Build or Rent: Communities Seek Options to House Public Safety Departments

This is the second of two articles looking at examples of how towns and cities are dealing with a common problem of old and inadequate facilities for their public safety operations, including police, fire and emergency medical services. The circumstances and strategies to provide the buildings and infrastructure that are necessary to maintain modern public safety operations vary widely among towns and cities. Read part one here. 

 

For many years, the town of Lee has had to struggle with an outdated and crowded Police Department station located in its Town Hall, which was built in 1874. Its nearby fire station was originally constructed to house horse-drawn firefighting vehicles.

 

"The Police Department has been crammed into Town Hall and there is not enough room," said Lee Town Administrator Chris Brittain. "We had to fit the police staff on different floors wherever we can find space. In addition, the station was not designed for the Police Department's current needs. For example, our cells do not meet modern standards."

 

The Fire Department complex, including its main station and adjacent buildings and emergency medical services, have had similar problems. He noted that the town had to purchase customized fire trucks to fit through the doors.

 

To solve these and other issues, the town is currently constructing a new public safety complex to house its police, fire and emergency medical services operations and the Building Department on a site at 49 Railroad St. in the town center. It has also relocated its Department of Public Works operations and equipment from there to a more effective site on Pleasant Street in the southern section of Lee.

 

In the first step of the process, the town in 2022 conducted a feasibility study of possible solutions. The study was funded by $70,000 from cannabis impact revenue.

 

"The town did a complete analysis of its public safety needs, including such factors as staffing, equipment, and what was needed to meet call volumes," explained Brittain. "We also looked at potential locations, and the estimated cost of facilities."

 

In 2023, the town presented a proposal at a special town meeting. Residents approved it in a 197-26 vote. Subsequently, the financing specifics of the $36.7 million project were again approved by voters in a referendum.

 

Although it is expected to increase annual property tax bills, Brittain said the overall response among residents has been supportive.

 

"I'd say the most common reaction was that it's expensive, but people also recognized the problems with our existing facilities," he said. "They ultimately agreed that it's time to fix them."

 

Brittain noted that the project has also benefitted from timing, which enabled the town to use the former site of the DPW garage and operations, while also providing a more suitable location for that department.

 

That opportunity arose after Cassella Waste Management bought Daly Trucking, a local firm. The new owners did not need the former Daly facility on Pleasant Avenue and the town was able to purchase it for the DPW. The purchase was included in the original proposal. The DPW has already moved there.

 

The Tri-Town Health Department, which serves Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge, was also located on the Railroad Street site and has been moved to Stockbridge.

 

Physical work began with demolition last April. Construction of the 37,600 square-feet public safety building is slated to be completed by late summer or early fall of 2027.

 

Brittain said the project has proceeded as smoothly as can be expected. 

 

"A project like this is very complicated and involves many factors," he said. "And state requirements are cumbersome. But overall it has gone well because the town has supported it. We've tried to make a building that meets our needs far into the future."

 

The town of Lanesborough has taken a different approach to address its public safety needs.

 

The condition of the town's 97-year-old police station had long been deteriorating and the issue became urgent about a decade ago.

 

"It's condition was horrendous," said Police Chief Robert Derksen. "The building had serious structural issues, as well as mold and rodents and other problems."

 

An effort to correct the condition of the existing building was undertaken. However, subsequently the town's insurer issued a cease-and-desist order on that work, which forced the town to look for another solution.

 

Various concepts were studied, including the construction of a new public safety complex for police and EMS services. However, there were controversies over the cost and other issues, and voters rejected that at a town meeting in 2023.

 

As an alternative, the town devised another plan for the police station. Rather than build a new structure, the town leased space for the station in a former medical office in the Lanesborough Plaza commercial development at 545 South Main St.(Route 7). The department moved there in 2022.

 

"Compared to the previous police station, this is like night and day," said Derksen. "There are some issues, but they are manageable."

 

Overall, Derksen said that while it has been a substantial improvement it is not an ideal situation.

 

"This works well for us now, and we're grateful for it, although I wouldn't say it's a forever solution," he said. "The site wasn't originally designed or built for all the specific requirements of a police station."

 

During discussions of the public safety complex, it was determined that the present fire station at 180 South Main St. is still in functional condition. Although it needed some upgrading, including a new roof, the cost of refurbishing it was lower than construction of a new facility.

 

Lanesborough's Fire Department is actually a partnership between the town government and the Lanesborough Volunteer Firefighters Association. That is a community-based organization that provides firefighting and other services such as safety education and inspections, using a corps of trained volunteers. It covers its expenses primarily through fund-raising events and campaigns.

 

The town owns the major fire equipment, with some contributions from the association. The fire station itself is owned by the association, which leases it to the town for $1 a year. The association covers the cost of the building's maintenance and upkeep from its budget. The association has been making improvements to the building, and is planning for the more extensive projects such as the roof.

 

The town also has an EMS agency, known as Lanesborough Ambulance. It has shared space in the fire station. However, it was decided last year that it was impractical for the EMS service to remain there, because of a shortage of space for both operations. In addition, it was determined that a separate facility for the EMS service would improve its efficiency and conditions for its workers.

 

As a solution, Lanesborough Ambulance has moved into another rented space in Lanesborough Plaza. It includes bunks and common areas for crews.

 

These actions have alleviated the most pressing problems. Whether another more extensive long-term solution is needed or desired still appears to be an open question for the town. A town committee has been conducting studies, and further proposals may be pursued and presented to voters.

 

Gina Dario, Lanesborough town administrator, said opinions in the town vary.

 

"The changes that have been made for the police and EMS services are a definite improvement in operability," she said. "I wouldn't say there is a major push for permanent changes at this time, but there are differing views. Some people are strong supporters of further steps like building a new public safety complex. But there are also residents who are concerned about taxes and affordability, and they believe we are well-supported by the services we have."

 

Nearby, the City of Pittsfield has long been dealing with the limitations of its current police station, which was built in 1939 at 39 Allen St. across from City Hall. In addition to structural issues, many contend that it is too small and crowded, and is not capable of handling the demands of modern policing.

 

Specific factors are cited, such as the condition of its cells, non-compliance with the Americans With Disability Act, and wiring that is not capable of handling digital technology and equipment.

 

Over the years, as recently as 2013 and 2018, there have been concerted initiatives to either extensively modernize or replace the station. However, they were unsuccessful.

 

When asked to describe the current condition and status of the police station, Mayor Peter Marchetti replied: "I wouldn't call it very good. The best word I could use is 'fair.' However, others might use stronger language."

 

Currently, the city is taking interim steps to alleviate the overcrowding while exploring its options for a permanent solution.

 

It is working on a plan to move some of the Police Department's offices into the nearby Old Town Hall, a historic vacant municipal building on Park Square that had previously been leased by Berkshire Bank. Necessary repairs and adaptations to the building are currently underway to prepare for the offices to be relocated when that work is completed. A specific date has not yet been determined.

 

Marchetti said options for a permanent solution are being considered in conjunction with a larger evaluation of all the city's municipal buildings and infrastructure.

 

"We're starting a comprehensive survey of all of the city's properties to determine their condition, how they fit into the city's overall operations, and what improvements or changes might be needed," he said. "This is not limited to the police station, but that is one of the high priorities."

 

He added that possibilities include extensive reconstruction of the existing station or converting another city-owned building into a police station, or constructing a new facility.

 

"It's important to conduct due diligence," he said. "The process will have to start with basic steps. We have to identify a location and then determine the cost and find the funding."

 

The situation for the Fire Department is different. It operates out of five sites, including its headquarters at 74 Columbus Ave. and four neighborhood satellite stations around the city. It is a municipal department that is professionally staffed and also provides emergency medical treatment in partnership with a private ambulance service.

 

(The West Housatonic St. station is temporarily closed because of the levels of radon gas detected during tests. However, it is slated to be reopened when remediation has been completed.)

 

Marchetti said the stations are still structurally sound and are able to accommodate modern firefighting operations and vehicles.

 

The city recently used a portion of the $41 million in federal funds it received from the American Rescue Plan Act to upgrade the interior of the stations, including new windows and improvements to the living quarters for firefighters.

 

"The Fire Department is different than other departments where the staff comes in, does their work and goes home at the end of the day," said Marchetti. "The firefighters stay in the stations for longer periods while they're on duty, so it's important to provide good living conditions for them."

 

Other communities are facing variations of these issues. Dalton is currently working to determine how to upgrade its police and fire facilities. A primary challenge there has been issues related to potential locations that have been identified.

 

Faced with fundamental problems with its former police station, the city of North Adams relocated the department into the former Berkshire Juvenile Court at 21 Holden St. in 2023. That is intended to be a temporary site while the city pursues the concept of building a permanent public safety complex.

 

The current effort on the state level to establish a Municipal Building Authority as a quasi-public agency, similar to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, (see previous article) may alleviate the financial aspects of projects like this if it is approved.

 

"It would be super to see the same thing when it comes to public safety facilities, because most of those are antiquated across the commonwealth," said North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "Mirror it off of the MSBA. We already have a system that works well. We see it in our schools, and we should have that for other municipal buildings, but specifically public safety."

 

Nevertheless cities and towns will continue to face the challenge of protecting the public while overcoming the physical effects of time on public safety infrastructure, keeping up with the demands for services, and taking advantages of progress in related equipment and technology.

 

Read part one here.