The Chair of the committee, Peter Socha, wanted a vote to approve a work group. Jay Bikofski was concerned about violating the Open Meeting Laws. It was approved by keeping the number on work committee below the quorum of committee.

It was reported that a firehouse is unusual – today towns build public safety buildings with police fire and ambulance. However, the committee wanted to visit a building of the recommended size to see what it looked like.

The size will be determined by considering the uses and then applying the sq ft necessary for those uses. The uses could include BLS (basic life support) number of ambulances, number of fire trucks, space for training, and space for sleeping to enable 24/7 coverage.

The site requirement can be determined by the size and special needs such as if any HazMet materials on site, or if DeCon (decontamination equipment) are needed on site. Once the site requirements based on size and uses is determined, then they can consider sites. The size could be determined “in a couple of weeks.”

Editor’s note: What is odd is that the location was determined first by experts estimating response times to both Stockbridge and West Stockbridge 2. When Planning Board established a work group they were told to stop by the State Attorney General who enforces the Open Meeting Law. It had nothing to do with number comprising the work group. The issue was decisions/discussions held in private rather than public as required by law. That can be checked with Town Counsel.