Blue Hill establishes advisory committee for new fire station

Local residents will serve on a committee advising on the construction of a new fire house in Blue Hill.

By Tricia Thomas

BLUE HILL—The Blue Hill select board on November 24 appointed three residents to a newly formed committee that will advise on construction of a new firehouse on Tenney Hill Road.

Residents Ron Conterio, Tim Horton and Clifton Page were unanimously appointed to the nine-member public safety building committee. The board also tapped select board members Ben Adams and D. Scott Miller to serve as committee liaisons. They will be joined by board chair Ellen Best until she steps down from the board next year.

The committee also includes fire chief John Chapman, fire captain Brandon Young and Peninsula Ambulance Corps manager Alan Henschke.

According to an advertisement seeking volunteers on the town’s website, the committee is tasked with developing recommendations on “building and property layout and design” for a new fire station and public safety building at 30 Tenney Hill. The town purchased the 17-acre property, which includes open space and a former dormitory building used by George Stevens Academy, in late September.

The vacant building on the property is being eyed for offices, meeting space and sleeping quarters. Space also would be provided for visits from Hancock County sheriffs and other law enforcement. The town also plans to construct a five-bay station behind it to house fire trucks and ambulances, although a timeline for construction has not yet been determined.

The new fire station will replace an aging Water Street facility that Chapman has said is too small to continue accommodating new, larger fire trucks. The station’s harborside location also makes it vulnerable to storm surges.

Meetings of the committee will be open to the public, with minutes posted on the town website, Miller said.