Message from Town Administrator
Gary Ezovski
As stated in local papers, power generation projects were a prominent part of happenings in North Smithfield during 2019, but they weren’t all that took place. Many other events and efforts also deserve mention as we look back. We didn’t land anyone on Mars, but there are things that will impact the town for years to come. The fact that Town Planner Tom Kravitz and Assistant Planner Roberta Moneghan were successful in getting an update to our Comprehensive Plan approved by the state for the first time since 1995 is one of those. The fire department's work and our funding to begin the long-needed upgrade of emergency radio communications is another. We also kicked off what we intend to be a never-ending effort to maintain town roadways by paving a mile and a half of town roads without borrowing. Watch for the final half mile of that early this spring. We wrestled through a difficult budget year including revaluation and substantial revenue loss but still kept the percentage increase in dollars spent to an amount that was lower than every budget percentage increase from 2012 to 2017 and less than one percent more than 2018 and 2019. When we were surprised to find a fire engine unable to pass inspection due to frame rot, we pursued and purchased a used engine which will serve us well as we continue to adhere to our financial plan for regular replacements.
The performance of our students and school department as measured by RICAS State Assessment testing and separate School Accountability results indicate each of our schools is demonstrating commendable performance. Beyond that, the outstanding building addition at NSES has been completed, and the science lab renovations are about to be unwrapped to add to the opportunity for even higher student performance. Going back to the municipal side, we completed the most substantial extension of our sewer system in many years and have plans ready to get bids for the extension of a water line in Mechanic Street and Old Great Road. We also managed to get the reconstruction of the Pacheco Park basketball court completed and back into regular use. Our second fireworks display was managed very well by our DPW, fire, police and EMA departments. Our first ever Asset Management Commission has been at work on an inventory of town assets and a plan for keeping them in proper condition going forward.
Volunteer activity in general is strong with the usual committee and board activities, plus many working on our historic features and planning for the celebration of our 150
th
year as a town. And, of course, construction at the former Kendall Dean school is wrapping up to create a town hall that, with care, will hopefully serve North Smithfield for as many decades as the current Town Memorial building.
And if all that isn’t enough, much of it happened while we struggled through reconstruction of the Stone Arch Bridge! All things considered, 2019 was a productive year.
We are focused on making 2020 even better!
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
Agendas can be found on the Secretary of State Website by
(Agendas in PDF form will be posted next to the corresponding meeting, if available, before this newsletter is published.)
Special Meeting Town Council (
Agenda
)
Monday, January 6, 2020, at 6:45 pm
North Smithfield Middle School
1850 Providence Pike
North Smithfield, RI 02896
Planning Board Meeting (
Agenda
)
Thursday, January 9, 2020, at 7:00 pm
Primrose Fire Station
1470 Providence Pike
North Smithfield, RI 02896
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Christmas Trees CAN be RECYCLED!
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Live Trees:
Are composted
Artificial Trees:
Are recycled with scrap metal
All trees must be free of ornaments, tinsel, lights and cannot be
in plastic bags.
We will be offering a curbside pickup for live trees starting December 26, 2019 through January 10, 2020.
Live trees will be picked up by DPW on your trash day;
pickups are weather permitting
. Residents can also bring the trees to DPW when our recycling center is open.
Winter hours of operation are now only Saturday, 9 AM - 1 PM until April 1, 2020.
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Recycling Center Winter Hours
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Recycling Center drop-off hours are Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM until April 1st. Residents are welcome to bring yard waste or accepted recyclables. The town offers free drop off for ridged plastic and scrap metal items as well as used motor oil.
Please do not leave items outside the gate after business hours; we will take notice!
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All dogs within the town must be licensed by April 30, 2020 to avoid a late fee. The cost is $6.00 per dog, and proof of rabies immunization is required.
Licenses are available at the Town Clerk’s office located at the Municipal Annex, 575 Smithfield Road, Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Thursday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to noon.
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To Report Telecommunication
Service-Related Issues:
Customers
can contact Verizon at
800-VERIZON (800-837-4966)
or online at
www.verizon.com/outage
to report any service-related issue, receive alerts and find helpful service-related FAQs.
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TOWN OF NORTH SMITHFIELD DPW
WINTER SAFETY TIPS
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Winter brings with it lots of fun activities, but winter also means mounds of snow to shovel and layers of ice to remove. During some snow storms, it becomes impossible for our plow drivers to know where the edge of the road is. Here are some helpful tips to ensure safety and efficiency during a snow storm:
- Use reflective markers to make the edge of the road more visible for DPW when plowing. This is the best way to ensure trucks stay off your lawns.
- Please remove everything from the roadway to clear it for the snowplows to come through (cars, basketball hoops, garbage cans, etc.)
- When shoveling snow or operating a snow blower, do not throw snow out into the street or sidewalk. This is not only against State Law (State Law Title 31-22-9), but this will ensure that snow does not freeze in the roadway or sidewalk and cause a hazard for vehicles and pedestrians. Please visit https://www.nsmithfieldri.org/home/news/snow-removal-policy for more information on our snow removal policy.
- Trucks are plowing or spreading sand/salt. Stay back from the vehicle at least 100 feet to avoid problems. Plow trucks often have to back up. There are blind spots in the mirrors. For your safety, do not pull directly behind them as they may not be able to see you.
- Trash and recycling collections may be canceled if weather conditions warrant. Check our website, www.nsmithfieldri.org, or call (401) 767-2200, ext. 348 for updates.
- Clear snow from around fire hydrants near your home/business to make them visible for our firefighters.
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Filled with lots of great information for parents!!
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North Smithfield Residents Food Pantry
Slatersville Congregational Church
25 Green Street
Slatersville, RI 02876
Many, many thanks to all of you who volunteer your time and talents to make the food pantry successful. We currently feed about 90 families. To keep the work from being overwhelming, we need more volunteers. While the food pantry is only open four times a month, it takes many more hours of volunteer work to keep it running well.
We currently need volunteers to:
- Help with pickup and delivery of donated food. A regular vehicle will do.
- Help on Wednesday and Friday mornings 9:30-10:15 to sort food, and we need supervisors for those two times.
- Help when the food pantry is open the last two Tuesdays of the month 5:30 - 7 pm, and the last two Saturdays 10 - 11 am to help with clients and carry bags to clients' cars.
- Coordinate the food rescue and distribution program, requires 4-5 hours a week.
Are any of these interesting to you? Please contact Rev Eileen at 769-2773.
The flavor of the month for
JANUARY
is
CANNED PASTA
!
Any donations or monetary gifts for the food pantry can be dropped off at the Slatersville Congregational Church between 9:00 am and noon. You can also mail monetary gifts to
P.O. Box 1128, Slatersville, RI 02876. An additional drop box for food items is available at the Town Hall during regular business hours.
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Our North Smithfield Animal Shelter is in
Need of Volunteers!
You can volunteer as many or as few days or hours that you can.
Every little bit helps! Volunteering at an animal shelter can be a
rewarding experience.
Please call the North Smithfield Animal Shelter at 766-0377.
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Fiber Arts Gathering
Every Monday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm (except the 1st Monday of the month)
At the Meadows
2 Village Way
North Smithfield, RI
- Join our active group of knitters, crocheters, weavers, darners,quilters and embroiderers.
- Beginners and experienced are invited.
- Come to learn and share.
- FREE, donations accepted
Sponsored by Friends & Neighbors Fiber Gathering
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Senior Services, Inc.,
now known as Aging Well, Inc.
,
has provided services to seniors and adults with disabilities residing in Northern Rhode Island since 1975 in accordance with the Congregate Meal Program financed through a grant with R.I. Department of Elderly Affairs. Aging Well, Inc. provides nutritionally balanced lunches five days a week at our meal sites throughout Northern Rhode Island.
Aging Well Inc. offers activities, entertainment, computer classes, Alzheimer's Disease Support Groups and Wellness programs, which include a weekly blood pressure clinic and exercise classes.
Aging Well, Inc. also offers an Adult Day Care Program ("A Home for the Day") and a Community Information Specialist who can provide information on eligibility for all state and local programs, including RIPAE.
Senior exercise classes at Scouter's Hall,
13 Main Street, North Smithfield include:
- Zumba Gold, Mondays at 10:00 AM
- Chair Exercises, Mondays at 11:00 AM
- Zumba Gold, Thursdays at 10:00 AM
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AGING WELL, INC. SERVES LUNCH IN NORTH SMITHFIELD!
Mondays at 11:30 AM & 12:30 PM
Thursdays at 11:30 AM
Please call in your order by 10 AM on the Thursday prior to the day(s) on which you plan to attend! Call Aging Well, Inc. at
(401) 766-3734 with your choice of meal.
Suggested donation is $3.00.
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This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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