LAKEVILLE — The Select Board has chosen a project manager for the future Fire Station, but members remain divided on whether the suggested locations are the best available options.

The board selected Lakeville-based Pomeroy Building as the project manager for the Fire Station during a Monday, June 26 meeting. Pomeroy was the project manager for the Police Station project. 

At that meeting, the Select Board also authorized the Fire Station Building Committee to choose the station’s location, although the choice is subject to final approval by the Select Board.

Before choosing a project manager, the board debated over whether the feasibility study by consulting firm Socotec explored enough location options to make the town comfortable when making a decision.

Early in the discussion, Select Board Chair Brian Day said he does not feel he has “the full picture” of possibilities for the station, adding that he does not think he can make the most financially responsible decision.

Select Board member Evagelia Fabian disagreed with Day, saying that the project manager said it is their job to ensure the selected location can support a fire station. 

She said she does not want to delay the project and that the possible locations were suggested because of objective criteria including its geographical location in town and how construction would affect surrounding natural features.

“I’m more about putting money into the actual building,” Fabian said. “I don’t want to spend money to make a site better.”

Select Board Vice Chair Lorraine Carboni agreed with Day, saying the board and feasibility study did not explore all the location possibilities. It’s a long-term project, she added, so the board should make sure the station addresses the Fire Department’s needs for the foreseeable future.

Town Administrator Ari Sky suggested that the Select Board have the project manager conduct a survey of the Socotec-suggested sites. Then, the board would compare the findings from the two studies to ensure the location is suitable.

The board agreed with that approach.

The current location options are on Precinct Street near the Council on Aging, two pieces of land on the grounds of Ted Williams Camp, and the existing Fire Station and Town Hall location at 346 Bedford St.

Sky said the town previously targeted the pieces of land at Ted Williams Camp for government or public use. Day said the board should consult the Fire Department, Parks Department, Historical Society, and other committees to see how each location would impact them.

Day expressed frustration over the board being unable to see how a new combined Town Hall and Fire Station would cost compared to the current plan of constructing separate buildings.

Fall 2022 Town Meeting voters chose to split a measure that would have approved funds for feasibility studies for both Town Hall and the Fire Station to be conducted at the same time. Voters approved funds for the Fire Station but voted down funding a Town Hall feasibility study.

As a result, the Select Board was authorized to move forward on the Fire Station project but not Town Hall. The Fire Station is estimated to cost $16.3 million and the Town Hall is estimated at $10.9 million, Day said, and he said he wanted to find out if combining the projects could reduce the total price.

“Sadly, Town Meeting voted down the $200,000 we need to get a schematic to figure out what we need for Town Hall,” Day said. “Was that because they felt it didn’t feel the project was worth it, or because everyone was really ticked off that night and some things went in ways we didn’t expect? It’s hard to say.”

Day said the board is focusing on the Fire Station “with blinders on” and they should consider how this project, plus other major upcoming projects such as a new Town Hall and renovations or new construction at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, will affect taxpayers.

“I want to go to the townspeople and say, ‘We’ve turned over every rock, we’ve shaken every nickel out of the couch, and this is our best option,’” Day said. “If it takes a little longer, then it takes a little longer, but I want them to be confident that we’ve done everything we can.”