POLICE BUILDING COMMITTEE

Minutes, March 3, 2025

Steve Dalessio opened the meeting in the Selectboard Office at 6:30 pm. Present were Jay Punt, Andrew Dey, Trevor MacLachlan, Cheri Watson (on zoom), Peggy Pschirrer and Chief Justin Sanctuary. Dave Adams was absent.

The Committee reviewed the results of our recent public meeting. Everyone present agreed we need a new police station, but all were concerned about cost.

Are we building just a building or a police station?  Mr. MacLachlan emphasized we must be concerned about life safety standards. We must follow the International Building Code – a federal classification for new construction which represents a higher standard of codes. The code is updated regularly.

The public questions what are the implications for each taxpayer if we secure bonds to pay for this structure?  New Hampshire Bond costs for 10- year and 20-year costs were distributed to the committee.

We have hired Nancy Merrill as a grant writer for this project.  She is a former Economic Development Director for the City of Claremont where she wrote many successful grants.

Returning to the discussion of the current design of the Police Station, it was agreed we need to reduce the square footage. From 8,200 to less than 7,000. The windows and doors must still be ballistic.  We need cover for outdoor parking.  Mr. Dalessio presented a design in which he had moved the offices and altered the size of the training room to half its former size.  The committee approved the alterations which reduced the square footage without compromising the most important needs and safety of a new station.

Mr. Dalessio will get in touch with our Architect, Michael Petrovick to discuss the alterations so we can have a new design.

The Warrant Article which was to appear at Town Meeting asking the voters to approve our going forward with a new station has been removed from the agenda. There will be a Warrant Article which will ask the voters to approve a $55,000 CRF for the Police Department which will pay for the grant writer and other expenses associated with the design.  We expect to purchase the property site for the new station before Town Meeting.

 Our next meeting will be March 24, 2025, at 6:30 pm in the office of the Selectboard.

Tagged: Meeting Minutes, Police Building Committee