WATERVILLE — City councilors tonight are expected to choose an architectural firm to help identify a suitable site for a new police station and help design the facility.
The city’s Police Station Study Committee recommends councilors approve a contract for up to $188,000 with Port City Architecture of Portland for the project.
This year, councilors approved spending $2.5 million to build or buy and retrofit an existing building for a new police station.
The station in the basement of City Hall is cramped, outdated and inadequate for modern police needs, according to city officials.
“The committee was impressed with the recent experience that Port City has had with police station projects,” says a memo to Mayor Dana Sennett and city councilors from Committee Chairman Allan Rancourt, dated Nov. 9. “They have designed new stations for Sanford, Falmouth, Old Orchard Beach and municipal buildings in two other towns (Saco and Ogunquit).”
The other two firms that bid on the project are WBRC, of Bangor, and TFH, of Portland.
The city has considered three sites for the new station: a city-owned parking lot at Head of Falls, off Front Street; land owned by Hight Partners on Colby Street near Waterville District Court and the Social Security Administration building; and the Morning Sentinel building on Front Street.
The Head of Falls and Colby Street sites would require constructing a new facility. The Sentinel building would have to be renovated to accommodate police needs.
In other business tonight, councilors will consider a proposal to create a $250,000 reserve account within the city’s Haines Charitable Trust fund to provide annual support for needy women and children at Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter.
Councilors in October considered a request to explore whether it would be appropriate to take $250,000 from the Haines Trust to help build a wing for women and children at the future new homeless Shelter on Colby Street.
Construction of a 40-bed, $2.7 million shelter is expected to start in the coming months.
The William T. Haines Charitable Trust was established in the 1920s after the city received $100,000 from Haines’ will. The will stipulated that the income from the fund be used specifically for destitute women and children who do not receive city assistance but still need help.
The city administers the trust, which has grown to about $550,000. Haines was Maine’s governor from 1913 to 1915 and was an important figure in Waterville’s early history.
Councilors also will consider rescinding a resolution they approved Oct. 6 seeking a ruling on whether it was appropriate to take money out of the trust for a shelter wing.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the council chambers and will be preceded by a 6:30 p.m. executive session for discussion of tax abatements.
Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
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