Hampton Firehouse may change hands

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By Derek Liebig

The Town of Hampton is considering selling the Hampton Firehouse to the Hampton Volunteer Fire Department, which has used the building for more than 50 years.

Chief Joe Mead said the building needs repairs but efforts to do that have been complicated by the fact the department doesn’t own the building.

“The town can’t get a grant because we lease the building and we can’t get a grant because we don’t own the building,” Mead said.

“There are grants available to the fire department to fix the firehouse but they have to own the building,” said Supervisor Dave O’Brien.

And the cost of making the repairs without grant money makes them prohibitive.

The issue is further complicated by the fact the town can’t sign the deed to the firehouse over to the department.

“According to the New York State constitution we can’t make a gift to a non-municipal entity,” O’Brien said. “We have to get fair market value, which is determined by a Realtor.”

Both Mead and O’Brien said it may be possible for the department to provide other services to the community to offset the cost of purchasing the building.

“We’ve talked about the idea of providing another service, such as a fire safety day,” Mead said. “We’re still in the process of figuring out what we can do.”

The fire department has occupied the firehouse since incorporating in 1964 and has been responsible for paying the taxes on the property and for maintaining the property.

A portion of the building is rented to the U.S. Postal Service, which uses it as a post office. The remainder is used by the department.

Mead said the building fits the department’s needs, but needs some repairs.

“The roof over the bay where the trucks are stored is the biggest concern,” he said. “It’s a 30 to 40-year-old flat rubber roof and the water just sits there. It doesn’t leak, but it’s an older style of construction.”

A small storage shed also needs to be replaced, but the department plans to forge ahead without the project – grants or not – later this year. In recent years the department has removed the basement and a meeting area in the building and Mead said the portion occupied by the post office was painted earlier this month.

“It should fit our needs for the next 20 or 30 years,” said Mead, who said he doesn’t envision a situation in which the department sells the building. Both department and town officials have discussed the possibility of included a revisionary clause with a potential sale, but those discussions are still in the preliminary stages.

Officials plan to investigate all their options and seek the input of local residents at a public hearing next month.

“We need to discuss this and learn the will of the town,” said Councilman Don Sady.

O’Brien said he doesn’t see negatives to selling the building to the department, but said it’s important to hear from the community’s resident.

The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on May 20.