Mattituck Fire Department to Put Expansion Up for Oct. 24 Vote
The Mattituck Fire District Board of Commissioners agreed in September to move forward with a community-wide capital bond referendum vote on Tuesday, Oct. 24, for the expansion of the current firehouse. The vote will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. at the firehouse, located at 1000 Pike St. in Mattituck.
This referendum is a result of more than a year of evaluation and meetings with department volunteers following the defeat of the fire district’s initial $11 million expansion proposal in June 2022. The total cost of the revised plan is approximately $15.5 million.
The revised plan includes the renovation of the current firehouse, located at the corner of Pike Street and Wickham Avenue, as well as the construction of a two-story addition that will be connected to the existing building. To make room for this, the original historic firehouse will be relocated on site, and the building currently used as the district office will be demolished. The expansion will allow for four pull-through truck bays, allowing volunteers to respond to emergencies quickly and more efficiently.
The Fire District says the renovated building will also comply with all ADA, OSHA and FEMA regulations, creating a safer environment for the department’s volunteers (currently, the fire district cannot comply with certain safety regulations due to spatial constraints).
The renovated building will include new community meeting space, a full kitchen and additional office and training spaces. Separate gear areas will also be constructed for department volunteers to safely put on their protective gear before responding to calls.
“The firehouse, as it currently stands, no longer meets the needs of the fire department and presents safety challenges for our volunteers who put their lives at risk to keep our community safe,” said Fire Commissioner Chairman Jason Haas. “Changes in mandated safety regulations, spatial limitations and outdated building systems are posing serious challenges. Based on the feedback of our membership, we developed a revised plan that meets their needs and creates a safer environment for them. We are hopeful that the entire Mattituck community will make an informed decision about the project and participate in the vote on Oct. 24.”
The fire district has approximately $2.5 million in its building reserve fund, which will be used for this project. The district would then need to borrow $13 million. For the average household, the Fire District estimates the tax increase would be approximately $114 per year if the project is approved. This amount is an average and will vary based on a homeowner’s assessed valuation.
Information on the proposed project is posted to the Fire District’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/mattituckfire. The Fire District will also host a public hearing on the project on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. at the firehouse.
Please get out and vote and know the facts:
The cost of the building project is $15.5 million but the interest to borrow that $15.5 million will cost the tax payers an additional $12.5 million bringing the cost of the project to almost $30 million. While some renovations are needed, a $30 million dollar project is not justified. Taxpayers previously turned down an $11 million expansion last year. Additionally, the fire district has submitted a 2024 budget that does not get voted on by the taxpayers with a 15% increase from last year. Other taxing districts (schools, town, etc) are capped at 2%, but not the fire district. The Fire Commissioners need a dose of reality. We can’t get young volunteers because they can’t afford to live here with the taxes. Vote NO tomorrow.