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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1944-03-20MEETING OF PLANNING BOARD (Joint with Fire Engineers) ' March 20, 1944 Present: Planning Board members - Messrs. Greeley, Richards and Ferguson. Fire Engineers - Messrs. Emery, Adams and Fawcett. This meeting was called at the request of the selectmen to review thoroughtly the Fire Station situation and to submit a new report on the findings of the two boards. Mr. Greeley reported that he attended a meeting of the Fire Chiefs of Massachusetts. In reply to the question of the advisability of combining a fire station and a police station, the president of the association replied, "No building could be large enough." IMr,'-2mery reported that the selectmen would like suggestions on what could be done with the Barnes property in the future if a fire and police station were not built on the site. The following suggestions were made: Medical center ' Open park --as Arlington, Weston and Newton War memorial Veterans' building. It was brought out that to duplicate the present town office building, would not use the Barnes property, except for a'driveway. The question was asked of the Fire Engineers if it was feasible to have just one Central Fire Station. Mr. Emery replied that the Fire Rating Bureau was opposed to such a plan. All eggs in one basket. Would not save any personnel. The following list of towns shows the number of fire stations: Woburn - 2 Arlington - 3 Winchester - 1. Have bought land for 2nd; one-third area of Lexington. Concord - 2 Needham - 2 Hingham - 3 Watertown - 2. One-third area of Lexington. , Belmont - 3. One-third area of Lexington. Wellesley - 2 or more Waltham - 4 -It was brought out that the 1938 Committee to Study Fire Station Sites reported against a central station. ' The Fire Engineers reported that there were approximately 500 fire alarms a year, of which about 300 were grass fires. Of these one-third need only one piece of apparatus from nearest station. They stated that there was a decided reduction of hazard when ap- paratus is located near fire --first three minutes most important. Brush fires one of the most serious menaces in •Lexington. Worse ones are in north and west parts of Lexington. Last year twelve houses in the Manor were endangered by one brush fire. It was the consensus of opinion of both boards that since both present stations are condensed the thing to do is to start new and put three stations where they will serve best both for the present and the future. It was decided that the present site of the East Lexington station is the most desirable for a new station. . Central station should not be in East Lexington due to mutual aid from Arlington. Since there is no mutual aid from north or west, the main station should be north of the center. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 to meet with the selectmen to clarify a few points as to our method of making a report .to them ' and to get their views on several matters. It was brought out that the selectmen were now opposed to a combination Police and Fire Station. It also seemed apparent that they would co-operate in a real study as to the best locations. It was decided that there would be a joint meeting of the three boards on Monday evening, March 27. After the meeting with the selectmen the Fire Engineers and the Planning Board reconvened and decided to ask for borings on the site next to Johnson's Garage and also across the street. The following points were brought out showing a Bedford Street site was superior to the Barnes property: 1. Greater efficiency. a. Can approach a fire in the center from two directions. 2. Eliminate need of station in the north section of town. a. Save initial cost of $15,000 to $20,000. b. Save annual overhead of $6,000 to $10,000. 3. Bedford Street site suitable for Drill Tower. 4. Nearer to bad brush fires. ' 5. Near to group of large risks. 6. Barnes site detrimental to neighborhood, including church. 7. A fire station not an appropriate unit for a civic center. Mr. George Emery is to find out from Fire Rating Board if a 50t street is wide enough for a fire station. Meeting adjourned 10:40 P.M. Respectfully submitted, (Signed) C. H. Ferguson Clerk, Pro Tem. 1