LYNNFIELD — The town is giving residents one more chance to learn about the proposed Public Safety Building Project during a question-and-answer session Monday at 7 p.m. following the Select Board meeting.
The meeting will be held at the Al Merritt Media Center, 600 Market St. at MarketStreet Lynnfield.
“The Public Safety Project is a significant and important investment to be considered by the citizens of Lynnfield,” said Town Administrator Rob Dolan, adding that members of the project’s team will be on hand to answer any questions about the project. “In addition, I encourage all citizens who can’t make it to the meeting to call my office with any questions they may have. I know that Fire Chief (Glenn) Davis and Police Chief (Nick) Secatore are also ready to answer questions and want all citizens to be well informed.”
The town has obtained preliminary designs and cost estimates for the project, which calls for a new fire headquarters on the site of the existing South fire station at Post Office Square and extensive renovation and additions to the existing fire and police stations and Town Hall complex. The existing fire station will be demolished to allow for construction of a new facility.
The project is estimated to cost $63.5 million, which will be funded via a debt exclusion that would be repaid over 30 years. This cost equates to approximately $32 per month — $385 per year — for the average Lynnfield taxpayer.
The proposed new facilities would solve numerous issues that currently affect the police and fire stations. Currently, the police station has inadequate lobby space, an undersized communications center and outdated radio equipment. Additionally, the police station suffers from inadequate and unsafe space for holding or moving prisoners through the station. The project will result in the fire and police stations as well as Town Hall being ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.
At the Nov. 14 Town Meeting, Article 8 of the Town Warrant will ask voters to authorize the funding of the project. A two-thirds vote is required. If approved, the projects will be the subject of a town-wide debt exclusion vote in an election on Dec. 6. If that vote passes, construction is expected to begin sometime in 2024 with a completion date of 2026.
Select Board Chair Phil Crawford said that between the public safety building project and the proposal to build senior housing at the Sagamore Springs Golf Course, this Town Meeting “is, without a doubt, the most important Town Meeting since MarketStreet.”
More information about the public safety building project can be found at https://lynnfieldbuildingprojects.com/.
