SPOTSWOOD–Before the Spotswood Borough Council purchased a vacant boarded-up property earlier this year, Fire Chief Kevin Meade and residents voiced their vision of turning it into a new firehouse.
In one of the council’s latest moves, borough officials have approved a resolution authorizing the borough clerk and the Spotswood Volunteer Fire Department to prepare and advertise a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an architect to create a conceptual design and cost estimate for the vacant property to be turned into a firehouse.
On Jan. 6, Spotswood council members approved a resolution containing the borough’s bill list to purchase the vacant property at 474 Main St. for $382,671.
Mayor Edward Seely said the house on the property is condemned, abandoned and covered in vegetation. It sits next to a PNC Bank across from the Spotswood Funeral Home.
On June 8, the council approved a resolution authorizing Borough Clerk Patricia DeStefano to advertise for bids to demolish the vacant, boarded-up house.
The council approved the resolution on July 13 during the council meeting via video conference.
The council also authorized the Spotswood Volunteer Fire Department to research all applicable grants to fund said firehouse; however, the council must adopt an authorizing resolution prior to the submission of any grant application to ensure certification of funds for required matching appropriations, according to the council.
For more information, visit www.spotswoodboro.com/borough-council.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
