Byfield Fire Lease Talks Stall Again
Board of Selectmen · Meeting of September 22, 2026
Newbury Select Board faces packed crowd over stalled Byfield firehouse lease, splits on town hall priorities. Chair Bill DeMeo said rent at the Protection Fire Company No. 1-owned station has risen from $70,000 to a requested $90,000 a year since the lease expired June 30, 2025, and two tentative deals were rejected by the company's membership. Fire Chief David Evans said the six-person department covers 26.4 square miles with 12-hour shifts split between Morgan Avenue and Byfield: "Is it ideal?
No, it's not, but it's what we have." Select Board member Patrick Epplin said "not reaching an agreement isn't failure." Members later split on annual goals, with Leslie Matthews opposing a permanent municipal office building — "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" — while DeMeo argued debt-financed buildings save money long-term. The board also approved roughly a dozen routine licenses, donations and appointments unanimously, and learned Fire Chief Evans and Building Commissioner Peter Bennett are both retiring this fall.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,893 words
Source: the Board of Selectmen meeting of September 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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