Select Board Backs Brick, Clapboard Fire Station

Select Board · Meeting of August 5, 2026

Orleans Select Board backs brick-and-clapboard design for $55 million fire station. The board voted 4-1 Wednesday to confirm the site and floor plan and choose a gray-brick-and-clapboard exterior with a standing-seam metal roof, a combination architect Ted Galante said adds no cost over cheaper materials already excluded from the budget. Fire Rescue Building Committee chair David Little told the board his nine-member panel split 4-5 between the finalists before backing the brick option, and resident Scott Zanke urged durability, saying "we've got 55 million dollars to work with ... and it better last over 20 years." Earlier, nine residents used public comment to challenge the Governor Prince affordable-housing project now before the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The board also approved liquor and entertainment licenses for a new restaurant, The Cormorant, and appointed Mark Russo and Richard White to the Open Space Committee and Affordable Housing Trust Fund board, respectively.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,308 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.