Rockland Faces Crucial Decisions on Daycare, Fire Station, and Zoning
Officials weigh options for $2 million daycare facility, consider $26 million fire station, and receive state approval for MBTA-compliant zoning
ROCKLAND, MA - August 13 - Rockland officials are grappling with several critical issues that could significantly impact the town's future, including the potential relocation of a popular daycare program, escalating costs for a new fire station, and recent approval of MBTA-compliant zoning.
The Rockland Daycare Program, currently housed in the McKinley building, faces an uncertain future as the Recreation Department prepares to relocate. Town Administrator Douglas Lapp presented options to fund a new $1.5-$2 million modular daycare building at Esten School during the Aug. 13 Select Board meeting.
"We've committed to the school department that they can stay at the McKinley building for this upcoming school year, the 24-25 school year, to ensure that there's no disruption in the daycare program for the upcoming year," Lapp said.
The daycare program serves approximately 55 Rockland residents, offering reduced-cost childcare that has become crucial for many families.
Andrea Davis, a parent with children in the program, emphasized its importance: "I have spent $45,000 over the last 30 months for two children to be in three days a week. So that's not full-time. I don't work for the town. I live here. So I think that's just an important note. But Rockland Fire, Rockland Police, and the teachers are the primary users of Rockland Daycare for the last 30 years."
The town is considering several financing options for the new daycare facility, including bond anticipation notes, capital outlay expenditure exclusion, or temporary funding from the stabilization fund.
Lapp also presented updated cost estimates for various fire station options, ranging from $14 million to $36 million. The preferred option is a new, smaller $26 million station at the Lincoln School site, which allows for future expansion.
"I'm not going to recommend those last two options, the current station renovations, because the site is just too small," Lapp stated, referring to the lower-cost options of renovating the existing station.
The fire station project costs have increased significantly since last year. The initial $33.2 million proposal rejected by voters has now escalated to nearly $36 million due to construction inflation.
On a positive note, Lapp announced that the state Attorney General has officially approved Rockland's MBTA-compliant zoning, marking a significant step in the town's development plans. Final approval is still pending from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
"We should not have any problem. We used a state consultant that ran the state's model, so there should be no issues," Lapp assured the board.
The meeting also addressed concerns about the Open Space Committee's role, with discussions focusing on reappointments and the committee's advisory capacity to the Select Board and town meeting.
Lapp highlighted a disturbing trend of increased aggressive behavior from the public at Town Hall, necessitating police intervention on two recent occasions. He urged residents to be respectful in their interactions with town staff.