BETHEL – While it houses items to extinguish fires, the town’s fire station lacks a fire escape, fire alarm and sprinkler system.

“The building has no fire alarm and its got a door to nowhere with a 40-foot drop,” said Town Manager Scott Cole, noting that the door is blocked from being opened by a metal bar.

At Monday night’s joint meeting between selectmen and the Budget Committee, officials learned about these shortfalls and more while discussing proposals.

Rehabbing the 5,000-square-foot structure, which was built in 1965, would cost $375,000, whereas building a new station would cost $1.3 million.

Should the town vote to build a new station, the $1.3 million would be borrowed on a 20-year payback plan, at $96,000 per year.

“With today’s dollars, this will add half a mill to the tax rate for the next 20 years,” Cole said.

Bethel’s current tax rate is $16.75 per $1,000. Without the building, the fire department’s 2004 budget would be $185,174 or $69 per person. With the new building the same budget would be $280,830 or $110 per person.

In the past four years, the town has spent $118,000 in architectural studies, firming the cost, and buying three-quarter’s of an acre to house the structure.

Other rehabbing needs include:

• roof replacement.

• installing expansion joints in walls to restore structural integrity.

• servicing all bay doors.

• plumbing and sewer connection repairs.

• painting the station.

• reshaping and repaving the back lot.

To improve the functionality, move toward compliance with regulations, and restore the building to what it was in 1965, the town must:

• rewire to current electrical code.

• insulate the ceiling and walls.

• make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• install ramps to front entrance and widen interior entrances to all rooms.

• enlarge bathrooms and add compliant hardware and fixtures.

• buy and install a new boiler because repairs are not economically feasible.

• install exhaust collection and extrication system, floor drains and precast beams under the floor.

A new 10,000-square-foot station would include increased equipment storage capacity from eight to 10 units, office, training and day-room space, outdoor training area, individual gear storage space and private vehicle parking area.

The time required to access equipment would be decreased and a new building would create:

• a code compliant area to clean breathing apparatus and individual issued gear.

• a combustible materials storage area.

• a shower and locker area for personnel.

• sleeping quarters for a maximum of eight personnel.

• the ability to work on a vehicle indoors.

• the options of housing larger equipment in the future and of buying standard design vehicles instead of custom-built units.

“This thing’s ready to rock, ready to go,” Cole said, speaking about the contractually guaranteed price of $1.1 million from RLR Enterprise of Conway, N.H., and $100,000 remaining in architectural work and utilities connections.

Pending selectmen and Budget Committee approval at their last budget meeting Monday, April 14, voting on the fire station proposals would be by referendum at town meeting elections on June 10.