By: Jake Uitti
ROCKY HILL The Rocky Hill Hook and Ladder Fire Company will need a new fire truck next year as well as costly renovations to the firehouse, Chief Todd Harris told the Borough Council during budget discussions Monday.
The immediate issue is the building, said Councilman Brian Griner, liaison for public safety.
"A feasibility study needs to be done looking to rehab the existing firehouse," Mr. Griner said.
The council is looking to appropriate about $7,800 from the tentative budget, which was introduced Monday, to pay an architect to examine the firehouse and provide ideas on costs and options for renovations.
The renovations themselves could cost upwards of $1.5 million, Mr. Griner explained.
The fire department owns a separate property of about 1¼ acres off Crescent and Princeton avenues that came up in Monday’s discussions. The fire company and the Borough Council could potentially sell the property and raise perhaps half the $1.5 million for the renovations and put additional funds toward the fire truck expense, which could be about $500,000, according to discussions Monday.

