Hi, Nancy,

In June of 2007, the OPVFD began discussing the idea of building their own "stand alone" fire facility - right beside the current Community Hall - to better enable it to handle the larger pieces of equipment currently being used or purchased. The OPVFD approached the BOD to see if there was any interest in working out a solution whereby the FD would build the facility at THEIR cost if OPA would "donate" the land for a 99 year lease. (the word "lease" was later dropped as the proper term)

The "old board" voted unanimously in July of 2007 to task the General Manage to negotiate and finalize plans to do this.  (and we all remember the cries at that time of "wait until the new board" - remember?)

Well, one of the first things the "new board" did was to "ratify" or "reconfirm" what the "old board" did - so you have two BOD in unanimous agreement to try to make this happen at the request of OPVFD. THEIR request.

It soon became known that the original site preferred - next to and towards Ocean Parkway - from the current CH, would not work.  Stormwater and wetlands issues. Alterntive sites were looked at - even making a singular facility at the infamous "commercial property".  The final location is one that is the subject of debate you are having - the right hand side of frontal property on Ocean Parkway from the pavillion.

At the same time, OPA was performing a parallel track of investigating what should or should not be done (Bill Rakow and Marty Clarke's effort from late December 2007 until early Feb. 2008) and then subsequently bringing in construction contractors so we could obtain bids for the rennovation of the CH.  With the OPVFD being OUT of the remodeled facility, it would give OP about 4,000 more sq. ft. to use.  OPA has received the bids and on July 2, 2008  at 8:00 AM in the board room, the BOD will hear the final recommendation and presentation of the "task force" picked to jump start the job.

All during this time, the information, the potential problems, the modifications have been openly and publically published by print media and certainly through Joe's forum. For someone to say they "weren't aware of what was going on" is a testimony to that person not "looking" at published information. There are no secrets in this process and depending on what happens on July 2, 2008, there will be a finalized "timeline" to go forward and part of that process may very well include a referendum.

I hope this is of some help to you in better understanding of some of the background of this.   Respectfully,  Reid