Fire company asks town to fix building problems


 

KENT —While the Kent Fire Department celebrated the opening of its new firehouse Oct. 18 with pomp, circumstance and a visit from the governor, weeks later the department still has not moved into the building.

Jean Speck, president of the fire company, said there are issues with the building that have yet to be resolved.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, at their regular meeting, the selectmen were presented with a letter written by Speck. It said that, while many minor building issues have been fixed, three outstanding matters remain: There are hairline fractures in the concrete slabs in front of the parking bays; the grading on the grass areas is lower than the surrounding pavement; and there is a lack of screened topsoil.

"We feel these do not meet the project requirements," Speck’s letter said. "The department is very grateful to have a new headquarters to better serve the public. We owe it to the public, the state and the people who have donated money to make this project happen to assure that the end product is satisfactory and meets the project requirements. In our opinion, it has not."

First Selectman Ruth Epstein said she and Matt Winter, chairman of the Firehouse Building Committee, have looked into Speck’s concerns and determined that the conditions are in fact satisfactory.

"We already looked into all of their concerns and all of them have been met," Epstein said. "Those problems have already been dealt with. There are no problems."

However, Fire Chief Eric Epstein (the son of the first selectman) disagreed. He said the problems have not yet been resolved, and hopes the firehouse building committee will work together with the town to resolve the issues.

Epstein had no comment on Speck’s letter. However, he said that the department plans on moving into the new building by the end of the month.

 

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