Message from Town Administrator
Gary Ezovski

While most have experienced another week of staying home, the entire staff of North Smithfield municipal personnel has continued to be at work every day. Our buildings continue to be locked, and all are striving to honor the social distancing rules as we stay determined to deliver the essential services that our residents and businesses need. Sewer and water utility management, roadway maintenance, tree clearing from storm damage, trash collection, fire, EMS and police protection all continue right through to purchase orders and payments with a few adjustments or cutbacks as needed due to the virus challenge. To date, we have had some near misses with exposure in our fire and police departments but no confirmed cases. As a small town, we don’t have the depth of personnel that may exist with others, so we are a bit more dependent upon each of our personnel. We continue to ask a lot of our staff in this very strange condition. I am grateful for and proud of the effort, skill, creativity and determination that has been exhibited by all involved to keep everything running as best we can. 

From a broader view, my concern for our town’s ability to stay healthy remains elevated. According to the RI DOH, over the past week, the number of positive cases has risen from six to twelve. By comparison to other communities, we are still doing okay, but we cannot let our guard down. We must continue to maintain the social distancing practices that have been advocated by health experts at all levels. Cloth face coverings will now also be required per Governor Raimondo’s order. Let’s be united in our determination to avoid another doubling of the positive case count over the next week!

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.)

Emergency Town Council Meeting ( Agenda )
Monday, April 20, 2020, at 6:45 pm
Virtual Zoom Meeting

Budget Committee Meeting ( Agenda )
Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at 6:30 pm
Virtual Zoom Meeting

Budget Committee Meeting ( Agenda )
Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 6:00 pm
Virtual Zoom Meeting


 PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SPRING YARD WASTE PICKUP HAS BEEN CANCELLED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BECAUSE OUR CONTRACTOR HAS PERSONNEL OFF DUTY DUE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

 WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

  • Two (2) laborers have been assigned to follow the trash and recycling curbside routes picking up yard waste bags until further notice. They will also be monitoring what is being put out curbside with regard to trash and recycling.

  • With that said, residents are welcome to bring yard waste, ridged plastic and scrap metal items as well as used motor oil on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and also on Wednesdays 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. We ask that residents not bring the bulky items and appliances to the Public Works Facility.  

  • Also, residents should still adhere to the trash and recycling rules. For example, trash service is for household trash items that are generated in normal day-to-day living. This includes kitchen trash, bathroom trash and the like. All trash must be bagged – no loose trash.

  • As for recycling being put out at curbside, here are some reminders. Paper and cardboard should be clean and flattened. Cartons must be empty and rinsed. Place the plastic tops back on the cartons, metal cans, lids and foil. They should be cleaned, and the foil should also be cleaned and bunched up. Containers must be empty and rinsed out. Remove the metal tops from the glass bottles and jars first and recycling separately. Plastic containers should be empty and rinsed out and place the plastic tops back on prior to recycling. 

  • Recyclables must arrive at the Materials Recycling Facility loose. Remember, no plastic bags, bags of bags or recycling inside of bags. Also, no foam containers or plastic containers that once held flammable materials like motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides or herbicides.

  • As always, residents are encouraged to go to the town’s web site to view all the updated information regarding the trash and recycling program.
PLEASE NOTE NEW DATES!!

Monday, April 20th - Friday, April 24th

Given the mandated closings and other restrictions that the coronavirus is causing, it is recognized that it may be a challenge for some North Smithfield taxpayers to make payment for fourth quarter property and auto excise taxes that are due on April 15, 2020. 

Such being the case, and with the enactment of the Executive Order dated April 16, 2020, please be advised that the deadline for payment of the fourth quarter property and auto excise taxes, previously due on April 15, 2020 for the 2019 North Smithfield tax bill, will now be due on  May 15, 2020 . 

LOCK BOX FOR TAXES AT ANNEX

Please note that we have an outside drop box right outside the Annex door
at 575 Smithfield Road to leave
tax payments. It is secure
and checked daily. 

If you would like a receipt, please include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope.
TOWN OF NORTH SMITHFIELD
NOTICE OF VOTER REGISTRATION

Due to Covid-19, the Town Clerk’s office, located at 575 Smithfield Road, is currently closed to the public.

On the following website noted below, you can register online or print the form to mail it to the Town Clerk’s Office at the address above. Due to the public health emergency, there will be fewer polling places available on June 2 nd . For this reason, we are urging voters to vote by mail. 


For those residents who are not already registered to vote, the last date to register to be eligible to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary Election scheduled for June 2, 2020 is:

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020, FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M.

Voter registration forms will be made available in the lobby of the North Smithfield Police Station, 575 Smithfield Road, for new voter registrations and to correct names and addresses of registered voters.
Are you homebound due to Covid-19 and need medicine or groceries delivered to your home?

AHOPE may be an entity you can consider for help!

AHOPE is a purely volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization extending a hand to the elderly, the sick and all those vulnerable individuals who are homebound during this crisis.
These resources below have been identified by Governor Raimondo who has recommended
Rhode Islanders to contact for obtaining
COVID-19 related assistance.
Please note that Brigido’s Fresh Market, located at 900 Victory Highway, will now take phone orders from our elderly residents!

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 .
We understand that we are experiencing uncertain times, but we are here to keep a positive mindset and lend a helping hand. We will be creating FREE 3x5 banners for any North Smithfield restaurants who need it!

Simply give us your restaurant name, to-go hours and phone number. While we know that we can't meet the needs of every business, we want to do our part to help where we can!

Please send us a direct message if you’d like us to create a banner for your restaurant. Our email address is QUOTES@NATIONALMARKER.COM.
2020 PumpkinFest
  
Mark your calendars for our:
  
14th Annual 
North Smithfield 
Great Pumpkin Festival
Saturday, September 19, 2020
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
North Smithfield High School Grounds

If anyone has any comments, suggestions, ideas or input,
please email ns.pumpkinfest@gmail.com .

The  2020 Scholarship Application   is now available and
must be submitted by May 1st
to be considered for this year's scholarship.
* We will be issuing two scholarships to NS Seniors this year! *


North Smithfield Residents Food Pantry
Slatersville Congregational Church
25 Green Street
Slatersville, RI 02876

Food pick-up plan for April 18, 21, 25 and 28
Questions - call (401) 678-0356
 
 
DUE TO CORONAVIRUS, CHURCH BUILDING IS CLOSED 
 
FOOD PANTRY IS OPEN BUT DRIVE-UP SERVICE ONLY 
 
TO PICK UP YOUR FOOD:
 
  • Starting at 9:45 am on Saturdays and 5:15 pm on Tuesdays, park on north side of GREEN Street (even numbers) - between Ridge Road and Country Way
  • Stay in your car - DO NOT come in the building
  • One of our workers will direct you to the parking lot when it is your turn 
  • Groceries will be brought to your car to be put in the trunk or for you to put in your back seat
 
In order to keep crowd size down and wait times short, all food bags will temporarily be the same for everyone. If you receive something you can’t use, please safely pass it on. Thank you for your patience as we figure out how to best keep everyone safe and healthy at this time.  
 
Additionally, 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 the number listed above 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 APRIL is PROGRESSO SOUPS !

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.