While the next evolution of North Branford's 911 Dispatch Center has yet to be decided, the Town Council is one step closer to helping North Branford Police Department address some needed police building and configuration upgrades.

The two-story station at 260 Forest Road was constructed by the town's Public Works Department in 1974. In the ensuing years, regulation requirements for needed areas within the building, mechanical and technology upgrades and structural issues as well as interior configuration problems have cropped up.

In late 2016, the town's Police Commission brought the police department's building needs to the Town Council. Ultimately, the council determined that the town's most fiscally responsible approach would be to address a list of 18 building upgrade priorities provided by the commission. On March 21, the council decided to set a placeholder figure of $1.5 to $2 million in total costs to support any limited police building expansion and interior reconfiguration needs.

On April 4, Town Manager Michael Paulhus received Town Council approval to apply for a $500,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant from the state to help defray project expenses. Next, Paulhus told Zip06/The Sound that if time permits at the April 18 Town Council/Town Budget meeting, he intends to have an Request for Proposal draft (RFP) in front of the Town Council to review for construction-ready document bids from architectural firms.

"The RFP draft will be ready for the council to review on April 18; but the conflict is keeping the agenda light, because of the ongoing budget meeting," said Paulhus.

As previously reported, with the hope that the state may provide some direction by mid-April on on what cuts and costs will hit the town next year, the Town Council is holding off it's town budget recommendation vote until the latest possible moment, reconvening on Tuesday, April 18 for a final discussion and vote. The proposed 2017-18 town budget stands at approximately $51 million, with some $2.2 million addressing anticipated state revenue shortfalls. The proposed budget carries a tax increase of 6.13 percent with a mill rate increase of 1.96 mills, bringing the mill rate up to 33.94 (currently, the mill rate is 31.98). See the story here

Working within the current design of the police department's two-story ranch building footprint, with the potential for a limited building addition as a possibility, the $1.5 to $2 million police station renovation project would address needed structural fixes as well as upgrades including creating an adequate lock up facility, evidence room, locker rooms and shower rooms.

"It's a small expansion and renovation," Paulhus emphasized. "It's not going to be a tear-down and rebuild somewhere else, or build new or replace the whole footprint. They're just going to add some to their footprint and renovate what they have."

As previously reported, the Town Council is just beginning to discuss the future of the town's 911 Dispatch Center. With a staff of 4.5 dispatchers and operating at approximately $560,000 per year, the center is currently situated just inside the police station's main entrance. At an information gathering session in March, Town Finance Director Anthony Esposito described the cost of increasing 911 Center options to meet growing town needs. They include switching to a proposed multi-town dispatch center in Branford supported by state subsidies (adding $18,000 to North Branford's current dispatch expenses per year); going with a "2-2-1" scenario that retains dispatch at the police station and increases employee coverage from one dispatcher at the desk 24/7 to two assigned during the day, two during the evening and one overnight (an added expense of $183,000 annually); or doubling the dispatch staff at North Branford police headquarters, increasing costs by $552,000 annually.

As going with the state subsidized multi-town dispatch center would result in some "dark" (unmanned) office hours (after 4:30 p.m. daily and on weekends), Esposito also provided the council with costs to man North Branford's station during "dark hours" in one of the following ways: adding a "greeter" (civilian) to create a total increase of $125,000 per year; adding a retired police officer ($209,000 total annual increase); adding a "Grade A" police officer ($663,000 total annual increase). The council is expected to set a future date for a public hearing for input on the 911 Center (date as yet unannounced).  See past stories here

Paulhus said that while the town's 911 Dispatch Center decision is still in the discussion stage, accommodations to the police station renovation plans can be made based on the course of action that's eventually decided.

"We're going to try to factor that in; and obviously we hope to have a decision and some direction on that as we move forward," said Paulus.

Paulhus said the architectural firm selected through the RFP process will help determine the best reconfiguration of existing police building space as well giving the town guidance on a limited amount of expansion.

"It really needs reconfiguring and a possible addition which may be just 1,000 or 2,000 square feet. That's where the architect's guidance will take us," said Paulhus.

Assessor's records for the building show a usable building area of 4,994 square feet (3,273 first floor and 1,721 finished basement). The brick veneer building with a gable/hip roof also has a 408 square-foot garage bay.