Public Safety Building Forum and In Depth Discussion
Public Safety Building Committee Chair and Selectman John Brown, Police Chief Rick MacDonald and Fire Chief Jason Viveiros feature in this week's "Pembroke in Depth" episode: click here to be directed to view this PACTV presented special. In this episode they provide more detail and answer questions regarding the proposed project; there is more information regarding the Public Forum presentation, video of the meeting and more information below.
The Public Safety Building Committee would like to thank the many residents and guests who came to the Pembroke Library on Thursday, March 30th to view and share thoughts and questions on the proposed Public Safety Building Complex and Fire Sub-Station for the Pembroke Fire Department and Pembroke Police Department. To review the presentation given, you may follow this link to view it again.
Watch the full video of the March 30th Public Safety Buildings Public Forum at the Pembroke Library.
The Public Safety Building Committee has worked with Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. through the space and needs design phase of the future project to construct a Public Safety Building Complex. They have updated the work of the first committee by pursuing economies of scale and fully exploring shared services opportunities to keep the costs of the facility to the necessities of Pembroke today and through to future. This facility provides the hub of public safety services and requirements in the center and to the north of Pembroke.
Both Committees realized the need to maintain Pembroke's ISO rating for operations and for the residents of the Town. An ISO fire rating is a score provided to fire departments and insurance companies by the Insurance Services Office; Pembroke's ISO fire rating determines how well Pembroke Fire Department can protect the Pembroke community and home. Insurance companies use the score to help set home insurance rates, as a home that is less likely to be severely damaged or destroyed by fire is cheaper to insure. Due to the size and layout of Pembroke, the space and needs feasibility study confirmed that an adequate and responsible ISO rating's response time requires the construction of a sub-station on the south side of town. Both parcels proposed for construction of these facilities are owned by the town and suitable for this purpose. The Public Safety Building Committee has been working with the Historic District Commission and the Select Board to prepare an article for the May 9, 2023 annual town meeting to propose that this long awaited project be voted to begin construction. In addition to this town meeting article, there is a ballot question for the town election ballot on May 13, 2023. The Committee and the Town ask residents to attend one of the upcoming public forums to hear more information, closely examine the design, ask any questions of the Architect, Committee Members or Pembroke staff. To view existing conditions in the Fire Stations and Police Station, click here. UPDATED