ROCHESTER – Rochester will hear from firms vying to work for the town as they look into the potential of a new public safety building. 

The Select Board and attending residents will see presentations of proposals on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. for a new public safety building by three architectural firms, RGB Architects, LiRo Corp, and The Galante Architecture Studio, during the public meeting at the Council on Aging. 

The goal of the potential building would be to house the Rochester Police Department and Rochester Fire Department. 

According to the Select Board, the town set aside $100,000 for the feasibility study, while an additional $50,000 for the study will be allotted to the town from the state budget.

The feasibility study will examine the practicality and possibility of constructing the new building, as well as the potential benefits to the town. 

“Once we select a consultant, it is time to get moving,” Town Administrator Glenn Cannon said of the study. When Cannon stepped into the position of Town Administrator at the end of March, he stated that one of his goals was looking into “the town’s need for additional public safety space.”

He clarified that Thursday’s presentations are only to determine which firm the town would like to work with, and will not determine what the final plan would be. 

On Sept. 1, the Select Board approved a plan for a committee that will be tasked with advising the board on the feasibility study. 

This new committee will consist of: one member of the Select Board, the fire chief, the police chief, a member of the Finance Committee, the chair of the Planning Board, and the town administrator, who will be a non-voting member. 

The committee will also include at least four town residents who are not affiliated with any public safety departments. 

“This is the single biggest project in this town other than the schools,” said Select Board member Woody Hartley, who asked residents to join the committee. “You will play a very important role in defining what we need and when we need it.” 

So far, the town has received three applications from residents. They will accept applications until the next Select Board meeting on Oct. 3. 

Hartley said that he encouraged all interested in joining the committee to attend the Thursday, Sept. 22 presentations, either in person or via Zoom. The meeting’s agenda and Zoom information is located on the town website at https://www.townofrochestermass.com/. 

Residents who are interested in joining the feasibility study committee can contact the town administrator at (508) 763-3871 or by email at gcannon@townofrochester.com.