House Passes Bond Bill With $1M For Brookline Fire Station

BROOKLINE, MA — The Massachusetts House of Representatives on Thursday passed a $4.9 billion bond bill to finance general government infrastructure in the Commonwealth, which includes a $1 million earmark for improvements to Brookline Village Fire Station.

Most of the spending is for the maintenance and modernization of state buildings. Additional money targets food security and cybersecurity.

"Infrastructure is what allows our society to prosper,” Brookline Rep. Tommy Vitolo said in a statement. "I'm grateful we were able to allocate so much money toward repairing and renovating government buildings, including courthouses, public university and college campuses, and public housing -- and that we won't be spending money building new prisons.”

"I"m also delighted that my colleagues supported my request for $1 million to fully renovate and decarbonize Fire Station 1 in Brookline Village, for both the safety and comfort of firefighters and the climate,” he continued.

The bond bill would fund the remediation, modernization, reconstruction, and electrification of Brookline’s Fire Station 1. Along with several other fire stations, Fire Station 1 is in need of substantial renovations, including significant mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, as well as upgrades to the living quarters.

“I’m beyond thrilled that the House has allocated a million dollars for our fire station renovation,” Select Board Chair Heather Hamilton said in a statement. "The renovated stations will reduce cancer risks for our firefighters, have appropriate facilities for both firewomen and firemen, and be completely fossil fuel free. Moreover, the state’s contribution will reduce the funds required in a local tax override. This is a win-win-win-win. Thank you to Representative Tommy Vitolo and the whole Brookline delegation for securing this money.”

In addition to details on the expenditure of state money, the bill orders a five-year pause on any prison or jail construction in Massachusetts. The correctional facility construction moratorium could delay the consideration of a new women's prison in Norfolk.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.