Money Approved for Police Building

BY JOHN BRACCHITTA

10/25/2007 10:00:00 AM EDT

The Representative Town Meeting approved the transfer of $255,000 towards renovations to the town's police station on Oct. 15 during their regular meeting 47-4 with one abstention.

The funds were approved for use by the town's police station building committee to update cost estimates for the project as well as help with the Design development phase of the project, which is scheduled to begin in April 2008.

In a recent meeting, the Board of Selectmen approved the transfer of $1 million to fund bidding for the construction of a new police station. However it was decided that all construction costs for the project be brought to both the Board of Finance and the RTM in smaller sections. The $255,000 approved on Oct. 15 was the RTM's first monetary decision regarding renovations to the police department. They had previously approved formation of the Darien Police Department Building Committee during their Sept. 24 regular meeting

According to Karen Armour, the moderator of the RTM, before the approval of funds, RTM members discussed whether or not starting another capitol project was the correct thing to do with so many other projects in progress already.

However, numerous RTM members also attested that following tours of the building with Chief of Police Duane Lovello that there was a great need to improve it in order to help the police station run more effectively.

The town has been trying to finalize a renovation of the current police station for many years. In 2006, a space needs assessment determined that Darien police required a 36,400 square-foot building in order to conduct their daily business most effectively. The current building, which was built in 1932 and last renovated in 1967 according to Darien's police Web site, is only 19,000-square-feet.

Renovations to the current building are planned for both the building's main and upper floors. Expansions to the main floor currently call for a larger communications/dispatch room, a larger public waiting room with new bathrooms, as well a new records room, evidence storage room, interview rooms and upgraded holding cells.

Construction on the upper floor would consist of the creation of more offices, a reconfigured locker room, a training/meeting room, a new lunch room, storage room, and clerical room as well as a brand new indoor shooting range.

More vehicle storage and maintenance facilities have been proposed as well.

The total cost for the police station renovation is expected to cost nearly $15 million, with over $11 million in soft costs and $2 million in contingency costs.