METUCHEN — A study will determine if Metuchen’s firehouse, first aid squad and senior center can co-exist in one central place on the site of the current Metuchen First Aid Squad on Safety Place.
On Aug. 13, Borough Council members awarded a professional services contract to Maser Consulting, Red Bank, to perform engineering, surveying and other related services for a cost not to exceed $15,000.
The Metuchen Volunteer Fire Department firehouse, which was built in 1914, is at 503 Middlesex Ave. and the Metuchen Senior Center is at 15 Center St.
Discussions on relocating the fire department, whose building has been plagued with a leaking roof, crumbling support pillars and plumbing and electrical problems, has been ongoing for years.
Mayor Jonathan Busch has said one location kept coming back into the discussions — the current first aid squad building.
Councilman Ronald Grayzel said in the spring that Busch appointed him to lead a committee comprised of council President Linda Koskoski, Fire Chief Robert Donnan, Borough Engineer Tom Herits, Peter Fairclough, vice president of the Metuchen Emergency Medical Services, and Cathy Ostermueller, director of the Metuchen Senior Center, to see if the three entities could co-exist at the site on Safety Place.
“We did a site visit, we spoke among ourselves, we discussed our needs and we spoke about any issues that would be faced by each entity,” Grayzel said. “Part of our charge was to investigate and report on the suitability and feasibility of the location and to identify professionals who could make the project happen.”
Maser Consulting will conduct a topographical survey and confirm the property lines at the property on Safety Place.
Earlier this month, the committee met with architect candidates who will perform a needs analysis and site evaluation to determine if the site is adequate.
“We hope to have [the survey, needs analysis and site evaluation] ready before the mayor and council by early September,” Grayzel said.
He said once officials have an answer on the feasibility and practicality of the site and what would be involved to make it suitable for the three entities, it will become a 90-day project.
Busch said he appreciated the hard work that has been done by Grayzel and the committee members.
“I asked [the committee] to meet this summer to put together their feasibility analysis,” he said. “If you have deadlines to meet you ask Councilman Grayzel to help you meet it.”
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].