Thomaston voters approve borrowing $3.5 million to help fund new fire/EMS station
An architectural rendering of the proposed 15,100-square-foot Thomaston Fire and EMS station. At the June 2023 Town Meeting, voters had endorsed reserving 1.7 acres of the Thomaston Green on which a new fire and EMS station could be built. Port City Architecture submitted the proposed design to the town with a $7 million construction cost.
An architectural rendering of the proposed 15,100-square-foot Thomaston Fire and EMS station. At the June 2023 Town Meeting, voters had endorsed reserving 1.7 acres of the Thomaston Green on which a new fire and EMS station could be built. Port City Architecture submitted the proposed design to the town with a $7 million construction cost.
THOMASTON — With a vote of 224 to 101, Thomaston voters approved a warrant article at the polls that gives the town permission to borrow $3.5 million to help finance construction of a new fire/EMS station.
The pursuit of a bond, however, is contingent on receiving $3.5 million in Congressional directed matching funds.
The vote also gives the town permission to accept state and federal funds for the project.
Thomaston citizens went to the polls Feb. 4, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to cast their ballots on the one article.
Voter approval of the bond was required in order for Thomaston to apply for the $3.5 million federal grant. The grant cycle opens in March and may represent the last chance to secure such funding, according to Thomaston Town Manager Kara George.
Thomaston has produced a chart that outlines potential tax implications on property owners if the bond is approved.
The numbers are based on a 20-year bond with a 4.10 percent interest rate. An example: For a homeowner with an assessed property value of $400,000, the project would increase annual property taxes by approximately $220, or approximately $4.23 per week.
Thomaston needs a new fire and EMS station for four main reasons, the town said:
- Outdated Facilities: The current station, built in 1956, no longer meets the needs of modern emergency services.
- Inadequate Sleeping Quarters: EMS staff are working 24-hour shifts but lack proper sleeping facilities, violating OSHA standards.
- OSHA Compliance: New federal safety standards under review will require dedicated decontamination areas, sprinkler systems, and emission controls, among other updates.
- Space Limitations: Larger fire apparatus barely fit in the current bays, and the apron is too small for safe maneuvering.
The town has also outline benefits of a new station:
- Faster response times with 24-hour coverage.
- Improved safety and compliance with OSHA regulations.
- Attracts and retains qualified first responders.
- Enhances emergency services with better training facilities, proper sleeping quarters, and larger bays.
Special Open Town Meeting
Following the Secret Ballot Referendum, a Special Open Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 5, at 6 p.m. This portion of the meeting, like the Annual Town Meeting in June, requires in-person attendance to vote.
Town Meeting Agenda
- Knox Street Rebuild Project: Voters will be asked to remove the requirement that the Town receive “assurance of availability of other funds and grants sufficient to completely fund” the Knox Street rebuild project.
- Code Enforcement: Voters will be asked to adopt the 2021 ICC/IRC codes (International Code Council/International Residential Codes), recently adopted by the State of Maine, for Code Enforcement. An additional question requests adoption of the new proposed fee schedule.
- Cemetery Sale: Voters will consider approving the sale of Butler Cemetery on Thomaston Street to Mr. Lawrence Butler, a descendant who wishes to maintain the family cemetery through a private trust.
- Georges River Regional Shellfish Management Ordinance Update: Voters will consider adopting proposed changes to the GRRSM Ordinance, which governs shellfish management across five member towns: Cushing, St. George, South Thomaston, Thomaston, and Warren.
