Seekonk selectmen back plan to refurbish Banna Fire Station

I think it's a good idea.

If it comes from Stimulus money....all the better.

BY JOSEPH S. SIEGEL FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 9:26 AM EDT


SEEKONK - Selectmen have thrown their support toward a proposal to refurbish the Banna Fire Station on Pine Street.

The 74-year-old building, named for deceased firefighter Richard Banna, has become dilapidated in recent years. Plans include adding a 30- by 50-foot addition to the building and lowering the concrete floor. There also would be an office for the police department and a meeting room.

In addition, the building would be heated with solar energy, making it the first "green" municipal building in town, contractor Gary Sagar said.

Sagar said renovation of the Banna station would be the "perfect project" for the use of federal stimulus money. He estimated the cost of renovations to be under $750,000.

Fire Chief Alan Jack said the purpose of the renovation will be to provide a "building more in tune with the community." However, Jack said there would be no firefighters assigned to the station because of a shortage of personnel.

The project did have its detractors. Matt Carson, who lives next door to the station, worried that the property value of his home would drop from having an active fire station nearby. "It would not be the neighborhood I thought I was moving into," Carson said.

He said five other homeowners signed letters of opposition to the project.

Christine Allen said the town needs a fire station in the north end of town. Allen recounted the day her husband suffered a heart attack while they were at their farm on Route 152.

"No one was around," Allen recalled. "I gave him mouth-to-mouth on my own. Thank God the police came. It is so necessary to have emergency responders come to the rescue."

Jack acknowledged that it was "problematic" for the fire department to respond to calls for service from the north end because of the long distance from the public safety building in the center of town.

Selectmen Chairman John Turner told Jack the board wants both ends to have "adequate protection."

Turner also urged the community to help with the renovation of the Banna station.