Amherst council not ready to back new fire station, DPW projects

The Amherst Town Hall building.

The Amherst Town Hall building. Gazette file photo

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 01-17-2025 12:16 PM

AMHERST — The Town Council is not ready to endorse proposals brought forward last fall to build a $30 million fire station for South Amherst at the former Hickory Ridge golf course, and to have new Department of Public Works buildings constructed at multiple sites for a cost of $35 million.

Despite support from the Finance Committee for two possible funding models to complete both capital projects, in which work on the DPW would begin in 2026 and the fire station a year later, councilors Monday requested more information from Town Manager Paul Bockelman before committing to the locations for the municipal buildings and a financing plan.

District 4 Councilor Pamela Rooney said her concern is that there hasn’t yet been master planning for the Hickory Ridge site on West Pomeroy Lane, even as a network of trails are being built out and the former clubhouse is set to be demolished.

“We have never seen any options for what else might be at Hickory Ridge, or how much space something needs, or what are the competing needs and uses of that property,” Rooney said.

Rooney said she also wants the council to receive a townwide map showing where the DPW sites would be located, with the main headquarters remaining on South Pleasant Street.

Similarly, District 4 Councilor Jennifer Taub said she is worried that the fire station at Hickory Ridge shouldn’t be seen as a done deal.

At a Town Council meeting in November, Bockelman brought forward conceptual plans for both, telling councilors he would like to have the locations and funding model formalized before the end of 2024.

At-Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke said there is concern about locating a fire station as far south as Hickory Ridge, and wondered if instead the DPW could go there. She suggested swapping the two sites.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

“Was that ever considered and what was the result of that consideration?” Hanneke said.

District 2 Councilor Pat DeAngelis said retired Fire Chief Tim Nelson indicated that Hickory Ridge was as far south as a new fire station could responsibly go.

The financial models from Finance Director Melissa Zawadzki show the two building projects, along with the $99 million elementary school being built following a successful Proposition 2 ½ debt-exclusion override and the $15.8 million town contribution toward the $46.1 million Jones Library expansion and renovation, costing a total of $118.9 million to $155.2 million.

A memo from the Finance Committee to the Town Council shows that the committee favors the financial models maintaining 10.5% of the levy as an annual investment in the Capital Stabilization Fund, starting construction of the DPW facility at multiple locations in 2026, and starting construction of the fire station, with space for ambulances, in 2027 at Hickory Ridge.

That memo also states that the Finance Committee was opposed to lowering the annual investment in the Capital Stabilization Fund to 10% of the levy and delaying either the DPW or fire station project.

District 5 Councilor Bob Hegner, who chairs the Finance Committee, said it isn’t necessary to pick the best model yet, though at some point officials will have to determine the amount of money to be borrowed as opposed to how much pays for the projects out of so-called cash capital, ranging from $10.4 million to $23.1 million. There was no appetite for delaying either project, he said.

“We don’t need to kick the can down the road anymore, we need to go forward with these projects, get them done, and figure out how we’re going to pay for them,” Hegner said.

Bockelman told councilors he can provide more clarity about the projects at future meetings, with a broader presentation in February. He suggested that a joint building committee be established soon.

Based on goals the council has set for him, Bockelman said the town needs to get moving on at least one of the two projects.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.