Freetown Boards Clear $3M Fire Station Renovation and Full Town Meeting Warrants

FREETOWN — May 3, 2023 — Freetown's Select Board and Finance Committee jointly recommended all articles in both the annual and special town meeting warrants at their May 3 meeting, clearing the path for a packed June 5 ballot headlined by a $2.991 million Fire Station 3 renovation. The project, split across two articles to satisfy different vote thresholds — a simple majority for the free cash portion and a three-quarters supermajority for the capital stabilization piece — would add a new apparatus bay, bunk rooms for female firefighters, and a decontamination area to the Bullock Road station. The board also recommended a $300,000 reallocation to purchase modular office structures for the Council on Aging and voted to put the condemned Four Corners building at 4 South Main Street up for sale with deed restrictions, though that article passed with at least one dissent. Town Clerk Cheryl defended an 8 percent salary increase request, presenting survey data showing her pay trails comparable towns including Dighton even after the raise, while Health Agent Kevin argued for a 7.5 percent increase and Highway Superintendent Chuck requested roughly $65,000 in additional operating funds, citing a single truck repair that ran nearly $24,000.