Neil Vigdor, Staff Writer
Published: 09:50 p.m., Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Good thing they make plastic firefighter's helmets mostly for children.
Members of Representative Town Meeting won't be getting any firefighting schwag anytime soon after overwhelmingly denying full funding for a $23 million central fire station project because of questions about the scope and cost of the work.
One day after making an impassioned plea to the 230-member legislative body to go forward with the money, Fire Chief Peter Siecienski had a hard time masking the letdown.
"The feedback I'm getting is nobody on the fire floor is happy at this point," Siecienski said.
And then came the zinger.
"I guess firefighters have the ability to put faith and trust in individuals much more so than elected officials do," Siecienski said.
Seeking to allay the RTM's concerns about a lack of proper checks and balances, the project's supporters tried to make the case Monday night that the Board of Estimate and Taxation had the foresight to place several conditions on the release of the $23 million that could allow the work to go forward.
The RTM ultimately voted 180-30 with two abstentions to withhold all but $750,000 for the project, money that members of the citizen legislature said will allow for the planning of the new fire station to proceed.
"We haven't seen a definitive plan of any kind," said Roger Lourie, of District 7/North Center.
Once it gets that plan, which Siecienski said still could be developed before the end of the year, the RTM showed a willingness to release the remaining $22 million for the project.
"I don't think there's anyone in this room who doesn't want to see the downtown fire station improved," said Rick Kral, chairman of the RTM's Public Works Committee.
In the shadow of the town's new state-of-the-art police headquarters, the central fire station is in a state of disrepair and is said by the project's supporters to be a source of poor morale for the firefighters.
The building's rehabilitation ranked fourth on a list of about 65 infrastructure projects competing for $50 million in capital funding, relegating a $27 million request for a new Greenwich High School auditorium and music instructional spaces to the back burner.
Projects affecting public health and safety have historically fared best when competing for funding, followed by those mandated by legal requirements and litigation.
Among those to lobby on behalf of the full funding for the project was First Selectman Peter Tesei, who also serves as the town's fire commissioner.
"While I am disappointed the full funding was not approved for the central fire station/administration building, I am respectful of the RTM's desire to learn more about the proposed project before giving its final approval," Tesei said in a statement Tuesday. "Rick Kral has offered to work with us in advancing our plan and I welcome this spirit of cooperation."
Siecienski said he is going to see to it that RTM upholds its end of the bargain.
"I intend to hold them accountable to it," Siecienski said. "They're the ones that made the statement."
Laying out a rough time frame for the effort, Siecienski said the goal is to return to the RTM by year's end to seek the required municipal improvement status for the project.
Given to projects and property acquisitions that benefit the town, the designation also needs approval from the Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Short-term borrowing to pay for the project wouldn't start until next January, according to Siecienski, who is hoping the plans will be ready in time.
"Our time frame is to be out of that building by April or May of 2011," Siecienski said.
Demolition of the current fire station cannot take place until asbestos abatement on the site is done, Siecienski said.
Among the conditions placed on the release on the money by the BET were the receipt and approval of a more up-to-date cost estimate for the fire station project and a comprehensive description of its scope.
The finance board also requested a long-range space needs plan for Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, which was originally going to be based in a shared public safety complex with fire and police.
Town officials have acknowledged that the new fire station can't house both the Fire Department and GEMS, which they say need more space than the planned three-story building can accommodate.
Greenwich taxpayers have thus far committed $47 million since 2000 to demolish a crumbling police administration building on Bruce Place and replace it with a sprawling new public safety complex that includes its own garage.
The total includes rent payments for office space that the town has been leasing for the fire administration on Holly Hill Lane.
Tesei told the RTM Monday night that police component of the project was completed on time and within budget.
Siecienski said the RTM had legitimate concerns about the path of the overall project, however.
"I think they're valid concerns, especially knowing the undercurrent out there with regards to the police station," Siecienski said. "There's an undercurrent out there that the police station is much larger than they had been led to believe initially."
To help bolster its case for funding, the Fire Department invited RTM members for tours this past weekend of the central fire station, where they saw moldy sleeping quarters, broken and jagged bathroom tiles and a general state of disrepair.
Calling the conditions unacceptable, RTM members urged the town to take temporary steps to address the problems.
Siecienski said he tried to convey that sentiment to jaded firefighters in the wake of the RTM's vote.
"The commitment from the RTM is there," Siecienski said. "Together we'll make this work."
Staff Writer Neil Vigdor can be reached at neil.vigdor@scni.com or 203-625-4436.
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