Police Station Gets Funding

Town Meeting members approved funding for a new police station on Monday.

But supporters had to fend off a challenge from a new selectman, who called the new station a “Lexus.”

The selectmen’s new chairman, Matt Strauss, countered that the station was bare bones.

Greenfield favors a regional approach for town services to capitalize on efficiencies.

Still, supporters including meeting member Gerry Perry objected to reversing direction after residents voted last week to for the Humphrey Street station.  

He and others said lots of time and effort went into finding a replacement for the on Burrill Street, circa 1938.

“This community plans then second guesses, said Town Administrator Andrew Maylor.

Meeting members did not second guess their vote on the article. 

The two-thirds majority vote needed for station funding was clearly approved by a show of hands.

Police Chief Ron Madigan said after the meeting that he felt apprehensive before the Town Meeting vote but was gratified  for the support.

Here is a breakdown of the $6.4 million funding mechanism to replace the 73-year-old station at 86 Burrill Street:

• A $3.35 million debt exclusion. It will cost the owner of a home valued at $524,000, the average home valuation in town, $65 annually over 20 years.
• $450,000 for project plans was already approved at a previous town meeting vote.
• $600,000 in free money, or reserve dollars.
• $185,000 from the previous sale of the Phillips Beach Fire Station.
• The balance would come from a line item in the operating budget to pay off long-term borrowing.

The two-story, 13,700-square-foot station will be built on town-owned land at 531 Humphrey Street by the town pumping station.