A petitioned warrant article calling for the raising of $4.7 million for a new fire station came through the town’s Feb. 3 deliberative session largely intact.

A single amendment made to the article – proposed by Douglas Viger, chairman of the Board of Selectmen – changed the wording to give the town the flexibility to raise up to $4.7 million or less, depending on the construction costs, were voters to pass the article in March.

Though the article came without a recommendation from either selectmen or the Budget Committee, supporter Bill Scanzani told residents that moving to build a new fire station now would save money in the long run.

Scanzani said the loss of impact fees and the price tag associated with renovating the existing fire station and constructing outbuildings for the fire apparatus would cost taxpayers roughly $1 million in the next year.

“We can’t afford the alternative, which is not building it now,” he said.

Complicating the matter, Pelham is considering two proposed roundabouts to ease the traffic situation in the center of town. Both plans would be supported by $3.9 million in federal funding, but plan A requires the construction of a new fire station.

The alternative option would cut the department’s capabilities in half and add to response times by bricking up the building’s front access, according to Acting Fire Chief James Midgley. Selectman Harold Lynde broke with the rest of the board and urged residents to support both the plan A and the construction of a new firehouse.

“The selectmen made a decision based on the perception they felt it was improper to ask the taxpayers (for the fire station) in this economy. That would be valid if we were not going to sock them in the next couple of years,” Lynde said. “While I understand the sentiment, I think we end up penalizing the taxpayers with this decision. I respectively disagree with the majority of the board. I think it is the right thing to do with the least cost.”

Supporters indicated that they would be asking voters to approve the same proposed fire station selectmen backed last year, which failed on the ballot.

Residents also restored $2,447 to the library’s budget – the single amendment made to the town’s proposed operating budget of $10,592,277.