Charlton Public Safety Building Capital Campaign Steering Committee

Charlton Public Safety Building Capital Campaign

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the proposed Public Safety Building to be built in Charlton. We hope this information about the project will inspire you to join others and make a charitable contribution to help ‘Protect our Future’. There are naming opportunities to recognize your gift. All donor names will be published on the campaign web page under the appropriate donation level.

We are proud to say this is a volunteer driven effort. Therefore, all proceeds will benefit the next public safety building to be constructed in Charlton.

Besides making a charitable donation you can help in other ways: inform others about the project; assist the steering committee on an “as needed” basis; if you own a business, ask customers if they would “round up” their purchase.

About the Project:

The proposed Public Safety Building will become the new headquarters of both the police and fire departments in the town of Charlton.  The new building will “Protect Our Future” by providing the town with a 911 communications center for coordinated emergency response, emergency responder training, and the safe storage of town-owned emergency response and fire-fighting equipment.  The new building will be constructed on Masonic Home Road on 19.3 acres next to the current police station.

In an emergency, every second counts to assure the safety of our citizens and our first responders.  Please join us in this effort to improve emergency response times, and to modernize and expand our public safety facilities to meet the needs of our town.

The proposed Public Safety Building will replace the 62-year-old, 7,520 square-foot fire headquarters on Power Station Road; two fire department satellite stations; and the 29-year-old, 8,300-square-foot police station on Masonic Home Road.

The Need:  Charlton has approximately 300 miles of roads and an estimated 13,000 residents. In an emergency, seconds matter, and it is crucial that our first responders can access their equipment and get on scene as soon as possible.

A new fire facility is needed because: 

• Existing fire stations do not meet current standards of a modern fire facility
• Emergency calls have increased significantly over the years. Since 2009, the department has experienced a 35% increase in calls for service.
• Space and proper equipment is required to decontaminate the firefighters’
• Protective gear from harmful cancer agents
• Space is inadequate for firefighters to put on their turnout gear
• Tower 1, the newest truck, is parked across street in a metal Quonset hut purchased by the Firefighters Association in 2005 on leased land
• Station #2 originally built in 1929 as a highway barn until 1983 when the fire department took over the front of the building. This station, 1.8 miles away from fire headquarters, houses Engine 1, Tanker 2, Ambulance 2, Rescue 1 and Marine 1 (behind two vehicles) as well as special response trailers operated by the department for Tri-Epic, DPH, Hazmat Response, Emergency Management, and Technical Rescue. Fire fighters must drive to station #2 to retrieve necessary vehicle(s)
• There is no running water or toilet at fire station #2
• Squad 1 parks outside
• Parking is limited and on land leased from neighbors

A new police facility is needed because:

• Policing has changed dramatically over the past 30 years and the current police station does not meet current standards of a modern police facility
• Calls for service have increased significantly over the years. Calls for service since 2009 have increased 280.00%
• Communications Center lacks adequate space for current/modern technologies and operations. The center originally designed for one dispatcher now has two workstations, with the need for three
• Some staff share locker space with prisoners
• Cells are breaking and prisoner processing area is inadequate
• Lobby lacks adequate space for its current use. Individuals applying for restraining orders, children with divorced parents for weekend exchange, sex offender registrants, and individuals disposing of needles share the space
• No public restrooms available in the building

Cost: Town Meeting authorized the borrowing of $28,500,000.

Anticipated Funding: A debt exclusion, existing budget, capital campaign

Design: Final design expected in August 2020

Estimated Completion Date: March, 2022

For More Information about the Capital Campaign: Email Noreen.Smith@townofcharlton.net or Stephen.Coleman@townofcharlton.net

For More Information about the Building Project: Email Rob.Barton@townofcharlton.net