substantially. The original estimate, prepared after the project’s design phase, had risen to $9.87 million, the officials were told.

“We’re very pleased that we’ve gotten the level of support from this town,” Board of Fire Commissioners Chair Peter Gallagher said after the voters’ approval of the latest bond Tuesday night in the firehouse at 80 Westchester Ave. “The town has always backed the fire department and I think that everybody understands our need. And we’re very happy that we continue to provide the right level of service to the community.”

In the days prior to the vote, the volunteer department held a series of three informational meetings about the upgrades.

When asked if the department was concerned about putting a second bond before voters, Gallagher said, “People always have questions about municipal projects. I think that we had very good attendance at the public meetings to be able to explain the rationale of why we needed the additional funds. And after we went through those presentations, the majority of the people had their questions answered.”

The project received Pound Ridge Planning Board in December 2023.

Gallagher said no additional town approvals are needed for the project to proceed.

“We’re in final contract negotiations with contractors to do the project so we’re hoping to finalize those agreements and move forward with construction,” he said. The project will take about 18 months to complete, he said.

With the additional bond approved by the voters this week, the impact for the average district taxpayer’s bill will rise to $273 a year for 30 years, Gallagher said this week. That is beyond the increase from the original bond of $197 a year.

The Fire District, like school districts, is a governmental body separate from the town.

The plan is to merge four lots and expand its existing headquarters, including the relocation of its driveway and site improvements on the 10.4-acre property.

The firehouse was last updated more than three decades ago when it received a two-bay addition in the rear.

The new project includes a two-bay addition on the front of the existing building and upgrades to the infrastructure and site work to improve parking and maintain and manage water quality. 

The project also includes replacement of the HVAC system, water treatment, a generator and the information technology network, as well as vehicle exhaust management and fuel/heating oil storage.