1944-02-14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MEETING I February 14 , 1944 Present: Messrs. Greeley, Richards, Ferguson, Worthen and Cromwell. Central lire station The Planning Board was invited to talk with the Board of Selectmen regarding the possible location of a new central fire station. The Fire Engineers were represented at the joint meeting by Mr. Emery and Mr. Adams. The Planning Board and the Fire Engineers explained their reasons for preferring a location on Bedford Street. They supported their views by reference to a letter from the New England Fire Insurance Kating Association. Among the arguments derived from such letter were: It is considered best to have fire apparatus located on two sides of a main business district; If the central station is not located north of the town center there may have to be another station in that area eventually. ' The Selectmen argued for the Barnes' Property (plus some land proposed to be bought from Bridget Leary). They argued that Bedford Street was too narrow and that most of the fires heretofore have been east of the center. They laid great stress on the following points: .1. The town already owns the Barnes' property and many people in the town believe this was acquired for possible use as a fire station. 2. Tile Selectmen favor a combined station for police and fire. It would undesirable to have the police located away from the center. .There appeared to be no basis for reconciliation of the opposing* views. Mr. Greeley suggested that the land opposite Johnson's Garac*e would have the same merits as the proposed location further out on Bedford Street except that it might be more expensive to fill and parade. At this point it was brought out that the article for the town warrant had been prepared and that it offered the townspeople no alternative to the Barnes' property. The Planning Board was told that if it cared to ' prepare an article of its own later that night it -could do so.