Planning for new Mattapoisett fire station underway

Feb 11, 2019

MATTAPOISETT— A new fire department for Mattapoisett was first proposed ten years ago, and now planning and hiring for the project is underway. 

At the May 2018 Town meeting Fire Chief Andrew Murray presented on the need to replace the aging Mattapoisett Fire Department building with a modern facility to accommodate its equipment, provide office and training spaces, and address the critical health and safety code violations of the current building. 

Town meeting appropriated $260,000 to plan and hire an architect, and owner’s project manager to develop scope and plans for a new building and to solicit bids on the project during 2019. The new station will be located on town land adjacent to the Police Station.

On Sept. 17 the Board of Selectmen appointed members of the Mattapoisett Fire Station Building Committee, composed of residents with knowledge of municipal building construction.

Mike Hickey is a retired professional engineer, Jordan Collyer is a 4 term Selectman and a 20 year member and Captain in the Mattapoisett Fire Department and a fire insurance loss control expert, and Bill Cantor was owner of an architectural metal business. Other members of the committee include Fire Chief Andrew Murray and Town Manager Mike Gagne.

The committee researched the needs for the Mattapoisett Fire Department, and currently oversees the design, bidding and construction management of this public safety facility. The committee has visited nine recent fire stations in Carver, Chelmsford, Franklin, Harwich, Littleton, Oak Bluffs, Paxton, Uxbridge, and Westford to learn about features and designs that function, some that don’t, and the work and the lifecycle costs to maintain.

When the committee advertised for an project manager Vertex Company was selected to manage the scope, bidding and cost estimating through concept drawings.

Context Architecture was the committee’s top choice out of seven firms for an architect. Vertex and Context Architecture were both selected for their experience with Fire Stations and responsiveness to Mattapoisett’s needs.

The committee contracted with a local engineering and surveying firm to provide an accurate survey plan of the land, which will assist the design team in designing and siting. This work will help make the cost estimates for the project more accurate.

The committee is currently working on space requirements, equipment needs, infrastructure and is expecting preliminary schematic drawings this month.