Boxborough Select Board Backs 72 Stow Road Fire Station Site, Saving Town $6 Million

BOXBOROUGH -- March 24, 2025, Boxborough Select Board recommends 72 Stow Road for new fire station, citing $6 million savings over current site. The board voted 4-0-1 Monday to back the site, following a unanimous recommendation by the seven-member Fire Station Building Committee, which scored both candidate locations on 14 criteria. Mary Brolin, committee chair, told the board the conceptual cost at 72 Stow Road is more than $6 million less than rebuilding at the existing 502 Mass Ave location, with $3.9 million of that gap tied to temporary swing space that would have no lasting value to the town. The 72 Stow Road parcel would be purchased from the Housing Board for $1.2 million, with proceeds directed to the Affordable Housing Trust. The board also voted 4-0-1 to recommend a 2.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment for town employees at a cost of $37,300, and approved seven amendments to the personnel plan including a new $2,400 medical insurance opt-out stipend. Resident Diana challenged the fire station cost figures in public comment, arguing swing-space estimates were not independently verified, and said the town does not yet own the Stow Road parcel; the board authorized the 2025 Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting warrants unanimously, with Town Meeting set for May 12.