Selectmen Approve Ambulance Corps for Fairfield Hills Site

Newtown's ambulance corps is ready to get a new home.

Newtown's Board of Selectmen voted Monday night to enter into a lease agreement with the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association in the final step necessary to move ahead with plans to eventually relocate to a site on the Fairfield Hills campus.

In a public hearing before the vote, ambulance corps board member Fran Pennarola told selectmen he was optimistic in getting approval for the project, "since we've spent a fair amount of money on architects and hope to get bids in next week. We're moving along quickly."

The property -- about 14,500 square feet in front of Newtown and Woodbury Halls on the campus -- would allow room to host six ambulances and sleeping quarters for 10 EMTs.

"It'll be a great addition to the campus. The design is terrific," said First Selectman Pat Llodra before selectmen unanimously approved the project. "I'm happy to see we have worked out the little bumps in the road."

The project has taken about three years so far, said Pennarola. Bids are due June 15, and officials say work could begin before the end of June, with completion time estimated at about 14 months.

The current Newtown Ambulance Corps headquarters is a former gas station at 77 Main Street with room for just three ambulances and what Pennarola describes as "very small bedrooms."

"The corps has outgrown the building," said Pennarola, noting they have about 70 active members. "We considered expanding on the site, but we were able to reach an agreement."

Pennarola said the association owns the land on Main Street and plans to sell it. Association officials say the new site should last for the next 25-30 years. He says the association won't know the price tag until bids come through, but expects it will cost between $4 and $5 million, adding the association has a "fair amount of cash reserves."