State lawmaker outlines paths for $60 million Watertown community center and police headquarters

State Representative Joseph Pleta told the Watertown Police Commission on June 10 that the town should pursue a combination of local bonds, state grants and federal funds to build a shared community center and police headquarters but avoid promising state money until bond-commission approval is certain. "I will caution you… the governor has been a little timid on approving monies for police departments," Pleta said, adding that towns that expected money and proceeded before approvals were disappointed.

Pleta cited recent successes in securing targeted funds — "we recently were awarded a $750,000 grant for the water and sewer department for lead pipe" — and said Watertown can likely assemble a package of state, federal and local funding if it prepares site assessments and other materials in advance. Commissioners discussed a rough cost estimate mentioned during the meeting of about $60 million for a combined facility, and Pleta said a mix of $20 million from state/federal sources plus local bonding could make the project feasible.

The representative recommended pairing a police facility with senior- and community-center space to increase the chances of grant support for the community portion. Commissioners agreed forming a formal committee to pursue grants, site assessments and a funding strategy would increase the project's weight with state and federal decision-makers.

A motion was made and seconded to ask the chairman of the town council to set up a council-led committee that could include town-council members, police commission members and other town officials; the motion passed at the meeting.

Next steps identified at the meeting included locating existing site and space-needs assessments the town has already prepared, convening the council-led committee, and preparing grant-ready materials so Watertown can respond quickly if state or federal money becomes available.