Committee flags drainage and parking concerns at new police station; seeks drainage evaluation

During new business at the Police Station Building Committee meeting on Oct. 3, members raised concerns that construction grading and materials are contributing to ponding in the adjacent soccer-field parking area and asked staff to seek a drainage evaluation.

A committee member said the parking-area water has on several occasions reached the fence line and described a change in drainage patterns: water that formerly infiltrated on the police station site now ponded on the soccer-field side because areas that were wooded and permeable have been altered. The member recommended asking Jamie (the project consultant/engineer) for a proposal and cost estimate to evaluate drainage and design a solution.

Members discussed funding options for an evaluation and possible mitigation, saying the work should not fall on the parks department alone. Suggestions included using leftover project funds to offset design costs or seeking an outside funding source; the committee noted any additional work involving paving, lighting or cameras could be considered separately and might require larger sums (an earlier estimate for paving and associated work was cited in the meeting as $175,000). The committee urged staff to seek an evaluation quickly because winter freeze-thaw cycles could create ice hazards.

Committee members also discussed the potential for improved site lighting and camera coverage as part of broader security improvements. The group agreed the next step is for staff to request a drainage-evaluation proposal from Jamie, return the estimate to the committee, and involve the selectmen as appropriate if town funding outside the project is required.