Message from Town Administrator
Gary Ezovski

I am issuing my letter early this week because our computer systems will begin being relocated early tomorrow leaving us in a period where access to the internet and mail to or from town email addresses will not be possible. With a great effort by several skilled IT resources, we will be back up over the weekend and back to normal contact on Tuesday. Please excuse the inconvenience as we follow through with your decision to move our offices to the new Town Hall at 83 Green St.

Most important today is some explanation of what is happening with our budget process. As some already are aware, at this point in the year, we are required by the town charter to start the final steps toward conclusion of that process. We are, however, doing that this year without knowledge of what the state will be doing with the motor vehicle tax phase out (again), and more importantly, we don’t have final details for aid to education. Those are big missing pieces of the entire process, but the charter and state rules do not allow adjustment, so we are forced to move forward. Such being the case, I have put forward a budget that is based on the latest information available to me, some of which probably will not become reality. I explained that to the town council this past Monday and received understanding that we will have to be flexible with our meeting dates, and the timeline in general, as we await the information from the state.

So, as you review the details of my budget proposal that is available on the finance department section of the town website and will be advertised in the local papers, please understand that it is a spending plan that I truly believe is necessary to provide the services everyone expects. It is the conclusion of many changes in the requests from virtually every department. At the same time, it includes increases that reflect the result of negotiations with our police and our fire department. Police negotiations in particular were sometimes difficult and extended, but we achieved results that I firmly believe are in the interest of every citizen while also being a good step forward for the ambitions of our personnel including the leadership of that department. 

So, if the January forecast from the state was to hold true, my proposal would result in a tax increase of about $30 per quarter or $120 for the year on the median homeowner’s bill. In a time like this, there are people who will not be happy. I understand that.  And it would feel great to say we could have no increase or even better, a reduction! But those are not options, and I don’t think the majority of the people who sent me here want us to hide from our obligations or kick cans down the road.   

All that said, the most important point is we are still a long way from concluding what the total cost will be and where the tax rates will be set. This is still a work in process. With any luck, we will get news in the very early days of June that creates the clarity needed to reach a conclusion. In the meantime, I welcome your calls, emails or even questions while I am walking my dog.  Your questions deserve answers and any ideas you may have are welcome.
Memorial Town Building and Annex locations are scheduled to be moved to the new Town Hall at 83 Green Street in Slatersville. The move started today and will continue tomorrow and Saturday. On Tuesday, May 26 th , we will be needing time to put things in order to return to regular operations.
Please note that the staff will be unavailable by telephone during this time. Thank you for your patience as we relocate our offices.
TOWN OF NORTH SMITHFIELD
TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE

The move of our town offices to 83 Green Street is happening this weekend. The Vault in the Town Clerk’s Office will be

CLOSED Thursday, May 21 st and Friday, May 22 nd , 2020 .

We will not be able to issue licenses, do recordings
or accommodate
title searches on those dates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Town Clerk’s Office at (401) 767-2200, Ext. 504.

Town offices will be closed on Monday, May 25th, in observance of Memorial Day!
Our VFW Post will hold a commemorative ceremony at the monuments here at
1 Main Street at 11 AM. 
All are welcome! 
Social distancing
compliance required.
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.)

Budget Committee Meeting (Agenda)
Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 6:00 pm
Virtual Zoom Meeting

Zoning Board Meeting (Agenda)
Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 7:00 pm
Virtual Zoom Meeting

Planning Board Meeting (Agenda)
Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 7:05 pm
Virtual Zoom Meeting

The Town of North Smithfield would like to send a huge thank you to Ron Cardi of Cardi’s Furniture and Mattresses for making and donating 100 cloth face coverings for the municipal and DPW employees
of North Smithfield.
REOPENING
RHODE ISLAND:
TESTING THE WATER
Guidance for businesses from the Department of Business Regulation:
TOWN OF NORTH SMITHFIELD

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ELECTION

Due to COVID-19, the RI Board of Elections is encouraging all eligible voters to vote by mail-in ballot for the Presidential Preference Primary being held on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

Applications for mail-in ballots were sent out at the end of April. If you would like to vote by mail-in ballot and have not received an application, please call the Board of Canvassers at (401) 767-2200, Ext. 504, and we will send you one; or if you prefer, you can go to the following website, download the form and mail it to 575 Smithfield Road, North Smithfield, RI 02896:


There will be ONE polling place open on June 2, 2020. We will be adhering to social distancing guidelines as given by the State of Rhode Island to ensure everyone’s safety.

The polling place that will be open for the Town of North Smithfield is:

SCOUTER’S HALL, 13 MAIN STREET,
SLATERSVILLE, RI 02876
We have an URGENT need for
Poll Workers for the Presidential Preference Primary on

Tuesday, June 2, 2020, from
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you are interested in helping us out, please contact Lillian Silva Scott at
(401) 767-2200, Ext. 326 ASAP!   
EMERGENCY MAIL BALLOTS:

Please be advised that the Emergency Ballot period for the June 2nd Presidential Preference Primary will begin Wednesday, May 20th, at 8:00 am until Monday, June 1 st , at 4:00 pm.

If you still choose to vote before June 2 nd , due to COVID-19 precautions, you must make an appointment with the Clerk’s office by calling 767-2200, Ext. 504. Please note that only one person is allowed in the building at a time, so plan accordingly when making appointments.

Please have a valid state-issued picture ID available, bring your own black pen, and we recommend wearing a mask.

Thank you!
Thursday, June 4th, at 6:00 PM
Curbside yard waste collection will resume by MTG on Monday, June 1, 2020. Yard waste is collected on the same day as your trash and recycling.  Residents can have reasonable amount of leaf bags or cans, clearly marked, of yard waste out at the curb for weekly collection. The Spring collection season runs from Monday, June 1 st – Friday, July 24 th . All trash and recycling pickups will resume back to normal.  
 
Drop-off hours at our Highway Garage, 281 Quaker Highway, will continue Saturdays from 10 am - 2 pm and beginning April 8, 2020, Wednesdays from 3 pm – 6 pm ONLY. Residents are welcome to bring yard waste or accepted recyclables. The town offers free drop off for rigid 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.
 
For additional information, contact 767-2200, Ext. 348.
The Lt. Governor's Entrepreneurship Challenge is
Rhode Island's first statewide business pitch competition for Rhode Island high school students, grades 9-12, aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and promoting business ownership right here in the Ocean State.

Through this program, high school students compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships
to post-secondary institutions.
Please note that Brigido’s Fresh Market, located at 900 Victory Highway, will now take phone orders from our senior population.

Please call (401) 762-1020 Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, place an order, and a staff member will shop for the customer and coordinate a pickup time with the customer.

All transactions must be paid with a credit card .
North Smithfield Residents Food Pantry
Slatersville Congregational Church
25 Green Street
Slatersville, RI 02876  
 
Thank you but we cannot use additional volunteer help at this time. If you would like to donate money, please mail to P.O. Box 283, Slatersville, RI 02876. If you would like to donate food, please call (401) 678-0356 to arrange a time for drop off. We need soups, canned tuna and chicken, canned fruit and juice, toilet paper and paper towels. 

The flavor of the month for MAY is 100% FRUIT JUICES.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.