Dedham Votes No on Rustcraft Project

The majority of Dedham residents voted against the proposed Rustcraft Road Project by a vote of 129-104.

Residents expressed disapproval for the project, claiming it was a rushed process and in an inconvenient location. 

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A resident makes a motion for a vote.  The majority agrees and the vote is currently in process.

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Hope McDermott,  a Town Meeting member out of Precinct 1, asked residents to vote against the Rustcraft Road project because of its distance from Dedham's town center.

"It would be irresponsible of us not to consider all or our options," she said. 

McDermott hopes that the Town Offices would remain in the center of town instead of in a building which has been vacant for ten years.

"Imagine a campus where the magnificent Ames School house would serve as our Town Hall and Senior Center, the police station would move to the former town hall... this concept satisfies all of our needs by creating a campus for municipal services in our Town Center," she said.

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Kevin Preston, a precinct 2 Town Meeting member asked residents to vote "no" for the project.  He said the Town is rushing the decision and purchasing a property that is too large.

At Special Town Meeting, Selectman chairman Mike Butler explained that voting for the Rustcraft Road Project would save Dedham millions of dollars.

By voting for the relocation of the Town Hall, Police Station and Senior Center to 180 Rustcraft Road, the total cost would be $28 Million and will not affect Dedham resident's property taxes.  Instead it would be paid for by the Robin Reyes Fund which is funded by the hotel and meals taxes in Dedham. Currently that fund has $4.1 million, Butler told Town Meeting.   

If residents vote against the project, and three separate new buildings were created, the total cost would be $63.8 million, Butler explained.

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Dedham Town Administrator William Keegan explained that if Town Meeting votes for the Rustcraft Road Project, the police station and Town Hall could be replaced with Norfolk District Attorney offices, mixed use developments, and office space.

Keenan said the proposed Rustcraft Project will also house town engineering offices, a Park and Recreation garage, ancillary offices such as a credit union, fire inspection services, and related circulation and multi purpose space.

The Dedham Town Administrator said the project would solve three major issues: 

• Provide the Dedham Police Department with a larger building.  (The current space is too small and unsuitable). 
• Give the Town a Dedham a Senior Center.  (A senior center doesn't exist).
• Create a larger Town Hall building. (The current Town Hall is aging and the building does not have adequate space).

He said the model has worked in the towns of Hingham and Arlington.

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