The central station, in the basement of town hall, has several problems, including health-, fire safety- and building-code issues, but the costs associated with constructing a new station have proved unpopular with voters in the past.  

Though previous proposals to move the station elsewhere in Swanzey have advanced to the design phase, only to fail at the polls, this is the first time the town has gone as far as buying land for a new central fire station, according to Town Administrator Michael Branley.

The Green Oak Township Board will consider a proposal to hire an architectural firm to lead construction of a new station at Wednesday's meeting.   

Aspects like the new station's size are still being determined, but a needs assessment indicated it will at least have a larger training room, space for the fire marshal division and adequate room for fire trucks, Gentry said. 

"The fire marshal works out of a converted closet," he said. "To work on a truck, we have to pull a different truck outside." 

Construction is slated to begin in May 2020, according to a proposal fromMount Clemens-based Partners in Architecture.