The big discussion in town lately has been the new fire station. The rollout was not the best it should have been. Fortunately for everyone, there was a reset.
Now the town is proceeding in a much better direction that is fiscally prudent and more responsible. Saturday, April 23, I took a tour of our current fire station. As a resident of Peterborough, I was completely shocked and embarrassed at the conditions these men and women are expected to work in. I can’t stress this enough – it’s unsafe, unhealthy and outdated. The current fire station is a liability and should be put out of service as soon as possible. They have made the best of a bad situation without complaint. It’s a testament to their dedication to the town and its residents.
I am ashamed that I underestimated their plight, and I offer this letter as an apology to all of them. We as a community need to act quickly and approve Article 14 on May 11. This way, the town can have plans drawn up for the new station, and they can begin the process of applying for grants to offset the taxpayer costs of building the new fire station. It’s my understanding that without the plans, the town can’t apply for any grants.
The members of the Peterborough Fire Department are always there at our worst time when we need them the most. Right now, they need us to do the right thing and help them continue to help us. If you are reading this letter and have any doubts, go to the fire station and see for yourself why they are asking for a new facility, and why they need one sooner rather than later.
Kevin Brace
Peterborough