By Betsy Levinson — Betsy@concordbridge.org
It’s a tight fit all around.
From makeshift offices in hallways to equipment that barely squeezes into garages, Concord’s public works and safety facilities are bursting at the seams.
The Select Board and Finance committees toured the buildings recently to better understand the challenges faced by aging, largely inadequate town facilities, as well as how to remedy them.
“It’s too small by five acres. We need 13,” Facilities Manager Russ Karlstad said outside the three Keyes Road buildings.
“There isn’t enough space, and it’s not a great OSHA situation” for employee safety, he said.
“They’re all in failure mode,” said Alan Cathcart, director of public works.
A river runs through it
In the 141 Keyes Road building, with its meeting room and planning and land management departments, a river traverses the basement, Karlstad said.
“The HVAC failed a month ago,” said Karlstad, noting the window AC units.
“We try to utilize every square inch,” said Cathcart. “And it’s not ‘poor us.’ We learn how to adapt.”
At the Walden Street police and fire stations, it’s much the same story: There isn’t enough room.
“We can’t expand,” said Police Chief Thomas Mulcahy.
The station was built in 1960 with renovations in 1985 and 2005. The ceiling leaks and the entrance is insufficient for the public.
Mulcahy said the department needs four prisoner intake bays; it has just one, among other inadequacies.
