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02/18/2020 11:00 PMA public hearing called by the Town Council and set for March 17 will air the North Branford Police Facility committee's recommendation to build a brand-new police facility a new site, 305 Forest Road, with an anticipated bonded cost not to exceed $7.5 million. The proposed project calls for a one-story new building of between 13,000 and 14,000 square feet in a location that's across the street and a several doors over from the existing police department at 260 Forest Road/Route 22.
The police facility public hearing is set for Tues. March 17, 7:30 p.m., to convene following the regular council meeting at 7 p.m. The council voted to hold the hearing following a presentation from the committee and Police Chief Kevin Halloran at its Feb. 18 meeting. Due to expecting a larger turnout for the hearing, Town Manager Michael Paulhus said the location for the hearing will be announced as soon as a site is secured; with the first choice anticipated to be at North Branford Intermediate School (NBIS) café.
If approved, construction of the new facility at 305 Forest Road (also known as the "Mooney Property") would be situated at the street-front of a 14-acre parcel which backs up to hillside. The Route 22 locale is across the road from the location of North Branford's annual Potato and Corn Festival area.
On Feb. 18, in backing another request made by the committee, the Town Council moved ahead with a supplemental item that would dovetail with construction of a new police facility (at a separate cost); by approving a request to put out an RFQ/P (request for proposal/qualifications) to undertake a three-phase approach to bring in a new emergency radio communications system. The new system would be incorporated as part of the new police facility at an additional bonded cost, not yet determined. As noted on Feb. 18 by Police Chief Kevin Halloran and Fire Chief William Seward III, a recent joint meeting of the police and fire commissions also supported this much-needed upgrade to the town's emergency communications system for police and fire/ambulance. The RFQ/P is part of a three-phase process for the project which includes assessment consultation and pre- and post-construction work.
Bonding Issues
As councilor Rose Marie Angeloni noted on Feb. 18, taxpayers should recognize bonding is potentially on the horizon not only for a proposed new police facility and new emergency communication system, but also potentially for a high school construction project; the cost of which is currently unknown. An architectural firm working with the Board of Education (BOE) has developed three options for North Branford's next high school facility, which will be presented to the public and the Town Council at a meeting set for Wed. Feb. 26, 6 p.m. in the cafeteria of North Branford Intermediate School, 654 Foxon Road (see related story).
Backing a New Police Building
The police facility committee made the recommendation for a new building on a new site following months of research, many studies, visits to other area departments and more. Overall, the Town has undertaken nearly a decade of discussion and exploration with regard to addressing police facility needs. As architect Brian Cleveland of Silver + Petrucelli (Hamden) described to the council on Feb. 18, beginning with a study commissioned in 2016 and completed in 2018, the police facility committee reviewed and weighed the costs, pros and cons as the committee and the firm worked through four different renovation/expansion options for the existing police department, as well as an option to build new on a nearby softball field, and two new building options as part of a potential Town Center master plan (with the police department situated on a current baseball field); until the committee ultimately agreed, in January, 2020, on the economics and suitability of building new on the Mooney property.
Addressing Immediate Needs
As was revealed during the Feb. 18 Town Council meeting, some facility compliance issues which were left unaddressed by the past police administration have compiled problems at the aging police facility. Chief Halloran told the Town Council he has been undertaking efforts to address issues he inherited when he began as the town's new chief in March 2019. The Town Council reviewed the Fire Marshal's list of required compliances and directed the chief to incorporate those needs and costs into the Police Department's 2020-21 proposed budget in order to ensure the issues will be addressed.