Peterborough residents will vote on a $10.6 million bond to fund the completed design of the Peterborough Fire Station during Town Meeting May 15. 

“We are a little concerned that people might think the fire station is a done deal, because there has been so much talk about it. In fact, the proposal to bond for the fire and rescue station project will go before the voters at the open session of Town Meeting on May 15. We encourage all Peterborough voters to come hear the presentation about the project,” said Peterborough Town Treasurer Mandy Sliver, who serves on the Fire and Rescue Station Building Committee and the Budget Committee. 

Unless an amendment is introduced after the ballot session May 14, the fire station bond is the only item that will be discussed at the open session Peterborough’s Town Meeting. It requires a two-thirds vote to pass.

“If people want to vote on the fire station project, they need to come to Town Meeting,” said Carl Mabbs-Zeno, who serves on the Budget Committee and the Fire and Rescue Station Building Committee. 

In May 2022, Peterborough voters approved $2 million bond to start the design and engineering process for a new fire and rescue station, also referred to as the municipal campus, adjacent to the Peterborough Community Center on Elm Street. According to Mabbs-Zeno, the town is able to use fund balances, including some money left over from the $2 million bond, to offset the total cost the project,  bringing the total amount of the bond to approximately $10.6 million.

The Peterborough Fire Department has been housed in a former DPW garage since 1972. According to town records, at the time the Fire Department moved into the building, the converted garage was expected to be adequate to meet the needs of the fire and rescue departments “for several years.” 

Fire Chief Ed Walker has stated that the current fire station, which was built in the 1940s, cannot house all of the department’s equipment, leaving some ambulances and apparatus outside and exposed to the elements. The building also presents logistical challenges for accessing all of the town safety equipment. 

“We believe now is the right time for the town to invest in a building that meets the needs of this community. The current building does not meet the town’s needs,” Walker said. “We encourage the voters to attend the open session of Town Meeting on May 15 and hear the presentation on the fire station. This is a chance for the voters to make an informed decision. The architects will be there, the builders will be there, and the town will discuss the finances. It will also be a final opportunity for people to ask questions.” 

A video tour of the current fire station led by Walker is available at peterboroughprojects.info/archivedmcinfo.

“This year is the cheapest we will ever be able to build a new fire and rescue station that is adequate for Peterborough’s needs,” Sliver said. “If the town does not vote for this bond this year, it will come back next year, and by that time, construction costs will have gone up, and the bond rates will go up. If we wait, it will only get more expensive.” 

Assistant Town Administrator Seth MacLean, project manager for the fire and rescue station, noted that the efforts to build a new fire and rescue station for Peterborough have spanned two decades, and urged people to turn out the vote. 

“Now, more than ever, participation at Town Meeting is  paramount, especially as we confront significant decisions such as the upcoming fire station bond which requires a two-thirds vote for passage,” MacLean said. 

Residents can learn more about the project at peterboroughprojects.info/fire-ambulance-station.