Abington Finance Committee Unanimously Backs $1.6 Million Fire Station Borrowing

ABINGTON — April 22, 2026 — Abington Finance Committee backs $1.6 million borrowing for fire and DPW project, heads to Town Meeting May 4. The committee voted unanimously to recommend Article 15, authorizing the town to borrow up to $1.6 million to cover contamination remediation costs discovered during construction of the combined fire station, DPW building, and salt shed — pushing the project's effective total to approximately $40.1 million against the original $38.5 million authorization. Building Committee Chairman Sean Riley, appearing in that role rather than as town moderator, said excavation had uncovered buried hydraulic pistons, asbestos pipe, hydraulic fluid spills, and improperly dumped fill on town-owned land, costing $1.6 million in remediation invoices already paid. Town Counsel's written statement, read into the record, warned that without the borrowing authorization the town "risks being subject to lawsuits from unpaid contractors" and the project would stand in partial completion. The committee also voted 5-1 to recommend the $76,357,946 level-funded budget and approved sending seven override questions to the May 16 ballot; one member voted no on the budget citing inadequate snow-and-ice reserves and no OPEB contribution. A Right to Farm bylaw, Article 21, was passed over 5-1 after members raised concerns about missing enforcement infrastructure. The article requires a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting, set for Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Abington Middle High School auditorium.