Town of Smithfield
 news & updates
April 1, 2021 | Issue 17
Notice of Virtual Public Hearing
Budget & Financial Review Board
Public Hearing on the Town Manager Recommended Budget
The Smithfield Budget and Financial Review Board will be conducting a virtual public hearing on the Town Manager's Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. You may attend the virtual public hearing on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 5:30 PM via GoToMeeting: https://www.gotomeet.me/RandyRossi/budget-and-financial-review-board.
You can also dial in using your phone. (Toll Free) (866) 899-4679, Access Code: 830-024-773.
To submit questions for the meeting and to view the Fiscal Year 2022 Town Manager's Recommended Budget, please go to: SmithfieldRI.com

Smithfield Economic Development Commission
The Smithfield Economic Development Commission (EDC) is pleased to announce its new Facebook page, which can be found online at https://www.facebook.com/smithfieldecodev/ 

Please "like" the page to receive updates on resources for businesses and job seekers as well as upcoming EDC events. 

Town Clerk's Office
On-Line Dog License
Beginning April 1st Smithfield residents will be able to renew their furry friend’s dog license in the comfort of their home!

Dog licenses expire annually on April 30th. Rhode Island General Law requires all dogs over six months old to be licensed annually and an up-to-date rabies certificate must be uploaded to the Town Clerk’s Office in order to renew the dog license online. The renew fee is $8.00 and payments may be made by credit/debit card with American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. There are no convenience fees however, a postage fee of $.51 will be applied as the tag will be returned via mail.

Check out the link on the Town Clerk’s webpage! Smithfield Dog Licenses


Fire Chief's Corner
Pet Fire Safety
Pets give us comfort, friendship, and unconditional love. Our connection to them can be among the strongest relationships in our lives. But pets can cause fires. We need to be careful with pets in the home.

For all of you pet lovers out there, I thought it would be nice to focus on our furry friends and remind everyone that PET SAFETY is just as important as PEOPLE SAFETY.

SAFETY TIPS
  • Pets are curious. They may bump into, turn on, or knock over cooking equipment. Keep pets away from stoves and countertops.
  • Keep pets away from candles, lamps, and space heaters.
  • Always use a metal or heat-tempered glass screen on a fireplace and keep it in place.
  • Keep pets away from a chimney’s outside vents. Have a “pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet away from the fireplace. Glass doors and screens can stay dangerously hot for several hours after the fire goes out.
  • Consider battery-operated, flameless candles. They can look and smell like real candles.
  • Some pets are chewers. Watch pets to make sure they don’t chew through electrical cords. Have any problems checked by a professional.
 
SMOKE ALARMS
  • Have working smoke alarms on every level of the home. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month.
  • If the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out.
  • Never go back inside for pets in a fire. Tell firefighters if your pet is trapped. As much as we love our pets, there have been countless civilians over the years that have gone back into a house on fire to locate a pet. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those incidents result in a person losing their life.

FACT: Pets or wild animals have a part in starting about 750 home fires per year. These involve cooking equipment, fireplaces and chimneys, space heaters, lamps, bulbs, wiring, and candles.
Information provided by the National Fire Protection Association


Police Chief's Corner
The Smithfield Police Fraternal Lodge #17 will be selling Autism Awareness Patches during the month of April.  The patches can be purchased through the FOP Lodge #17 on-line store for $11 per patch or for $10 per patch at the police station Monday thru Friday (8am-4pm). These patches will be available in silver or gold and with a velcro backside or non-velcro backside. A link for the on-line store will posted on the Police Department's webpage and Facebook page. 

Sworn members of the department will be allowed to wear the Autism Awareness Patch on their uniform during the month of April to help promote understanding and acceptance of people with autism. The total amount of money raised at the end of the month will be donated to the Autism Project of Rhode Island.
Elementary Reconfiguration Project Update
At McCabe (pictured right), the exterior envelope of the building is nearing completion, with metal panels, Kalwall, masonry and windows installed. Interior electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection rough-ins are substantially complete and have passed inspection. Framing has wrapped up and drywall is on schedule throughout the addition. Improvements to the courtyard are set to begin over April break.
 
LaPerche construction is preceding with finish work underway. The first coats of paint have been applied to the classrooms and office spaces of the addition. Interior work also includes ceiling grid installation and tile placement in the new bathrooms and Pre-K classrooms. The exterior of the building will be finished next month once the metal panels and last of the windows are installed.
 
At Old County Road School, pictured below, exterior work has focused on finishing the envelope systems that keep the building weather-tight. Roof work and exterior sheathing are now substantially complete, with air-vapor barrier and flashing to continue into early next month, followed by windows and masonry. Rough MEP installation is well underway, including the placement of the new transformer that will distribute power to the school. 
Agendas, minutes, and presentations are posted on the school construction update page.
Smithfield COVID-19
Support Fund
The Town of Smithfield has partnered up with John J. Tassoni, Jr. to create a COVID-19 Support Fund to help Smithfield residents who are in need of assistance.
Gift Cards or Donations can be delivered or mailed to:
Smithfield Town Hall
c/o Town Manager, Randy Rossi
64 Farnum Pike
Smithfield, RI 02917
ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Vacancies for Town Boards and Commissions

  • The Town is currently seeking volunteers to serve on various boards and commissions. These boards and commissions act as advisory committees to the Town Council. Town residents with an interest in serving on any of these boards or commissions are encouraged to apply.
  • Interested parties should submit a letter of interest to the Town Manager’s Office, 64 Farnum Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917 along with an application form. A letter of interest may contain your interest or experience in the field of each particular board or commission that you are applying for and, optionally, resume information.
  • Check online for board & commission vacancies at Onboard click the “Run Report” button on the left of that page.
  • Current Openings Include (Feel free to use the links below to contact the board chairs for additional information):
  • Smithfield Water Supply Board Advisory Commission
  • Affordable Housing Advisory Board

  • Smithfield Samaritans

  • The Smithfield Town Council has an initiative program called “Smithfield Samaritans,” and encourages anyone in the community to self-nominate or submit a name to the Town Manager, of a Smithfield resident or business in town who is doing or has performed an act of kindness or a good deed that is notable or charitable.
  • The Town Council will review all nominations that are submitted and will each month select one individual or business to be recognized with a citation and the opportunity to speak at the council meeting explaining their good deeds “on the record.”
  • The nomination form is available online here as well as printed copies available in Town Hall.
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Town of Smithfield [smithfieldri.com]