A Special Town Meeting was held in Hingham to consider a $5.5 million-dollar purchase of land for a potential public safety complex.
Nearly 500 residents cast their vote at the Special Town Meeting, which was held outdoors at the Hingham High School.
The purchase of property at 335 Lincoln Street was approved by a standing vote with 314 in favor, and 139 against. The 3-acre parcel is a potential site for a new public safety complex.
“It feels great,” said Interim Police Chief David Jones. “Especially for the men and women of the department that serve us every single day, and they do a great job. It’s a good step forward for them. The facilities that they work in right now, just aren’t adequate, they’re not safe, and it really does affect morale.”
Jones said the police headquarters moved into an addition of Town Hall in 1998. Jones says there’s too many challenges to continue in the current space. There’s not a dedicated interview space, and prisoners are walked from a booking area through public areas of the station. He says locker rooms are under-sized, some lockers are located in shower rooms.
The new public safety facility would move the police station back to Lincoln Street, and the North Fire Station would be moved into the new joint facility. The Senior Center would be expanded with the Police Department leaving Town Hall.
Prior Town Meetings have approved funds to repair the current North Fire Station, but studies have determined that to not be feasible. There’s no space to decontaminate gear, and living spaces are unsuitable for male and female firefighters.
Fire Chief Steve Murphy says the current space is not designed to accommodate modern fire equipment.
“I’m glad that as many people came out today to participate in the legislative process, and obviously I’m glad that they supported buying the land, which is the first step for us to be able to go and be able to build a new public safety building,” said Murphy. “We understand that’s going to take time to do that, but obviously this is a step in the right direction.”
A lot of discussion from residents focused on other projects, such as repairs the Foster Elementary School. Some residents wanted to see that completed before a public safety facility.
A future Town Meeting would decide if the public safety facility project would move forward.
