Bristol Borough approved a resolution to apply for state funds to construct a new fire station Monday night.
The resolution reads as: submission of an Application for Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program Grant Funding in the amount of $1,500,000.00 from the PA Office of the Budget to Construct a new Fire Station Facility.
Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe said Saturday, we became aware of the grant application recently and felt this is a grant we should apply for.
This is only the first step in the process, he added, we’re a long way off from building a new fire house. Maybe even years.
As to potential locations of a brand-new fire facility, DiGuiseppe said a few have come up like Chestnut and Elm Streets where funds already exist to demolish and redevelop the area.
“We’re a long way from making that decision” he said.
Borough Fire Chief Herb Slack said Bristol officials have been truly supportive of the project and one of the goals is finding a suitable centralized location for the project.
“Several locations have been reviewed. The goal is to have a location that is central to the community to maximize firefighter response times and travel to the station and the apparatus response to emergencies in the community. The Mayor and Council have been extremely supportive in moving the project forward.”
Bristol Borough Fire Association President Steve Reeves echoed Slack’s comments.
When I met with Mayor DiGuiseppe and Council President DiGuiseppe during the summer, I characterized the meeting as “productive and positive”. The Borough recognizes the hard work done by the fire companies and the Directors of the Bristol Borough Fire Association over the last four years. My take on the matter is that the Mayor and Council President are committed to this project and want to see it through to make a strong volunteer organization for decades to come.
Much of the work done among the fire companies and partnered by and with the borough comes as direct result of a study commissioned and completed by the Pennsylvania Community Department of Economic Development (DCED) in 2021.
The report also called for:
- Bristol Borough should facilitate, within a reasonable timeframe, agreed upon by the Borough and the Association of Fire Companies, consolidation of operations of Station 50, Station 51, Station 52, and Station 53/25 into a single location, within the area of Prospect Street between Jefferson and Washington Streets. Bristol Borough should finance and construct a new, contemporary Fire Station to facilitate this.
A little more than 15 months ago, America Hose, Hook and Ladder #2 (Station 25) and Bristol Consolidated Volunteer Fire Company (Station 50) announced they would be merging operations as of October 1. 2022.
Before news of the fire facility grant application became public, Reeves told Lower Bucks Source last week, the BFFA plans to appear before council in a couple of months, after we reorganize this month.
Council will meet Monday night, 7 pm, Borough Hall. Click here to view tomorrow night’s agenda.
Credit: Submitted
Council will meet Monday night, 7 pm, Borough Hall. Click here to view tomorrow night’s agenda.
Council approved the resolution unanimously.
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