BY DARRELL HALEN

Voters will get their say whether Pelham should have a new central fire station.

Selectmen are proposing that the town spend up to $7.3 million for the new building.

Impact fees totaling $400,000 would go toward the cost.

Fire Chief Michael Walker has said the current station, at 6,760 square feet, lacks sufficient space, forcing firefighters to store some of their equipment offsite and park some vehicles outside, exposing them to weather.

The proposed two-story, 24,286-square-foot station would be built on town property next to the Village Green known as the Mills property.

The building was designed by the architectural firm Donham and Sweeney, Inc., of Boston.

The new building would provide more space – 4,400 square feet rather than 2,360 square feet now – for administration, meeting and living space. The building includes 601 square feet for storage and a 933-square-foot maintenance bay.

The department employs 15 full time employees and 26 call firefighters.

The bond warrant article would need a 60 percent majority to pass when voters go to the polls in March.

The budget committee voted 7-4 to support the new building.

Eric Estevez was one of the members who voted in favor.

“I think the people of Pelham deserve the best kind of service available regarding safety,” he said. “You can’t put these big ticket items off. They get more expensive. Inflation will set in.”

But some members argued the cost was too high and could be reduced.

Eleanor Burton, the school board’s representative on the budget committee, voted for it with reservations. She said she agrees the fire department needs a new station but wanted more information about the building.

“There was no exterior drawings to show you what the building was going to look like,” she said.Pel