Police station options debated Camden Select Board to choose between renovation, construction

CAMDEN – The Select Board heard nearly 90 minutes of public comment Monday night as it nears a decision on two options for a new police station.

The board wants to put one of the proposals, renovating the town-owned Payson building or building a new structure, before voters on Nov. 5.

Including Police Chief Phil Roberts and Fire Chief Steve Gibbons, 14 people spoke at the hearing, with nine favoring building a new station and five arguing for renovating the Payson building.

Architect John Hansen developed plans for renovating the one-story Payson building, which is adjacent to the fire station, and estimated the cost at $999,200. He also designed a new one-story building, to be constructed on town-owned land a stone’s throw away from the fire station, which would cost just under $1.2 million.

In June, residents soundly defeated a proposal to borrow up to $2.5 million to construct a new two-story building.

Hansen explained how he was able to cut costs on the new building by eliminating a “sally port” for a police cruiser, storage area for bicycles, and by combining a conference room and training room. He also was able to cut two stairwells and an elevator by designing a single-story structure.

The building was cut from 6,200 square feet to 4,600 square feet, Hansen said.

Residents arguing for a new building included Felicity Ferrell, who said the additional cost to taxpayers would not be burdensome.

“It’s not really going to hurt people,” she said.

Ferrell also argued that having a “beefed-up police department in an expanded facility” makes sense in the post-Sept. 11 world, and that by investing in police, the area will retain its low crime rate.

Claire Frey said the police “deserve and need” a new building.

Philip Rowe said, after getting a tour of the police department’s current facilities, in the rear of the town-owned Camden Opera House where mildew and lead paint cause problems, that he believes a new building is in order.

Dave Nazaroff reported talking to a firefighter who said that he and his colleagues would resist the police taking over the Payson building, which has been used by the Fire Department for many years.

If the Payson building is used for a police station, Sharon Gilbert said, an option for expanding the Fire Department would have been eliminated.

Among those supporting renovating the Payson building were former Select Board member Leonard Lookner, Knox County Commissioner and Camden resident Lawrence Nash, and Dave Thomas, who served on a committee studying the need for a new police station.

Using the Payson building for a police station was once approved by voters, Lookner said, and would have better odds of winning favor with voters in November. He also said the police and fire departments could share some services to save town funds.

The lower price tag of renovating the Payson building appealed to Nash. He also urged the board to use some surplus funds, thereby keeping the cost well under $1 million.

Thomas said building a new police station at the upper end of the town-owned lot would put it “off in left field,” where it could not be easily reached by residents.

“It’s going to be hidden in the corner of a municipal parking lot,” he said.

Having the fire and police departments sharing space would aid in learning to work together in emergencies, Thomas said.

“It seems to me fiscal prudence requires you use this space,” he said of the Payson building.

But Roberts, while admitting that either option would be an improvement for his department, argued that it does not make sense to invest nearly $1 million on an existing building, when for slightly more money, a new structure can be added. He likened it to repairing a pair of shoes at nearly the same cost of buying a new pair.

Firefighters would not welcome the police into the Payson building, Roberts said, “because we’re invading someone else’s turf.”

Gibbons said firefighters recently voted 28-0 in favor of supporting a new police station, but did not specify whether it would be new construction or the renovated Payson building. He conceded there might be friction with firefighters and police officers working in close quarters.

While the board hoped to commit to one of the options Monday, members postponed the decision to a special meeting Sept. 9.