TOWN OF ULSTER >> Ulster Hose Company No. 5 commissioners will meet on Tuesday to vote on moving forward with a referendum on a proposed $3.7 million plan to add 8,900 square feet it fire station while renovating another 6,000 square feet.
The session is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the station at 830 Ulster Avenue.
Company commissioners expect to approve notification for public vote from 6-9 p.m. on Jan. 27 that will also be in the fire station.
Chairman James Bracco said a meeting with residents earlier this week attracted approximately 50 people, with most agreeing that the expansion is necessary.
“There was no negativity in the crowd,” he said. “The (people) who spoke wanted to make sure we were going for enough money.”
Company officials in a press release wrote the project would add two extended bays for fire apparatus, a training room, public room, new kitchen, storage rooms, decontamination room, and area for dive team storage.
“Reconstruction of approximately 6,000 square feet … includes reconfiguration of the existing bathrooms, ready room, training room, firematic and administrative offices and upgrading and constructing turnout gear dressing areas and entrance way security,” the release noted.
Officials expect the plan would add about 27 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation to property tax bills.
Bracco earlier this month said the current facility has become too small for training, with the company next month expected to add 12 people to its active roster of 90 members.
“The building that we’re in was … built 30 years ago next year,” Bracco said.
“We have no room in our meeting room,” he said. “When we have training, it’s outside.”
Bracco said the district includes the busiest commercial area in Ulster County.
“We have multiple big box retail stores,” he said. “Malls, plazas, motels, hotels, restaurants, medical and our residents.
“We have approximately 7,000 residents in our district and 13 square miles that we cover … but on any given day you might have 107,000 (visitors) with shoppers and everything else.”
