GOFFSTOWN — A committee studying the condition of the town's three fire stations has made recommendations for improving them at a cost of $3.3 million.

In a report to selectmen, the Fire Station Improvement Committee recommended a $3.3 million bond to present to voters in March that would refurbish fire stations located on Mast Road, Church Street and Tirrell Hill Road. The buildings, some built as early as 1959, have not seen any significant renovation, said Fire Chief Richard O'Brien.

According to O'Brien, major issues at all three stations include a lack of space and outdated construction. Currently, all doors at the stations are 11 feet high, which O'Brien said doesn't accommodate larger modern fire trucks.

“They were built for the equipment and apparatus designed for the day,” he said. “Modern fire apparatus has grown tremendously.”

O'Brien said the door size has been a factor in the way new trucks are purchased, noting that in 2009 the town spent an additional $153,000 to custom build a tower/ladder unit with a lower height clearance.

At Station 18 on Church Street, O'Brien said there are just inches to spare around trucks parked in the bays.

“Our room around the vehicles is very minimal,” he said.

In neighboring Weare, O'Brien said the doors are 14 feet high.

Other issues in the stations include mechanical and electrical problems, inadequate training areas and crew quarters, as well as code and energy efficiency issues.

Station 17 has an immediate need for a new roof.

O'Brien said the facilities have been deemed inadequate since 2003.

In 2009, the town explored the possibility of a new, centralized fire station on land the town now owns next to the police station, at an estimated cost of $7 million. However, O'Brien said, one or two stations would need to remain open in order to keep response times within acceptable limits.

Scott Gross, the selectman representative for the committee that includes members of the Budget Committee, said that should a 20-year bond be approved, it will have an estimated tax impact of 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value, or about $50 a year for a $250,000 home.

Gross said that other buildings in town have had improvements made, including the town library and schools, but that isn't the case with the fire stations.

“There really hasn't been anything done to our fire stations in 30 to 35 years,” he said.

Selectmen recognized that the school district also plans to ask voters in the spring to approve bond money to make improvements to Maple Avenue and Bartlett elementary schools, and expressed a concern that voters may not be able to afford both projects. The $15 million school renovation project was rejected in March.

Selectman Collis Adams said there were several large expenditures put before voters last year, and suggested that there were too many competing interests for the same funds.

Gross recognized the need for the work on the schools, but said, “We also have a very important issue here with our three fire stations.”

The board plans to meet with representatives from the school district at a later date to discuss funding issues.

kremillard@newstote.com