Groton — The volunteer company that owns the Poquonnock Bridge fire station on Fort Hill Road is terminating its lease with the fire district, meaning the district must vacate the building by Jan. 2. 

District Board President Alan Ackley said Thursday he was notified by letter that the lease would end. 

“So, between now and then we have to get any vehicles that are (there) out, and then there’s a lot of equipment and stuff in there that actually belong to the district,” he said. 

The district stores an antique pumper truck used in parades, a bucket truck and the deputy chief’s car at the station at 13 Fort Hill Road. Ackley said he would ask the town if it has space for the deputy chief’s car. 

Poquonnock Bridge Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Inc. leased the station to the fire district in 1992, but has become dissatisfied with its upkeep. The company sent letters to the fire chief and district board in November 2013 and in April, citing needed repairs. More recently, the company became upset after the district board put bolts and screws into the building to hang a sign recruiting volunteers. 

Ackley said the station isn’t a loss for Poquonnock Bridge if it can’t be used. 

“If the taxpayers are not getting any benefit from its use, meaning the ability to attract and train volunteers there, then there’s no point in the public spending” to heat and pay utilities for the station, Ackley said. “It doesn’t do the taxpayers any good.” 

The fire district board meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Groton Senior Center and may discuss the station then. However, most of the meeting is expected to take place in executive session because the district has a new labor lawyer and faces multiple grievances. 

Todd Paige, longtime chief of the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department, retired at 5 p.m. Thursday. He took over as chief in 2001 and had been with the department for 28 years. 

Ackley said the board plans to appoint Captain Tim Driscoll as acting chief for 90 days, then look for a new fire chief. 

The district board also recently named a new board member. Susan Aguiar, who works part-time for Ackley in his package store and part-time in a New London dental office, accepted the post on Nov. 24. In addition to the two jobs, she runs an embroidery business. 

She said she took the position because she’s lived in the district nearly all her life and believes taxes are too high. 

“I’m just a single girl, I have the house I was brought up in and I have trouble paying the taxes,” she said. 

Former board members Nancy Beckwith and Peter Legnos resigned; Legnos’ seat remains unfilled. 

The Poquonnock Bridge Fire District has struggled to pay bills, contemplated bankruptcy, laid off firefighters and fought a protracted battle with the union. 

d.straszheim@theday.com 

Twitter: @DStraszheim