Town of Smithfield
news & updates
|
|
|
Thirsty Beaver Pub & Grub and The Friendship Foundation Team Up for Mother's Day
|
|
The Thirsty Beaver Pub & Grub and The Friendship Foundation have partnered up to provide
500 FREE
meals for mothers on Mother’s Day.
It will be a Mother's Day like none other this year, with families statewide facing financial adversity forcing us all to rethink plans with loved ones. Through this initiative, kids will have the opportunity to fill out an order form online and pick up a complimentary meal at The Thirsty Beaver in Cranston or Smithfield as a gift for their mother. Meals will be available on Saturday, May 9th or Sunday, May 10th for pick up and any Rhode Island resident is eligible to receive a meal. Orders must be received by Wednesday, May 6th and will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited to one per household.
|
|
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Update and Discussion with Smithfield Town Leaders
|
|
Weekly Virtual Town Hall Forums Thursday Nights at 7:00 PM
The link and call in information below will be the same for all the weekly forums.
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
You can also dial in using your phone.
(Toll Free): (866) 899-4679
US: (571) 317-3117
Access Code: 211-901-069
|
|
We in emergency healthcare had predicted this was going to happen: a reduction in use of local hospital emergency rooms due to the COVID-19 virus. However, this is creating a problem.
Why is this a problem? It should be a good thing to have less people in local emergency rooms to reduce the spread of the virus. There is a side effect to this approach.
Emergency Room physicians have also noticed a startling decrease in patients coming in for serious non-COVID issues, such as heart attack and stroke. Some drop in Emergency Room volumes is completely understandable. For example, “stay at home” mandates mean fewer cars on the roads and, thus fewer car accidents.
However, local emergency room physicians have reached out to the local fire departments because they are concerned that many patients are choosing to stay at home even when they need emergency care, out of fear of contracting the virus.
The “stay at home” strategy is completely appropriate for healthy people wishing to reduce their risk of exposure to infected people or to reduce the risk of being inadvertent asymptomatic spreaders of infection. But, that isn’t necessarily the correct strategy for someone with a life-threatening medical emergency.
Our local hospital physicians want to inform their local communities that their Emergency Rooms are SAFE. Patients experiencing medical emergencies should seek care at their local Emergency Rooms.
Many serious conditions such as stroke and heart attack can be successfully treated if patients receive care quickly — but could be devastating or fatal if treatment is delayed.
My personal message to you as your Fire Chief is to call 9-1-1. If you have any type of medical condition that requires attention, call the fire department for our emergency medical services. We can assess your situation at your home and consult directly with an emergency room physician at the hospital. Through the consultation with the physician and with your input, you can decide whether a trip to the emergency room is the right thing to do. This is a “no pressure” way to assess your medical needs and determine whether you require hospital care.
Please, if you have any type of medical condition, call 9-1-1. We will come to your home and provide medical care. If further care is required at an emergency room, we can help you make that decision in a non-stress environment.
As a side note, thank you all for the support you have given to our fire department during these uncertain times.
|
|
RECYCLING AND REJECTED LOADS
The Town has seen an increase in the amount of rejected recycling
loads that we deliver to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC). Rejected loads occur when certain contaminates (trash) are mixed in with the recycling materials, making it difficult for RIRRC to process the recycling. Some common contaminates are plastic bags, plastic film, wire, garden hoses and other items that may wrap around the recycling machinery. We refer to these types of items as “tanglers”. Food waste, yard waste and excessive moisture (normally
caused by lids being left open during rain events) are other causes for loads of recycling to be rejected.
Each time the Town receives a rejected load, the full truckload of recycling, that
would have otherwise cost the town $0.00 in tipping fees to recycle, is diverted to
the landfill and is disposed of as trash, costing the town $47.00 per ton in tipping
fees.
Clean properly recycled material costs the town
$0.00. Contaminated recycling
material that needs to be disposed of in the landfill as trash, costs the town
$47.00 per ton. In addition, a $250.00 fee for processing the material is added per
load.
How can you help the Town avoid rejected loads and save tax dollars?
Avoid common contaminates such as:
- plastic bags - no bagged material or bags of bags
- plastic film - i.e., wrap around toilet paper or water bottle cases
- tanglers - hoses, string, wire
- food waste - please be sure to empty containers, rinse if possible
- yard waste – accepted in a separate yard waste collection
- construction debris – must be disposed of as trash
- excessive moisture – please close lids on carts to avoid rain/snow, empty liquids from containers
When above guidelines are followed, there should be the same amount, if not more
recyclables, than trash and therefore, rejected loads would be eliminated. We understand that there may be more waste coming out of households since more residents are staying home. In order to substantially limit or eliminate rejected loads, please use your recycle cart for recyclables only. It should not be used as an overflow for trash.
|
|
 |
Elementary Reconfiguration Project Update
|
At the April 7th meeting of the Smithfield Town Council, the bid for construction services for renovations and additions to McCabe, LaPerche, and Old County Road elementary schools was awarded to Ahlborg Construction.
The timing of the bid allowed Smithfield to receive very aggressive pricing. Ahlborg’s bid, $32,450,000, is significantly below previously estimated figures, allowing for other project elements to be considered and a sizable contingency for unanticipated needs.
Ahlborg’s bid includes several bid alternates- projects that are able to be added into the overall project - including the following:
Anna McCabe Elementary School
- Roof replacement and skylight removal
- Repairs to wall tile
Raymond LaPerche Elementary School
- New skylights in the music room
- Window replacement
- New flooring, basketball backstops and wall pads in the gym
Old County Road Elementary School
- Ceiling replacement
- Replacement of aged glass block walls at the gym
All Elementary Schools
- Toilet core renovations
- New, hands-free plumbing fixtures
- Landscape and planting enhancements
The project is starting in April and will be complete in time for the 2021-2022 school year.
Eric Ahlborg, President of Ahlborg Construction, noted, “All of us at ACC are very excited to be awarded this project and are ready to go to work!” His brother and Director of Construction Operations, Glenn Ahlborg, echoes the sentiment, stating,
“
We look forward to partnering with the Town of Smithfield, the School Department, Colliers Project Leaders and DBVW Architects during the renovations and construction of the schools. We plan to mobilize our resources and commence construction right away. With distance learning taking place, our goal is to complete significant renovations this spring and summer within the existing elementary schools. I’m sure the Town Officials and the Community will be pleased with the progress when they return to school in late August.”
Ahlborg Construction Corporation is a Rhode Island firm with experience building office and medical facilities, schools, libraries, public safety, judicial, public works, hospitality, recreational, and manufacturing facilities. Members of their management team have years of experience in the building industry.
The Town of Smithfield and the District had a very positive experience with the firm when they completed roof replacements on school buildings.
|
Agendas, minutes, and presentations are posted on the school construction update page.
|
|
|
|
The Town of Smithfield has partnered up with John J. Tassoni,Jr. to create a COVID-19 Support Fund to help Smithfield residents who might need assistance.
|
|
- 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.
- 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.
|
|
It is our hope that the number of subscribers will continue to grow over time in an effort to reach most households and businesses in Town. If you have friends or family that may be interested in receiving our electronic newsletter, please forward them a copy.
Subscribing to the electronic newsletter is easy and painless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
