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Voters will weigh firehouse, housing & community center
By Elspeth Pierson
Banner Correspondent
WELLFLEET— With Special Town Meeting on the horizon, residents are starting to gather their thoughts on several large fiscal issues. Discussion is likely to center on several major issues, including funding for the new firehouse, acquisition of affordable housing units and community preservation committee grant requests for the 335 Main Street project and the new Historical Society building.
As financial advisor to Town Meeting, the finance committee has stated its concern over a tight budget and has attempted to limit the number of financially big issues on the warrant for fall Town Meeting. “The town government’s expenses and capital needs continue to grow faster than our tax base,” the committee states in the warrant. “That means that maintaining the current level of services as well as maintaining the town’s physical infrastructure and equipment will cost each of us more in tax dollars in the future.”
The committee believes that overrides or even service reductions may be necessary, with the budget growing increasingly tight over the coming years, and sees spring Town Meeting as the wisest time for big financial decisions.
Some financially large issues, however, just can’t wait. With the 24-year-old firehouse deteriorating rapidly and over a million dollars of town money already invested in land acquisition, design and technical costs for a new station, a vote on the proposed new firehouse is imperative.
The most recent estimate placed the final construction cost of the firehouse in the neighborhood of $7 million, a figure that does not include another half million dollars in architectural fees, civil engineering, communications systems, furniture and equipment, and project management salaries.
The total estimated cost for the project is $8.6 million, a price tag that would raise taxes about $175 dollars for a $500,000 property in the first year of construction. While the cost is high, Fire Chief Dan Silverman believes it’s time for a new building. “The current building was not built with any view toward the future, and it was built poorly,” stated Silverman. “We’ve needed a new space for some time now.”
The town is also looking to acquire more space for affordable housing. The Housing Authority is hoping for a $425,000 Community Preservation Act funding grant to purchase a five-unit rental located on Route 6 and accessible to the Flex Bus for affordable housing. The finance committee recommends the article. “Increasing the stock of affordable housing in Wellfleet is an important way to attract and retain town employees, tradespeople, public school educators, and young families,” it states in support, emphasizing that affordable housing is an allowable and important use of CPC funds.
The town will also vote on whether to transfer two lots on Chequessett Neck Road and Atwood Avenue to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod and three lots on Old King’s Highway to the Housing Authority to provide further space for affordable housing. The finance committee backs the Habitat for Humanity acquisitions but reserves recommendation on the Old King’s Highway lots as they are a potential water tower site.
Several other allocations of CPC funds also are up for discussion. The 335 Main Street Committee is looking for a $500,000 contribution from the CPC to aid in restoration and renovation of the property. The 335 Main Street Committee plans to develop a community and cultural center known as Wellfleet Preservation Hall.
The Wellfleet Historic Society is hoping that the town will vote to allocate $270,000 in CPC funding to support its purchase of the adjacent building at 258 Main St. The society plans to house parts of its historical collection currently in storage due to a lack of space in the new building, which will require significant renovation and restoration.
The Wellfleet Forum will hold a meeting for voters to discuss the issues at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Wellfleet Public Library, 55 West Main St.
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Nov 15th, 2007