EDIC Hears Proposal For Falmouth Station Advisory Committee
Falmouth Economic Development & Industrial Corporation has been asked to consider forming a citizens advisory committee for Falmouth Station that would be able to assist with maintaining and improving the property.
Town Meeting member Paul Dreyer (Precinct Two), who is also an elected member of the planning board, spoke about the Falmouth Station projects listed on the agenda and introduced the proposal for the EDIC’s consideration at its meeting on Tuesday, May 10.
“Most of the board members are not familiar with the development of this project and what really has happened since then,” Mr. Dreyer said. “I was an early proponent of the station. I stood here 10 years ago asking the select board to support the rehabilitation of the station. They encouraged me and really were very, very supportive of it, and I continue to be interested.”
Mr. Dreyer told the board that EDIC executive director Wayne Lingafelter asked him for assistance with ongoing projects at the station, and Mr. Dreyer was happy to weigh in. He had prepared a short presentation for board members and briefly ran through his main points, which focused on the building’s significance to the community.
As a replacement to an even older building built in 1872, Falmouth Station is a historical building that is now more than 100 years old. It was refurbished by the EDIC using funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Mr. Dreyer said, noting the work was done well and produced the station that the people of Falmouth know and love today.
“It’s a transportation and welcoming center,” Mr. Dreyer said. “All the buses, taxicabs and people come in here and it’s become a very important element in the Town of Falmouth, and the Station Grill is an attraction for residents and visitors. It’s one of the most important values of the station and it’s the crown jewel of the EDIC.”
There is a large amount of community support for Falmouth Station, Mr. Dreyer said, and he proposed that the board consider appointing a citizens advisory committee to provide input and assist in the implementation of projects.
“I’m only one, but there are other people who are very interested in this,” he said.
Responsibilities of the advisory committee, Mr. Dreyer continued, could include things like coordinating exterior work at the station to make it as minimally disruptive as possible to the daily operations of the property and working with the Falmouth Historical Commission for guidance on the display and preservation of historical materials.
“The Falmouth Historical Commission is very interested in the station; they can be a real help on the long-term involvement of the station,” Mr. Dreyer said.
An advisory committee would be a way to smooth things over when it comes to the review and coordination of proposed work at the property, Mr. Dreyer said. He suggested that the committee be made up of people with historical experience, EDIC members, local residents who frequent the station and other interested stakeholders.
Mr. Dreyer also said that he would like to see the board discuss in more depth its interest in maintaining the historical aspects of the station.
In other business regarding Falmouth Station, Mr. Lingafelter said the EDIC is looking into an upgraded professional art-hanging system that would allow for easier restaging and replacement of both art pieces and historical materials. The hanging system will not be able to be installed until the interior painting project is completed, which Mr. Lingafelter said should be done by the end of May as the EDIC has awarded the bid to a Falmouth contractor who will be doing the work after business hours.
“We’re looking forward to that being part of some of the overall changes that we’re trying to make at the station to improve appearance and have a bit more consistency with reflecting the history of the station,” Mr. Lingafelter said.
The board has also ordered and received several WiFi cameras that will be installed at the station this week. The cameras will allow for monitoring activity at the station, which has been the location of a few police reports in recent weeks after vagrant persons were found wandering the property after hours. The security system is expected to be online sometime next week.