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Council, police report outreach to state officials on new police station funding
Summary
Council members and the police chief reported meetings with state legislators and staff about funding for a new police station. Officials said they requested up to $3 million and were advised Foster might secure up to $2.5 million in state assistance; staff also expect a revised architect quote soon to fit the town's budget timeline.
Council leaders and police officials updated the Foster Town Council on Feb. 20 about efforts to identify funding for a new police station and the next steps for the building committee.
The council president said she had met with Representative Chippendale, Senator Reid and other state staff to discuss grant options and expressed that while some federal funds are targeted to fire departments, legislators took photographs of the police station and discussed potential support. "I asked him for $3,000,000...we should be able to get up to 2 and a half million," she told the council, relaying the conversation with state officials.
Town staff reported they had asked Rous Architects to revise prior plans and expected a quote for a redesigned plan imminently; the updated quote is needed quickly so the project can be considered in the town’s upcoming budget timetable. A staff member warned the council the project timetable is tight and that an approved revision will be required to go back out for competitive bidding (RFP) in time for the FY budget process.
Police Chief Lindell described current operational constraints and said the recent site visit by legislators could help the town’s case for funding. The chief said staffing remains constrained and explained patrol coverage, saying in part that the department sometimes has a single officer assigned across shifts and that the visit helped legislators appreciate those operational realities.
Why it matters: the police station is a multi‑million‑dollar capital project that will affect the town’s capital budgeting and potential grant applications; getting an architect’s revised estimate in time is critical to including the project in the fiscal schedule.
Next steps: staff expect an updated architect quote within days; the building committee and council indicated they may need an extra meeting to approve the revision so the town can issue an updated RFP and pursue available grant funding and legislative channels.
