Bow Doesn’t Need a $7 Million Firehouse
By Chuck Douglas
Monday, February 10, 2014
The Bow Fire Department does a great job because last year there were 12 structure fires (same as 2012) with a total loss of only $2,650. Yet in hopes of getting a new $7 million firehouse the fire chief invited the fire marshal to come in last year to write the building up. The fire marshal never goes into a town to inspect its fire facility unless the town asks him to do so. To see the fire marshal letter go to bowtaxpayers.org. That is like asking the IRS to come audit your business.
The fire marshal has not designated the fire/community building to be “essential” under the fire codes for earthquake-proof, fireproof, etc. buildings because he has no authority to do so. The town administration is doing that to run the cost up.
But one of the reasons we do not need to designate the fire station as “essential” for act of God purposes is that we are in a mutual aid pact with Concord and surrounding towns. If the fire/community building were destroyed in a storm, other fire equipment would be covered by the 20-community mutual aid pact.
If we were isolated from other help, like Pittsburg, the firehouse might be “essential,” but we are not isolated from other equipment in the area.
The main safety concern of the fire marshal’s report was living quarters for the on duty firefighters. That has been resolved by moving them to the rescue building and spending funds to bring it into compliance.
The electrical work the fire marshal flagged does not take a 20-year bond issue to fix. Yeaton Associates in October 2013 did a full review for the town. Town Manager David Stack told me they estimated the “fix” at between $175,000 and $225,000.
If this concerns you, there is an alternative to millions in borrowing because 106 voters have signed a petition to have a warrant article put before the town meeting on March 12. It would appropriate $225,000 to repair the electrical systems in the fire/community building and provide proper venting for the kitchen in the community building.
This answers the legitimate need to “do something” about the building without ramping up debt, spending and taxes. The Concerned Taxpayers of Bow organization encourages you to come to the budget committee meeting tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Bow High School auditorium to support this citizen article as a responsible alternative to big borrowing and ever higher taxes in Bow.
Attorney Chuck Douglas, a former congressman and state Supreme Court justice, lives in Bow.