Police station likely to be stripped, rehabbed after discovery of legionnaires
By: Melissa Randall
@MRandallABC6
Dartmouth is one step closer to deciding how to move forward with the town’s shuttered police station. The building committee recommending it be stripped and rehabbed following last year's discovery of legionnaires.
“It's going to be a more friendly police department to come into than it was before,” said Ken Vincent, Chairman of the Police Building Committee.
A glass entrance, handicapped ramp and spacious lobby are all part of the rehab design. It will be bigger, better and fit a growing police department.
“This is going to be good for 40 to 50 years,” said Vincent.
The Police Building Committee is unanimously recommending the station under go a total gut job. Acting Chief Robert Szala is looking forward to getting a fresh start.
“It's the right thing to do,” he said.
Police headquarters was shut down last year after legionnaires disease was found in the hot water system and a state report found a mold infestation.
Stripping the building down will cost tax payers $7.3 million, but Vincent says the town can't take any chances.
“If we missed something and it started to grow again we'd be right back to where we are now. So rather than that, for the difference of $3 million, we're better off stripping it right down to nothing, removing everything, knowing that it's clean when we start,” he said.
First the department was working of trailers. Now they are using a modular building, but some services are still inside the station. That means officers are still risking their own health to get the job done.
“I'm in here almost every day because I don't want my officers coming in here unless they have to. I retrieve a lot of the things just to eliminate any problems for them,” said Szala.
The select board is expected to approve the plan, but before any construction can begin residents will also have to give it the green light.
© WLNE-TV 2015
