Selectmen OK Fire Alarm Advocate Job, Get Update On COA Staying Put

While the town switches its fire alarm system from wire to radio, private businesses aren't obligated to go along, jeopardizing a potential $40,000 - $50,000 a year in revenue for Wellesley.

"So, it's in the town's interest that the businesses make the transition with us," said Executive Director Hans Larsen during Monday night's Selectmen's meeting.

To encourage that transition in tandem, Larsen proposed the creation of a temporary, non-union position at the Wellesley Fire Department, paying $80,400 annually, for 18 months.

Having businesses make the fire alarm switch with the town isn't just in the town's interest. Larsen noted that while the transition requires a $300 investment, signing on to the town's radio alarm system will send alarm signals directly to the Wellesley Fire Department. Businesses that decline to sign on to the town system will still need to make the switch with another radio alarm system, which will then relay their alarms to the Fire Department, with a slight delay. There would still be a fee associated with that option.

"This is a better solution," Larsen said. The person hired to the new position would be in charge of managing the private businesses' switch as well as selling the idea to them.

The equipment the town is using is compatible with that used by Babson College.  

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to create the new post, dubbed  the "Fire Protection" position. Larsen noted that for administrative purposes, and to make the job non-union, the town would have to set the position up as a second deputy chief position within the Wellesley Fire Department.

The board also heard a report from Terri Tsgaris about recent talks with the Wellesley Community Center management about how the town might be able to keep the Council on Aging offices and Senior Center services at the 219 Washington St. location, owned by a private corporation.  Community Center officials proposed renovating the building to better address the Council on Aging's needs. However, Tsgaris said, even with renovations, services provided at the location would still be split between two levels, which is not ideal for senior activities.

The only feasible alternative, Tsgaris said, appears to be a complete teardown and re-build of the facility. "This proposal requires a substantial financial cost to the town," Tsgaris said, after which the town would not own the building in which its Council on Aging department would operate.

Tsgaris said talks about the options were continuing. "I think the hope is that we will reach a solution one way or another in the coming weeks," Tsgaris said. 

Last year Town Meeting approved $600,000 for design and permitting funds for a stand-alone senior center at 496 Washington St., the former site of the American Legion building.  The design work and traffic studies have been completed.

On May 17, the Board of Selectmen voted to review the option of expanding senior services at The Wellesley Community Center.