FS1 Steering Committee Community Forum - July 30, 2026

The Westwood Media Center Programming hosted a FS1 Steering Committee Community Forum on July 30, 2026, focused on the planning and development of a new Fire Station 1 (FS1). The meeting addressed the failure of a previous project proposal, the need for a right-sized building, and the evaluation of three potential sites: the existing High Street location, Deerfield Avenue, and a town-owned lot behind Starbucks. The discussion included detailed presentations on design reductions, site-specific challenges, and estimated project costs, which have increased due to construction market escalation. The town plans to vote on ballot language for a debt exclusion in the November 3rd midterm election to fund the project, with a special town meeting scheduled for October 26th to approve the project scope and budget. Public engagement has been extensive, with over 50 meetings and forums since last fall. Questions from residents covered site access, environmental concerns including PFAS remediation, project timeline impacts of delayed votes, and potential tax impacts. The project team emphasized the urgency due to the deteriorating condition of the current fire station and the financial risks of delay. The meeting concluded with encouragement for continued public participation and feedback via surveys and upcoming community conversations.