Orleans OPM Search Narrows to Pomeroy and Vertex After Three-Firm Interview Night

ORLEANS — September 8, 2025 — Orleans fire station committee ranks OPM finalists after three-firm interview marathon. The Orleans Fire/Rescue Station Building Committee interviewed Pomeroy Associates, Vertex Companies, and CHA back-to-back on September 8, with all members who offered rankings placing Pomeroy first or second and Vertex first or second, with CHA ranked third by every member. Fire Chief Jeff Deering cited Pomeroy's deeper headquarters fire station record on Cape Cod — including Brewster and Chatham fire stations — as the deciding factor in his Pomeroy-one ranking, while Special Projects Coordinator Mike Salitro placed Vertex first for its technology tools, concept analysis matrix, and detailed live-cutover transition schedule. A notable point of disagreement surfaced between the top two firms on value engineering: Pomeroy called square footage reduction "low-hanging fruit" while Vertex called it a "last resort," a distinction the committee viewed as consequential for a fire station loaded with specialized systems. Special counsel Karis North confirmed via Zoom the committee may limit reference checks to its top two choices, with Salitro tasked with calling Brewster and Chatham fire for Pomeroy and Norfolk fire headquarters and Ashland public safety complex for Vertex, with results due by week's end ahead of a September 15 recommendation to the town manager.