from www.masslive.com

Fire Department settles in to new Longmeadow digs 
Wednesday, May 17, 2000
By ELIZABETH ZUCKERMAN 
LONGMEADOW   —   The Big Dig it's not. 
Meeting time and budget targets, the new fire station opened this week. There were only two unexpected costs during the construction, and change orders were held to $37,000, said Town Administrator Julia E. Whitlock. 
The facility, on Williams Street behind the building that fire personnel formerly shared with the Police Department, represents the first phase of the $3.5 million public safety complex project. 
Renovations to the older building, which now houses only the Police Department, are under way and expected to be completed in November. 
The most significant improvement for the Fire Department is more space, said acting Fire Chief Eric Madison. 
"We're not shoehorning the equipment in anymore," he said, adding that in the old quarters, routine maintenance and inspections required firefighters to pull all of the other apparatus out of the bays. 
"Just to check the equipment was extremely difficult," he said. 
Other amenities include a separate area for decontaminating medical equipment, on-site facilities for laundering protective clothing, and expanded administrative, storage and living spaces. The former quarters were cramped and had only one shower and one bathroom, Madison said. 
"The guys are taking an awful lot of pride in it," he said. "You can tell they're very excited. It's a real morale booster." 
Madison, who served as acting chief for several months before Fire Chief Peter Marcotte was hired, is heading the department while Marcotte is on medical leave. 
Marcotte is not expected back until the first week of June, said Gerard A. Nolet, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. 
Shifting operations to the new building has kept Madison busy. The single-day move happened Monday. 
"The fact that they moved out in the morning and were in and up in service in the afternoon with no loss of service is really quite amazing," said Whitlock. 
Madison credited the staff for easing the transition. 
"They all just teamed and came in on their own time," he said. The firefighters also received assistance with the move from the School Department, the Department of Public Works and Building Commissioner Mark Denver. 
Sitting at a wood-edged countertop in the dispatch area yesterday, firefighter Steven M. Mercieri said the staff is excited about its new home. 
"It's pretty neat. It's a first for me, and I've worked in the fire service a long time," he said. 
With a single budget for the fire facility construction and the police renovations, the town held off on buying any new furniture for the public safety departments until the second phase is completed. The Fire Department hopes funding will be available in November, Madison said. 
© 2000 UNION-NEWS. Used with permission.