The Burlington City Council will convene a special meeting on Monday in order to discuss calling an election in order for citizens to vote on funding the construction of a new police station.
The current Burlington Police Station is an extremely old structure–first built in 1887. It’s plagued by problems, including walls that are bowing out, exterior surface cracks and internal structural damage. The building is also apparently plagued by heating and cooling issues.
The initial plan, discussed by the city and approved while passing a bond issue in March, was to spend $700,000 renovating the police station to a point where it would remain habitable for the next several years while a more permanent solution was found. This was opposed by the Mayor and many members of the city council, who saw it as a waste of money and wanted a better option.
The question that will appear on the November 3rd ballot, if approved on Monday, will authorize a loan agreement up to $4 million dollars for the construction and of a new police station and the demotion of the old station.
Burlington Mayor Shane McCampbell says that he thinks the question, if presented to the voters, will pass with the 60% “Yes” vote threshold required.
“Most of the people who get out and vote are people that are my age and older, people that are experienced and mature. Those are the people who know exactly what we need. They know that we need a police station, they know the shape it’s in,” McCampbell told KBUR Talkshow hosts Steve Hexom and Rob Sussman last week, “I am very confident…I think the citizens will recognize [we need this], especially because we’re trying to keep the costs down to a bare minimum.”
Monday’s special meeting will take place at 4:30 pm at Burlington City Hall.
