BUCKFIELD — Even with low morale, fire and rescue personnel and their associations have volunteered hundreds of hours and donated money to help complete the town’s roughly $1 million Fire and Rescue Station.

“We’re approaching close to 500 hours people have donated, and between the two associations, spent close to $2,000 for paint and other stuff,” Fire Department Chief Tim Brooks told selectmen at their March 3 meeting.

His comments came after Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Martha Catevenis wanted to table investing some of the $18,000 in loan interest into equipment for the station.

Some items, including kitchen cabinets and countertops, were taken out at the beginning of the project to keep the station within budget. She moved to table the discussion because Selectman Scott Violette, who was absent, had some input on the issue. Without a second, her motion died.

Rescue Department Chief Floyd “Chip” Richardson said purchasing some of the items was pressing because without them, the departments were prevented from moving in. If the town purchased the kitchen cabinets, members from the two departments planned to install them.

“Morale for our department after last year is at an all-time low,” Richardson said. “To get them to come here, they need some place they can warm up a meal. They’re covering our town for $24 a night per person,” he said of the majority of the Rescue Department personnel.

Catevenis encouraged the two chiefs to advertise for townspeople to volunteer to help.

Brooks and Richardson told selectmen for their departments to move into the new building, they needed the kitchen cabinets and countertops, air and electrical drops, report room countertops and locks and a keypad for the vestibule.

Catevenis wondered if some of the money should be spent on thicker pavement in the parking lot.

Richardson said it wasn’t needed because personnel vehicles, not emergency vehicles, will park in that area.

“When the building got moved with the septic and other stuff, it was one of the places (the architect) told us we could take it out so we could save some of the money,” he said.

Catevenis also suggested using the $18,000 toward the Fire Rescue Station loan.

“I think because of … things having being taken out, in order for this to be a building that’s workable, that’s finished to a certain point, we really need to spend that money in making sure this building is what it needs to be,” Selectman Cheryl Coffman said. “Otherwise, we’re looking at a building that’s very unfinished.”

She made a motion to spend roughly $9,100 for the kitchen cabinets and countertops, report countertops, vestibule locks and key pads, carpet runners and air and electric drops. The motion passed 2-0.

The Fire Rescue Station, which was approved by voters in June 2013, has had a number of issues. They include soil contamination, concrete that was too thin, a no-show contractor and stolen wire.

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