MANCHESTER — The Hackett Hill land deal with developer Richard Danais is now final, paving the way for the city to replace the fire station on Hackett Hill.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 7-4 not to reconsider the newly amended contract that will give Danais until 2018 to pay the city $2.6 million for 123-acres of undeveloped land off Hackett Hill Road.

Aldermen Patrick Arnold, Joyce Craig, Ron Ludwig and Dan O’Neil voted against moving forward with the deal. Aldermen Ed Osborne and Garth Corriveau, who have long opposed selling land to Danais Realty Group, were absent, as was Alderman Tom Katsiantonis.

Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur had also been against the deal, but he voted in favor of moving forward after Mayor Ted Gatsas announced the new contract had already been signed. Levasseur said he could not vote against the contract now, as it could put the city in violation of the agreement.

The board approved the Danais deal two weeks ago after Gatsas cast the deciding vote to break the 7-7 tie. Opponents felt the deal was too favorable for Danais, who was released from his obligation to build a new station. Those in favor of the deal admitted it wasn’t ideal, but it would prevent the city from a lengthy court battle and would mean less time before a new station could be built.

After that vote, Arnold announced he would request a vote to reconsider at the following meeting.

In the two weeks between meetings, Gatsas instructed the city to close the deal.

“The aldermen were told specifically by the city solicitor if they didn’t want me to execute the contract, they would have to make a motion and pass that,” said Gatsas.

Arnold said he was aware of this, but requested the vote anyway.

“I wanted him on the record that he signed it even though he knew it was up for reconsideration,” said Arnold.

With this vote, the aldermen can focus on building a new fire station to replace the temporary station now on Hackett Hill Road. Fire Station 4 was built in 1988 and Chief James Burkush has said it was meant as a temporary fix to last five years. Today, it lacks safety features like a back-up generator and is at risk of roof collapse during heavy snows.

The Committee on Community Improvement is scheduled to begin the process next month of finding contractors to build a station for the city. Aldermen have discussed bonding or using one-time capital improvement money to pay for it.