To the Editor:
Shrewsbury voters, please join us in voting YES on Question 3 on the November 3rd ballot. Question 3 asks Shrewsbury voters to approve funding to build a new police station and replace the town-wide emergency communication system used by Police, Fire, EMS, DPW, and SELCO.
The nearly 50-year old police station is substantially under-sized and faces significant structural and infrastructure challenges not visible from the outside. As a result, the Building Committee determined that the current station’s condition would make compliance with current building codes for Essential Service Facilities and Accessibility infeasible. A new building is the most responsible investment of taxpayer dollars.
The 25-year old emergency communication system is no longer supported by the manufacturer. Repairs are made using parts salvaged from other broken components to keep the system operational until it can be replaced. Most troubling are the dead spots throughout areas and buildings in town where Police and Fire are unable to communicate critical information, creating potentially devastating outcomes for first responders and residents.
The new police station will be built on town owned land behind the existing station. With our AAA bond rating, the expected interest rate on this capital debt exclusion will be 1.9% or lower, the lowest in our Town’s history.
We unanimously support this carefully vetted project as the most cost-effective, long-term solution to these two critical needs. Join us in voting YES for this important community project on November 3rd or during the early voting period beginning on October 17th.
Respectfully,
The Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen,
Beth Casavant, Moe DePalo, Jim Kane, John Lebeaux, and John Samia
