Peterborough Fire & Rescue Station Project

IMPORTANT! The new Fire & Rescue Station Project has one final hurdle: Open Session is on Wednesday, May 15 and a 2/3 majority vote is required to pass a bond vote. Please mark your calendar

In May 2022, Peterborough voters overwhelmingly approved funding for the design and engineering of a new fire and ambulance station on Elm St., adjacent to the Peterborough Community Center. During approval at Town Meeting, the Town’s Select Board promised a balanced project going forward and named Seth MacLean as the project manager to help guide the process of developing a project that balances need with financial viability. Subsequently, several essential steps have been taken since May of 2022 to ensure the project aligns with both the fire service's requirements and financial feasibility. These include:

1. Establishing a project budget goal of no more than $12.1 million, consistent with the Select Board guidance that the Town not exceed 70% of its legal bonding capacity.

2. Touring existing fire stations across the state to gather insights on project delivery and design considerations from communities with similar experiences.

3. Holding numerous meetings with local boards, committees, and community stakeholders to understand community priorities for the project

4. Establishing a community-led building committee responsible for recommending professional service providers and collaborating with town staff to ensure a balanced project.

5. Contracting a construction management company with expertise in pre-construction services to support budgetary and programmatic goals during design development.

6. Contracting an architectural firm specialized in municipal projects and experienced in utilizing public input throughout design development.

The Building Committee selected SMP Architecture of Concord, NH, for their public engagement strategy and Harvey Construction for their extensive experience in public projects and pre-construction services. Both firms have been instructed that the project is not-to-exceed the $12.1 million budget cap.

Further, the public is invited to all meetings of the Building Committee. Meeting times and locations can be found here.

The public can also reach out to the Town’s project manager, Seth MacLean, DPW Director, directly by calling 603-924-8000 ex.102 or by emailing seth@peterboroughnh.gov.

We kindly encourage you to peruse the supplementary sections available on this platform to gain comprehensive insights into the project. These resources encompass past committee meeting minutes, video updates presented to the Select Board, schematic drawings, and other pertinent information that will undoubtedly enhance your understanding of this significant and important project. There is also a Q&A board that will allow you to review previously asked questions and ask your own. This site also provides a Community Feedback Board for citizens to comment on the project throughout its design phase.

Moreover, we invite you to subscribe to email updates related to this project by signing up for notifications at the bottom of this page. This will ensure you remain abreast of the latest developments and crucial updates pertaining to this initiative. Your engagement and commitment to staying informed are greatly appreciated.

Fire Station Building Committee
Mandy Sliver, Chair - Budget Committee, Town Treasurer
Carl Mabbs-Zeno, Vice Chair - Budget Committee, CIP Committee
Sarah Steinberg-Heller - Planning Board, CIP Committee
Tony Cassady - Community Power Committee
Carol Nelson - Affordable Housing Committee
Bill Taylor - Select Board member
Building Committee Minutes

Information related to the history of this project can be found on our dedicated archive webpage here