Police Chief Updates Plans Before Vote

Police Chief Updates Plans Before Vote
Urges passage of addition to station
Tara Vocino
News Correspondent

TEMPLETON  Police Chief Michael R. Bennett brought the Board of Selectmen up to speed on the final design of the addition he’s proposed for the police station.

The design proposal will be distributed throughout public areas, including the Police Department and library, so that residents can get an overview of what the renovations will look like, if it passes at Town Meeting Nov. 9.

It would feature a new cell, in combination with the cell currently under construction, to increase the cell count from zero to two. The overall building size would be increased from 2,325 square feet to 6,150 square feet. The exterior of the station and the materials used would fit comfortably into Templeton’s traditional New England town center.

“It is designed to be economically and fiscally responsible to the residents,” Mr. Bennett said. “It’s more contemporary to go with the historic common. We’re looking for something that’s adequate. There’s nothing extravagant in this plan. We need the basic, simple necessities to get the job done.”

The cost is estimated to be about $1 million. The Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion tax override will be voted on at a town meeting Nov. 9 and a town election Dec. 8.

Mr. Bennett said it would triple the size of the current station.

According to Mr. Bennett, if the police station addition is approved at the town meeting and election, construction will begin two years before the elementary school, scheduled for 2018, and would be paid off before payments would begin on a new school.

Also, selectmen approved one Combat Wounded reserved parking sign and five Purple Heart Town signs, donated by Friends of Templeton Veterans, to be placed at Narragansett Regional High School and throughout the community, respectively.

According to John Caplis, director of veterans services, selectmen approved a “reserved: combat wounded” sign to be placed in the parking lot at Town Hall and the School Committee will vote on placement of a sign at the high school. Caplis was wounded in action.

The Purple Heart Town signs will be placed at locations welcoming people to town:


Patriots Road, just past Oakwood Lane (Gardner)
Route 101, just past Plant Road (Gardner)
State Road, just past Sand Road on Route 68 (Gardner)
Route 202, coming from Winchendon n South Royalston Road from Phillipston

Mr. Caplis will request the Highway Department to help install the signs.

“They have no problem assisting me in doing so,” Mr. Caplis said.

Mr. Caplis said it’s more than a purple sign on the roadways.

“It means a lot to the community,” Mr. Caplis said to the selectmen. “It’s more than just a sign. It’s a statement about how we treat veterans in this community.”

Leominster is also a Purple Heart community.

Selectman Clerk Doug Morrison asked Mr. Caplis if the parking spaces will be strictly enforced with a placard.

But Mr. Caplis said they’ll use the honor system – similar to expectant mothers signs – but they doesn’t expect it to be an issue.

“I really don’t think anyone would park in a veteran’s spot,” Mr. Caplis said.

Selectmen approved Halloween to be celebrated from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

Selectmen reminded people to vote at Town Meeting Nov. 9 on the proposal of the new school project and police station.