Photo/submitted
By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Town Meeting members met for a Special Town Meeting Sept. 29 to vote on a measure to approve $42 million debt exclusion to fund a new police station and public safety radio system. That request was resoundingly approved. Next, the voters will have their say when the question is presented on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The existing police station, which was built in 197, has according to Police Chief Kevin E. Anderson, significantly outlived its intended lifetime.
In September, the Board of Selectmen asked for community members to step forward to provide a “for” and “against” opinion for each of the two questions that will be on the November ballot. (The other question pertains to the town adopting the Community Preservation Act.) A flyer with the two opinions was sent to all residents earlier this month.
The argument against the public safety complex was written by Stephen F. Madaus, town counsel, because no resident had stepped forward. Michael Hale, advisory committee chair of Ballot Question 3 – Community Supporters for Public Safety, supplied the “for” argument.
“The Police Station was built in 1972 and faces significant structural and infrastructure system challenges. The extent of disrepair and the inadequacy of the existing facility renders a new building the fiscally responsible decision,” he wrote. “The Public Safety Emergency Communication System used by Police, Fire, SELCO and DPW is 25 years old. Parts are no longer manufactured to maintain it and the low frequency leads to poor coverage in
certain areas of town and dead spots where communication is unable to occur, compromising public safety.”
While there are some people in the community who question whether renovations could be made to the existing building, instead of building a new station, Hale said that is not an appropriate option.
He noted that because of its infrastructure deficiencies such as its HVAC, roof, windows, and handicap accessibility and compliance with the current codes, a new building was best in the long-term.
Additionally, the new building will feature a joint dispatch center allowing emergency calls for police, fire, department of public works and Shrewsbury electric and cable operations (SELCO) to be handled in one central location.
Madaus provided the following “against” argument: “Town officials propose to spend an estimated $42 million to construct and equip a new police station. The project would be funded by a Proposition 2-½ debt exclusion, which, if approved, will enable the town to assess local property taxes in excess of the levy limits imposed by state law. “
“The average single-family home in Shrewsbury has an assessed value of $481,400. If the proposed debt exclusion for a new police station is approved, it will result in an estimated increase of $212 in property taxes on the average single-family home, beginning in Fiscal Year 2022,” he continued in his opinion.
“Shrewsbury property owners will be subject to these additional taxes until the police station project is paid off, which is estimated to occur in 2042… A ‘No’ vote will prevent this project and the corresponding increase in local property taxes,” he concluded.
Although some question if a project of this magnitude was prudent considering the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy, proponents argue that the town will receive an historically favorable rate of 1.9 percent because of its AAA bond rating.
The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee were unanimous in support of the project.
