Proposed Public Safety Building

City of Belfast Proposed Public Safety Building

Overview:

The City of Belfast is considering the future construction of a Public Safety Building, one that would serve as a unifed home for its Ambulance, Fire, and Police Departments, replacing each of these departments' current inadequate facilities. This facility, if constructed, would be located within the approximately 2.5-acre parcel that is the home of its current Fire and Ambulance Departments at 273 Main Street. The City has previously secured grant funding in support of this project, and has performed several activities in support of, and as due dligence for this project.

Milestones:

  • April 2022-June 2024: the City applies for, is awarded, and obligates Congressionally Directed Spending in the amount of $1,500,000, to be used to pay for a portion of the construction of a proposed public safety building.
  • September 2022-February 2023: the City hires Gartley & Dorsky Engineering & Surveying, who undertakes and completes a boundary survey and a topographic survey with wetlands delineated for the current Fire and Ambulance Department property.
  • January 3, 2023: the City forms a Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group, whose membership consists of the following: City Councilor Mary Mortier, City Councilor Paul Dean, City Manager Erin Herbig, Police Chief Robert Cormier, Fire Chief/Ambulance Director Patrick Richards, Director of Code and Planning Bub Fournier, Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge, and Deputy Economic Development Director Joellyn Warren.
  • February 22, 2023: the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group meets to review the boundary and topographic surveys.
  • March 2023-present: the City applies for, is awarded, and is obligating Community Project Funding in the amount of $963,000, to be used to purchase equipment for the City of Belfast Police Department, a portion of which is intended to be acquired as part of, and installed in, a proposed public safety building.
  • May 2023-July 2023: the City hires Summit Geoengineering Services, who undertakes and completes a geotechnical investigation report for the current Fire and Ambulance Department property.
  • May 2023-March 2024: through Eastern Maine Development Corporation’s Brownfields Assessment Program, Campbell Environmental Group undertakes and completes a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, and an Environmental Media Management Plan for the current Fire and Ambulance Department property.
  • December 20, 2023: the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group meets to perform a review of, and provide feedback/comment on, the preliminary geotechnical investigation report. 
  • January 9, 2024: the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group meets to review a proposal from Gartley & Dorsky Engineering & Surveying and Oak Point Associates for a Facilities Assessment Report for the current Fire and Ambulance Department facility, and for a Site Fit Plan for a proposed public safety building on the current Fire and Ambulance Department property.
  • January 2024-March 2025: the City hires Gartley & Dorsky Engineering & Surveying and Oak Point Associates, who undertakes and completes a Facilities Assessment Report for the current Fire and Ambulance Department facility, and a Site Fit Plan for a proposed public safety building on the current Fire and Ambulance Department property.
  • September 19, 2024: the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group meets to review and provide feedback/comment on a draft Site Fit Plan.
  • February 24, 2025: the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group reviews a draft request for responses for architectural and engineering services for a proposed public safety building, and does a final review of the Site Fit Plan.
  • March 2025-September 2025: the City issues a request for responses for architectural and engineering services for a proposed public safety building, reviews submitted responses, interviews engineers, selects Port City Architecture, and negotiates a contract to provide those services to the City.
  • April 29, 2025: the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group meets to reevaluate the scope of work and to consider/develop a phased approach to it.
  • June 5, 2025: the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group meets to review and finalize the amended scope of work to be performed by Port City Architecture.
  • October 2025-present: the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group works with Port City Architecture to carry out their proposed scope of work under their contract (Phase I Feasibility Study for a new Public Safety Facility), with joint meetings occurring on 10/6/2025 (kickoff meeting), 11/24/2025 (discussion and review of programming), and 1/27/2026 (further review of programming and discussion regarding update to the City Council on 2/3/2026).
  • No additional meetings of the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group have been scheduled at this time, and none are expected to be scheduled until for after the passage of the City of Belfast Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. Schedulings of any future meetings of the Proposed Public Safety Building Working Group will be found on this page.

Supporting Documents: