Finance Committee hears firehouse cost objections

Finance Committee · Meeting of October 15, 2026

WALPOLE — The Walpole Finance Committee heard a resident challenge the cost of a proposed East Walpole firehouse at a public hearing on the fall Town Meeting warrant. Precinct 5 Town Meeting member Steve Caulfield said the proposed 12,500-square-foot, three-bay station would cost "$750 to $1,000 per square foot to build this $9.25 to $12.3 million," and argued the town's brush trucks sit idle most of the year. A town official responded that the project is in its earliest stages, requiring a Conservation Commission 5-0 vote, Town Meeting approval, state legislature sign-off and further borrowing votes before construction, putting completion "at least four years out." The fire chief confirmed the department runs about 11 firefighters per shift against an authorized 12.

The committee approved minutes from August 31 unanimously and from September 10 with four abstentions, and closed the hearing without acting on the firehouse article itself.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,833 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of October 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.