DALTON, Mass. — Cost estimates have come in to address some of the Police Department's building issues. 

 

The town needs to address safety issues within the police station, including plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and cell damage.

 

During the Select Board meeting on Monday, Building and Grounds Superintendent Jeff Burch informed the Select Board that the floor tiles, mastic, and the right exterior wall in the bathroom next to the police dispatch office are contaminated with asbestos. The flooring in the dispatch office tested negative. 

 

The Select Board approved using $4,925 of the American Rescue Plan Act funding to address this. 

 

It also approved utilizing ARPA funds up to $82,000 for the design and engineering of the police station's sanitary plumbing upgrade and ventilation system installation. 

 

Burch received quotes from Hill Engineering of $35,000 for the plumbing upgrade and $47,000 for the ventilation system. He is still seeking one more engineering quote at a potentially lower price.

 

The asbestos will need to be removed in a single day, and the town will have to coordinate with the state inspector so that they can confirm it has been removed. During that time, dispatchers would not be able to use the bathroom. 

 

To avoid disrupting dispatch operations, Burch recommended that the toilet be placed on a small temporary platform until a new floor can be installed. 

 

If the asbestos removal work is done on a Monday, which is the dispatch center director's administration day, the director can cover for the dispatch temporarily so they can use the bathroom on the other side of the station.

 

The board also approved the appointment of the five voting members of the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee. 

 

The town has received 10 applications for the committee. Chair Robert Bishop Jr. and Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson reviewed them to balance the qualifications and experience. The list leans more toward contractor and construction experience.

 

The voting members are Don Davis, Ryan Flanders, Dave Martindale, Tony Pagliarulo and Craig Wilbur. 

 

The ex-officio seats are John Boyle as the Select Board representative, Burch, Police Chief Deanna Strout, and Hutcheson. 

 

The board also recommended sending an invite to Fire Chief Christian Tobin to see if he is interested in serving as an ex-officio member. Tobin said in a follow-up that he is interested in serving on the committee.

 

The committee will examine all the options for a new police station or combined public safety facility.

 

"Issues include, but may not be limited to, whether and where to lease, buy, or take property, or to use existing Town property, including whether to build a new building; and to issue a preliminary report and recommendation on these questions to the Select Board by December 30, 2025," the committee charge states. 

 

"If and when Town Meeting approves the proposal, and together with the Town Manager, the Committee will work with an Owner's Project Manager to design and implement any renovation or new building." 

 

The Dalton Fire District is considering different options for the future of the fire station. These include renovating the current space or purchasing and modifying the former Dalton Garage.