Sandown likely to see station proposal again in March
SANDOWN — A new police station with a higher price tag is expected to go before voters in March.
While selectmen recently voted against putting a police station on the Town Meeting warrant this year, they left the door open for the project, Selectman Nelson Rheaume said.
Board members made their decision with a caveat — they would support putting the proposal on the warrant if police Chief Joseph Gordon really wanted them to do it, Rheaume said.
And Gordon said he does want to move ahead with the proposal again — and he will seek selectmen's support.
"Nothing's changed," Gordon said Friday. "There's still a need for a new station. We still have space constraints here."
He said the price tag for the building is up by about 4 percent. He wouldn't disclose a new price tag, which is still being refined. Gordon said he will present it to selectmen at an upcoming meeting.
He said the majority of residents want a new police station. The proposal failed to receive a 60 percent majority by only three votes in March.
"The people definitely seem to be in favor of it," Gordon said, "A majority voted for it."
Rheaume said selectmen support the need for the station, but are worried if it fails again in March that could hurt its chances from ever receiving approval.
But, he said, board members plan to yield to Gordon's wishes.
Several other towns have put plans for capital projects on hold because of the economic downturn. Those projects shelved for the time being include a new police station in Hampstead, an addition to the Pelham Senior Center and a major sewer expansion in Salem.
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