Farmington Officials To Review Fire Station Facility Issues

FARMINGTON, CT — As a possible precursor to a future building project, the Farmington Town Council has created an ad hoc group to study the town's fire department facilities.

At the council's Jan. 14 meeting, members unanimously voted to form the Farmington Town Council Ad Hoc Fire Station Committee and appoint the nine members who comprise it.

The committee will analyze all five of the Farmington Fire Department's fire stations/facilities to update departmental data and the needs of the department.

"It would be to work with the town staff to conduct a comprehensive review of the facilities, studies, and the cost and needs of the fire stations in town," Farmington Town Manager Kathleen Blonski told council members.

According to the town, Farmington's "fire stations require significant repairs to their infrastructure."

But some of the costs associated with any necessary repairs and/or new facilities are now outdated, according to the town.

"The ad hoc committee will conduct a comprehensive review of the reports, costs, and facility needs which are required before a building committee is charged," wrote the town in a project narrative.

Specifically, the committee will have some work to do, namely, it will: review all reports, facilities, and costs associated with each fire station; meet with all of the fire chiefs on what is needed; review the town's long-term fiscal forecast; and propose a building committee charge as well as a project budget.

The work of the committee will eventually be presented to the full town council for consideration with any massive building projects, ultimately, requiring voter approval.

Appointed to this ad hoc committee were: Council members Dave Wlodkowski and Amy Polumbo; Blonski; Farmington Assistant Town Manager Kat Krajewski; Tunxis Hose Fire Chief Travis Comack; Farmington Fire Chief Mike Grabulis; East Farms Fire Chief Dave Czlapinski; Farmington Director of Fire and Rescue Services Tom Fitzgerald; and Farmington Director of Finance and Administration Joe Swetcky.

The Farmington Fire Department is a hybrid volunteer/paid department and it covers three fire companies in town.

Council members had no comments on the new group and the motion to create it and to appoint its members passed quickly.

For the minutes of the Jan. 14 Farmington Town Council meeting, click on this link.