Town Council - Regular Meeting

All right, let's fulfill town council meeting June 15 2026. Manifest new size of prayer and pledge.

Thank you for bringing us together today in a spirit of generosity. May we honor one another by keeping an open mind. Maybe voice our truth and listen with an open heart. Maybe discern your will to unite in a fruitful outcome. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Real call.

Mr. Birigod? Here. Mr. Cristobaro? Not here. Mrs. O'Hara? She's not here. Mr. Punchak? Here. Ms. House?

Here. Executive session closed discussion by Council vote. Other action pursuant to round your law 42 dash 46 dash 582 sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation or work sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation or potential litigation one pound Hill Realty LLC versus town of North Smithfield case number PC dash 1999 dash 1811. Anyone like to make a motion to go into executive session? Oh, sorry. And B, discussion by council vote or other action pursuant to Rhode Island Journal of Law 42-46-582. Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation or work sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation or potential litigation. Tomasetti versus Tom Nosmefiel. Richard, number 24. Employee, 051. And EEOC, number 16-J-2023-00285. Anyone like to make a motion?

I'll make a motion to go into executive session for items 3 A and 3 B. I'll second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. . Yes.

Mr. . Yes. Ms. . Yes.

okay i would like to make a motion to come out of executive session uh indicate that one vote was taken in item 3b the tomasetti case uh request that the minutes are sealed and also indicate that no votes were taking in item 3a the pound hill realty case and also request that the minutes are sealed we have a motion is there a second

I'll second. We have motion to second. Any further discussion? Roll call.

Mr. . Yes. Mr. .

Yes.

Mrs. O'Hara? Not here. Mr. . Yes. Ms. . Yes. Thank you.

I think technically you adjourned the 6.30 meeting and beginning the 7.30 meeting. Okay.

I'd like to take a motion to adjourn our 6.30 meeting.

So moved.

All in favor say aye. Aye. Meeting adjourned. Nusperfield Town Council, June 15, 2026, starting of our 7.30 meeting. Madam Clerk, can you give us a prayer of pledge, please?

Thank you for bringing us together today in the spirit of generosity. May we honor one another by keeping an open mind. May we voice our truth and listen with an open heart. May we discern your will to unite in a fruitful outcome. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. .

Here.

Mr. . Here. Mrs. O'Hara. She's not here. Mr. . Here. .

Here. Anyone like to sign up for open forum? To speak during open forum. Did you want to sign up? Anyone want to sign up? Open forum, pursuance of 42-46-60, maximum three minutes per person. John Taglione.

Good evening. I thought I was going to be able to put my daughters to sleep tonight, but I guess not. Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'd like to thank Scott Gibbs for the help on Old Great Road. There was a neighbor that was having some issues with his house, but I just wanted to say thank you. My name is John Taglio, and I live on Old Great Road here in North Smithfield. I'm here as a resident, as a neighbor, and as a father of two young daughters ages three and five. I'm here tonight because there's a real and ongoing safety problem on our street and it needs to be addressed. Old Great Road is a dead end. It's approximately 1800 feet long, less than a third of a mile with only 18 houses. There's no reason for through traffic, but we continually have drivers, many who do not live there, coming down the road at unsafe speeds. This includes Amazon delivery drivers using personal vehicles who've sped up and swerved at me while I give them one of these. They treat our street like it's another part of Victory Highway. There are kids everywhere. My kids, my neighbor's kids, they ride bikes, scooters, and walk with their families. This should be one of the safest kinds of streets we have, a short dead-end road with limited houses, but right now it doesn't feel that way. I also want to acknowledge that this is the first time I've came here about this, but yesterday I posted to the Facebook group, and as of 2 p.m. today, over 75 people have messaged me or posted words of support and agreement. Most of the same comments, speeding, unsafe driving, and real concern for their families, seems like it's been going on for quite a while. I've tried to handle this responsibly. I put out a bright line green slow little guy to try to get people to slow down. Nothing works. There's an existing dead end sign that does not work. And just today I bought a no through traffic dead end sign and a large slow down kids playing sign. I can show you my Amazon receipts if you want to see it, but I'm putting them up. I'll be honest, you know, a few years back before I had kids, I probably would have handled it differently. I could have confronted the drivers or let frustration take over, but I didn't. And I'm here because I want to do it the right way. I'm not going to ignore it anymore because it's happening quite too often. And I'm not letting this go. I'll be back here every Monday night, every time there's a meeting. And at this point, I strongly believe the only effective solution is a physical traffic calming measure like a speed hump. something that actually forces drivers to slow down instead of hoping they will i know there's pushback because of plow trucks but that's not an excuse for me uh cumberland has them north province has them they're all over the place i work at fidelity investments in smithfield and they have speed humps all over the place they remove snow just like north smithfield removes snow You know, I know there's another issue with this, and that's budget, but my family's willing to contribute financially to make this happen. We're willing to invest in the safety of our street if that's what it takes to move forward. And I'm asking you all to take this seriously, hopefully act soon, because this is simply not a theoretical risk. It's just a matter of time before something happens, somebody gets hurt, or there's a negative altercation, something happens. I moved to North Smithfield. Sorry. I moved to North Smithfield because this is a safe community. I moved to a neighborhood of a dead end road because I grew up on a dead end road and I was able to play without having to look over my shoulder for Amazon drivers flying down the street, people just texting and driving all the time. It's getting ridiculous and I'm tired of it. Thank you.

Thank you, John. John, can I ask a clarifying question, Chief? Chief Lafferty?

This is no dig at the police department.

No, of course not. But it sounds like there's been a lot of response to your post. So I'm wondering if the police department does any sort of, do they look at social media to see where the complaints are coming? Okay. Okay.

i've called the police department before and i've been told that if there's no damage done then there's nothing they can do madam president just a point of order they're really not supposed to be crosstalk during open forum or discussion by the council unless a council person is under attack okay okay thank you mr taglione would you mind letting the chief come up and maybe he could answer some questions for us thank you

Chief, it just seems like there is a pervasive issue in town with speeding. I mean, I live on Pound Hill Road and it's insane up there too.

It's everywhere in every town and every city. This is the first I'm hearing from this gentleman on this complaint. But his address, that road, we can set up speed details. We don't have speed bumps, portable speed bumps. We can look into that. But we haven't had any other complaints other than what you're saying now. And you're saying it's Amazon drivers?

I'm saying it's everybody.

But you were saying Amazon, right?

It's been Amazon drivers. It's been UPS drivers, FedEx drivers, everybody.

So we could set up special speed details during that beat, those patrol officers that are in that beat at that time, and we can do that?

With all due respect, Chief, I don't think that's going to. I mean, you can do that all you want, but then once the police leave, it's just going to keep happening.

Yeah, well, we can do our best at doing that.

Chief, can we just work on it for the next week? Oh, 100%. Thank you. Appreciate it. No, Sophia Town Council sitting as Board of Licensing a discussion by Council vote other action on farmhouse and Wellness Center LLC owner tracing for via board cats and dogs 642 Greenville Road. Is there anyone here for that? Do you want to get up to that?

Could you state your name and address, please? My name is Tracene Beauvais. My address is 642 Greenville Road, North Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Madam Clerk, everything is in order? Yes, everything is in order.

I have a question. So on the agenda, it talks about boarding cats and dogs. However, in the application, it only says, board horses for equine therapy. So what are we doing here? And horses don't make a lot of noise. Dogs make a lot of noise. Is that even?

So there was nothing on the application for horses. So I checked off the dog and cat grooming. But it is horse boarding. It's actually equine assisted psychotherapy. So, um, through the, um, it's a therapeutic program with, um, humans and horses.

So you're just looking at board horses now, correct?

I have my own horses at the moment, but down the road, that might not be the case. I, I might.

Is that the property that has the pasture out in the front or is it the one next door?

it does have a pasture out front but it's there's no horses in that pasture they used to be like a few years ago there were horses last year they yep they're down back now in the barn down back we just needed to do a little work to move them so you have your own horses currently you're asking so are these not going to be your horses is it like uh so just in case i don't have horses at the time right now i have three rescue horses one is a mini pony one is a blind horse and one is just a big goofy rescue horse but you know life We don't know what tomorrow brings so I just wanted to be efficient in case I don't have my own horse and I needed to let someone board their horse for equine therapy. I mean you can't just use any horse for equine therapy so it would have to be the right kind of horse.

Just out of curiosity, are there any state permits? Like it would seem like, does Department of Health get involved or?

So I would likely, once I start, like if I was going to board, I would, I believe I would need something from the Board of Health. And as far as the equine therapy program, you have to be certified in equine therapy program, which I'm certified. I'm also a licensed mental health clinician, so I can play both roles in the equine therapy session.

Almost there.

Tammy, I don't know if we have jurisdiction over making changes to that portal, but is there a way for us to include something in relation to equine so it's a little bit clearer in the future in the event this comes up again?

Yeah, I can look into that.

OK. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone have any other questions? Anyone like to make a motion? i will make a motion to approve the license for the farmhouse and wellness center llc at 642 greenville road to board horses for equine therapy second that's a motion a second any further discussion roll call please mr viragon yes mr cristofaro yes mr punchak yes miss alce yes you're all set thank you thank you thank you Discussion by council, vote of other action on Pedla Walker License, DBA TNT Fireworks, 7 Dowling Village. Would you state your name and address, please?

My name is Ken McLaughlin, 53 Wadhams Avenue, Torrington, Connecticut, here representing TNT Fireworks.

Right. So your name is nowhere on the application. Sorry, your name is not on my personal name.

No, no, I'm just here representing the company.

Everything's all set in order.

Everything is in order.

Anyone have any questions? Anyone like to make a motion?

I'll make a motion to approve the license for DV to LLC Walmart East to operate TNT fireworks at $7 village

That's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Buregon? Yes.

Mr. Cristofaro? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alts?

Yes. You're all set. Thank you. Discussion by council voted.

Madam President, I think a point of order on a matter that's not before you, but that could be of interest to people. I'd like to make something move that's on the agenda. It's your item 9B in a way that may be

application um um i i the council wants to take that matter out of order or have mr lange make a comment on that matter and then you can take it back i don't know exactly if he wants to so would mr landry have to go to the podium and make that statement i would do that madam president why don't we do that and then so should we just move the eyes you need to move the item up or hear mr landry's comment accept the letter and then address it at the time you get the um the item all right mr landry let us just uh move that item up okay thank you thank you

Discussion by council about other action on petition slash application for an amendment to the zoning ordinance pursuant to Rhode Island general laws 45-24-50 and 45-24-51, 45-24-53 as follows. One petition application for amendment to zoning ordinance filed by Pound Hill Realty LLC. 618 Greenville Road, Nussbaumfield, 02896, the owner of the parcel of land situated off Old Oxford Road, Pound Hill Road, and Pine Hill Road in the town of Nussbaumfield, more particularly described as town of Nussbaumfield Tax Assessor Platt, lot 38, consisting of 89.44 acres subject property. And to text amendment and zoning map amendment to the zoning ordinance of the town of Nusbyfield, the zoning ordinance, the proposed zoning amendment will create a new zoning district district industrial special management district one overlay. The intent of the district is to allow mining, quarrying, sand, gravel extraction, loom stripping, stone cutting operations, crushing, washing and processing materials. The zoning map amendment proposes to amend the zoning designation of the process of land located at 14 Pine Hill Road in the town of Nosterfield, more specifically described as Assessors Lot 7, Lot 38, the property from Rural Agriculture RA and Rural Estate Agriculture REA to Industrial Special Management District overlay.

Thank you, Madam President. William Landry, I'm Blishen Cavanaugh, 30 Exchange Terrace, Providence, Rhode Island. I'm the attorney of record for the petitioner of Pound Hill Realty LLC on this petition. And I'd like to advise the board that I'm about to hand the clerk a letter withdrawing that petition. uh it's dated june 15th it references the the petition uh in substantially the manner that's been described on the record just now uh dear town council town clerk and town planner please take notice that the above petition slash application is hereby withdrawn without prejudice to other remaining legal prerogatives available to the applicant or good faith progress in the mediation process. Thank you for your assistance. I'd like to hand multiple copies of this letter to the clerk. Thank you. Thank you.

Discussion by council vote or other action on consent agenda. All items listed in this section are considered in one motion. There'll be no separate discussion of these items unless a councilor requests in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda. A, town council minutes of May 18th and June 1st, 2026 and communications from animal control monthly report, Nusperfield fire and rescue monthly report, Nusperfield municipal court monthly report, and Nusperfield police department monthly report for May 2026. Would anyone like to remove anything? Without anything, would anyone like to make a motion to approve all?

I will make a motion to approve all of the consent agenda items listed as presented.

That's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Roll call.

Mr. Berrigan?

Yes.

Mr. Cristoforo? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alves? Yes.

Discussion by council vote, other action on payment of bills. Anyone have any questions?

I have one question on an item on payment of bills. GZAGO Environmental Inc for 3500 for the environmental site assessment, what site was assessed?

Scott, what was the site for the GZA that we did? Environmental assessment. The environmental assessment. Do you remember the? What was it?

$3,500 for the GZA, geo-environmental.

I don't believe that pertained to the environmental assessment. That was, I think, regarding the, Mark, does that regard the peer review?

I don't have the building from you, but I know that they will. I think this one's for the junkyard, if I remember correctly.

Sorry, Tony, what'd you say?

I'm pretty sure this was for the junkyard, if I remember correctly. Because the other one was a little bit less.

So that's a partial payment?

Yeah, I thought it was partial. Yeah, they've only completed the first element of the study, which is to identify all appropriate permitting requirements. That document has been sent to us, so that would be the payment for that. The other phase of the work has not started.

right when would when will the first component of it be shared with the town council as soon as the administration reviews it which will be this week okay thank you any other questions on the payment of bills anyone like to make a motion to approve I'll make a motion to approve payment of bills for June 15, 2026 in the amount of $3,787,937.11. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. . Yes. Mr. . Yes. Mr. . Yes. Ms. . Yes. Madam President, may I ask a question? Before we get into budget, can we actually just move the charter review item up since it will be a quick item?

Discussion by council vote or other action on presentation by the Charter Review Committee public hearing. So you want to open it? Do you want to make a motion to open the public hearing?

I'll make a motion to open the public hearing for the Charter Review Committee item. Second.

Motion is second.

Roll call, please. Mr. Beauregard? Yes. Mr. Cristofaro? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alves? Yes.

uh jeff porter sick country way i wanted to speak for a moment about the the report that you guys received honestly there wasn't a lot that changed in the overall report i know the administration has met with the asset management commission and there was discussion about having it be you know a one-person position as opposed to a department We had discussed as the Charter Commission that we would like it to remain a department. Even at the onset, it could be a department of one. We feel that in the future with the town growth, potentially if there's an opening within the school, if that facilities director goes, there could be some overlap and some savings there. but ultimately we want to be proactive in the event that you know the town evolves and we can't get the charter to evolve quick enough because it has to go through the process that it needs to go through. So we remain steadfast in our recommendation that it becomes its own department but do realize that with the administration it could be just a department of one for the time being as it as it evolves it can grow into what it needs to be or it can simply remain as just a department of one. But we felt strongly that with budgeting, everything else that goes along with it, that it can have its own set of funding that can go to maintenance buildings, maintenance of sewer and water, the like that we described the last go-around, and go from there. So that's basically the only further discussion that we have had since we presented to you about a month ago. And then we would just have Mr. Igliozzi explain the process of where we go from that here. We have to have the public hearing this evening, so if there was any comments from the public, we haven't had many folks coming to the Charter Review Commission meetings anyways, so there hasn't been feedback at all from the public. But we're certainly happy to take whatever is said tonight and go from there as well.

And then I would just like to make mention, and town administrator, correct me if I'm wrong, but it does sound as though the Asset Management Commission agrees with the facilities department. Is that how I interpreted their email?

No, the Asset Management Commission concurs with the administration's position. We support the creating of a position, but we don't think there's a need to create a department, even if it's a department of one.

Okay. Okay. Can I just ask you why?

I think it's overkill. We can still achieve the same thing without creating a whole new department. We could make a discussion as to where this person should sit, but I just don't think, given where we are, and quite frankly, even that one position is going to have to be funded. So I just think that you don't need to create a whole department. You can just fund the position, and that position would do the same thing as if it was in a department.

Would the position still require a charter change?

I believe since the position is not identified, it would require, I think it would require a charter change, yes. Or an ordinance.

Or an ordinance. An ordinance or a charter change. Okay.

I mean, that in no way diminishes the administration's position about the importance of this role. That's not what we're saying. We're just saying we think it's a little bit too- Role versus department.

Yeah, yeah. Okay. That's it.

So at what point do we have to decide what we're gonna do with these and what ones we gotta forward to the- The intent was to have that decision this evening.

And like I said, Mr. Igliosi can correct me if I'm wrong in the timeline. I know you guys are focusing on budget things as we progress into the month of June. But from my understanding, we needed to have stuff to the Secretary of State and to the Board of Canvassers all wrapped up and packaged ready to go by the end of July. And David, feel free to correct me on timeline.

The deadline for the deadline for any ballot question is August 5th, 2026, and you have to leave any ballot question after the Council approval needs to be authorized and adopted by the Board of Canvases before that date. So you have to make sure that you.

So we would have to go down this list one at a time. Yeah, yeah.

You do. Okay. I mean, I think you should go down one at a time. I don't think you should try to do it as a package. I agree.

So you want to tackle one at a time?

I'm happy to tackle one at a time.

We can go and stop the question one, which would be the I know I know you still have the public hearing open. Yeah, I was going to say, oh, yeah, I apologize. Well, also, too, and way ahead of myself.

I don't know if this is a mess and if I'm just interpreting the agenda incorrectly, but it says discussion by council vote or other action on presentation by the Charter Review Committee public hearing. So it doesn't say that we're making a decision tonight on the ballot questions.

i i think that's correct councilman i just looked at it myself i think the council could have a discussion about it okay and then you know at the very next meeting we had a lot of meetings coming up because of the budget um a council decision could be put on any budget if you finish the public hearing okay

Okay, so we shouldn't make a decision tonight because it's not indicated on the meeting and we obviously don't want to be in violation of OMA. So I think we close the public hearing and then we determine which meeting next week we would like to include the agenda item on.

May I ask a question now? Discussion vote of public action indicates that it can be voted on.

It does, but I see what the councilwoman's saying. She's saying that the only item is public hearing. It doesn't say action on the item afterwards. Yeah.

Yeah, it's public hearing, yeah.

Douglas Ogier 1984 Providence Pike honestly is the first I've heard of a public hearing on the charter changes so you know if you're busy with kids and you're not following along in the valley breeze because you stop by and pick one up I know there's the newsletter which I do read every week I don't know if maybe it could have been advertised in the newsletter as another way to reach people um i would say don't vote on anything tonight because that is super misleading and i know i would be very upset if there was something that was voted on and i didn't think there was a vote being taken so i would just say discuss and defer but that would just be my recommendation thank you thanks

Did I miss here? We have until the end of July, right? We do. Why don't we just say July 20th, we're going to vote on this.

That would be fine.

Well, hold on. We have until the end of the July, but it still needs to go to the Board of Canvassers, and then it also needs to go to General Assembly, correct?

No, no.

No?

Goes to the Board of Canvassers and goes to the Secretary of State to be printed.

Okay, but we did want a decision and then Board of Canvas or review and approval before the tax notes go out in July because we wanted to include a mailer. in the tax mailers that allowed for people to access education on the ballot questions so i'm going to recommend that we include an item on one of next week's agendas so we can make the decision it can get to the board of canvassers in time and we can piggyback on the tax mailers tammy how do you know fill the agendas on next week or the next few

It's just the budget.

That's it? Okay. I'll do the last week of June.

Can we just do next week? Unless then we'd have to have a special meeting.

Well, we usually have special meetings anyway.

You're scheduling a special meeting for the budget. We normally schedule at least two back to back. I think we usually do it a second or third day in case you don't finish it on the first day. And we just include on that particular item that all to include the charter review decision.

Yeah, I can't imagine that. I mean, we've talked about this. now for quite some time so i think we all have an understanding of which way we would vote i think it's just a matter of including it on one of next week's agendas so it correct me if i'm wrong but we're meeting on the 22nd the 23rd and the 25th Yeah, so one of those three, and then I guess dependent upon the robustness of the agenda, we can determine which of them we want to include this item on.

So why don't we do the 25th, because usually that's like a five-minute meeting.

Yeah, okay. Let's do that. There is a planning board meeting at 7 p.m., so our meeting is going to be at 6 o'clock, but we have to be done by 7.

Okay. We should be okay then, right?

yeah and then do we need to include another notice in the valley breeze if there's going to be another public hearing at that meeting hearing I don't do well I mean to Doug's point he thinks that I guess I guess the council should be clear are you continuing this public hearing to another date or are you closing the public hearing and scheduling your decision well it sounds as though some of the public weren't aware that this item was on the agenda so if it was in the valley breeze and yes maybe the newsletter wasn't leveraged I think we've already discussed that there's an opportunity for better communication with that being said if this has been advertised per regulation then let's close the public hearing but again i'm not comfortable making a decision on this matter tonight because it wasn't indicated as such on the agenda i'm i'm confused this has been advertised as probably under for public hearing it's been properly advertised yes okay yes but what i'm saying is it hasn't been indicated on the agenda that we were taking a vote on it tonight so let's close the public hearing and then include that on the agenda on the 25th that we'll be making a decision on the ballot questions

Wouldn't we just continue the public hearing?

That's your choice. You can continue the public hearing to that day.

Because you want people to speak on the 25th, right?

Well, I mean- So we would want to continue the public hearing until the 25th. But if we can-

Right. But if we continue the public hearing, do we need to include another advertisement in the Valley Breeze is my question.

There's no advertisement required for this. Okay. That's what I was trying to say. This is not an advertisement. The advertisement is when the actual people go to vote. That's the advertisement. They get to see the ballot and they vote. The council decides what goes on to the ballot. The people decide whether they agree with you.

Okay, so with that being said, I don't think we need to continue the public hearing. It was appropriately advertised in meetings. I think that we need to just close the public hearing and vote on the 25th.

But if you want people to speak on the 25th, we need to continue the public hearing because if we close it.

What is the harm in continuing the public hearing?

Right, because if we close it, it's closed.

Okay, sure. We can continue the public hearing. All I'm saying is my initial point was that we can't vote on it tonight because it's not indicated as such. So let's continue the public hearing on the 25th, and then we will vote on the ballot questions on the 25th. Should I make that motion? I will make a motion to continue the public hearing on the charter review committee item and at that time also vote on which questions we will put on the ballot.

What's the date?

June 25th.

Yes. That's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? Roll call. Mr. Beauregard?

No.

Mr. Cristofaro?

Yes.

Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alves? Yes. Discussion by council about other action on FY26-27 budget. Public hearing. Would someone like to open the public hearing? i'll make a motion to open the public hearing for the 2026-2027 budget second we have a motion second any further discussion roll call please mr beer god yes mr cristofaro yes mr punchak yes yes anyone like to speak on the budget don't everyone get up at the same time i know anyone any public hearings open

okay did you want tony yeah um if the town council has any uh ideas on what they would want for the night the 22nd and the 23rd i'm sorry there's too much talking i'm sorry go ahead if the town council has any ideas on what they want uh for presented to them for the night of the 22nd and the 23rd now would be the time to let me know What I am providing is actuals for a current fiscal year up to the end of May, reconciled. Anything beyond that would be estimations, but again, that likely won't be put in the agenda. Anything beyond that, but I could still provide it as a separate sheet directly to you. So now would be the time to let me know if there's anything above and beyond, because I don't want to have the same spiel as last year. I want to make sure we're all on the same page and you guys have all the information you guys need.

And I don't know if you addressed this issue, Tony, but another question. Tony and I had some conversations about it. With the budget that the council works off of, I think last year we put into the council's category, our council's column, the budget committee's recommendations. Just so there was numbers you can work off of as opposed to just leaving them blank. Because we left them blank, we'd have to go through every budget category in order to total out. And we want to make sure that's what the council wants.

Yeah, that's usually what we'd go with as a budget committee.

Yeah, I just copy it over and make sure all the links, try to make sure all the links go through. And then you'll be doing it live, right? Yeah, I'll be doing it live. I have to just work with CJ just to make sure this CJ and possibly vertical six to make sure this links up. Last time I had that company out here, it worked. So I just want to play around with it again and make sure it does. But yeah, I'll be changing it live. You guys will have the full 11 by 17 version. um of each of the free budgets but yeah as as we know um tonight would be the night for any of the public to discuss propose any questions or issues with the budget as the night of the meeting 22nd and 23rd would not be the time to do that so thank you tony will all the appropriate budget documents be posted to the town website as of right now the i wouldn't post the town council version but the budget committee's version is posted to my to not like the finance department's page but i wouldn't be posting i wouldn't be preemptively posting the town council's version because it's not adopted right once it's adopted that like next morning or maybe that later that afternoon once i just go through it make sure everything's good will be posted

Okay, and there was a question about the memo from the administration regarding the proposed tax levy. I guess that hasn't been posted. Is that something that is posted in advance?

Yeah. Everything. Oh, that town. Yeah. Town administrators version was posted a while ago that I have to legally like by, by law, I have to post that. Um, the DMF make sure I do that well in advance. Um, and this public hearing was also, I had that automatically set up to be done while I was on vacation. So the Valley breeze did that as well. Okay. Yeah. The, my old department is very, very sticklers about that stuff.

So it has been posted in the Valley breeze.

Yeah. Just to make sure, because Tammy had come and asked me to, I had seen the actual invoice.

Okay. Thanks, Tom.

Thank you. Again, anyone want to get up and speak during the public hearing? One more time. So I guess we're going to close the public hearing.

Oh, it's continued.

You want to continue the public hearing?

Didn't she already continue it until the 25th?

No, this is the public hearing for the budget. This is the budget.

Oh, sorry. A lot of public hearing. Yeah.

Okay, I'll make a motion to close the public hearing for 2026-2027 budget.

Second.

That's a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call. Mr. Beauregard? Yes. Mr. Cristofaro? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Owls? Yes. Old business discussion by council vote on other action on status slash progress report items. One, Nelsa Field Police Station renovation update.

Yes. And in your package is a memorandum, very consistent with the memorandum that I'm consistently preparing for the council. Long and short of it is, uh the gmp has not changed there have been no change orders that have been executed which that would have to come to the council anyway so the primary purpose of this submittal is that we have four requisitions that have been submitted for payment if you recall usually we have two meetings in a month we want the requisitions submitted to us by the first meeting and then we submit them to the council for approval those four requisitions are requisition one and two. They are both reflecting the 17,971.30, which was the pre-con services that the council authorized before we had the GMP. Requisition number one was for 13,032.31, that was already paid. because it was already authorized by the council. Requisition number two was for 4,938.99. That's the balance of the 17,971.30. Requisition number three was for 133,372.99. That's for HVAC. If you recall, the council previously authorized payment of $129,000. We had to advance that so that we can get the Office of Energy Management grant teed up in time. So that's been paid, and the last requisition number four, 56,893.07, that is for the bond fee, which is required. So in total, we have $208,237.09 that have been submitted to us. We've paid $142,032.31. We have a balance due of 66,204.78. And we are asking tonight the council authorization to pay that. And that will bring us fully current to all requisitions with the exception of two soft cost requisitions that we just got and we will be submitting in July for payment.

And who is that payable to?

That's payable to Paracel. Paracel.

Anyone like to make a motion to approve the payment to Paracel for $66,204.78?

I'll make a motion to approve the payment to Paracel in the amount of $66,204.78. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please.

Mr. Berrigan? Yes. Mr. Cristofaro? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alice? Yes.

And as it relates to the bond, all bond underwriting has been completed. The bond has been put out for bid. The bid came in at $3. which is even below what we had expected, which is very favorable. All documentation has been prepared and is waiting for execution. Administrator has executed, the finance director has executed. The town council president will have to execute as well as the clerk. But we'll be very close to a late July, late June, I'm sorry, closing. So it went really well. And I do want to emphasize that the discussions with the bond underwriters was pretty interesting. Not surprising, we came out with pretty good rankings. And we'll never get the top ranking because we're too small in the community. The only mark we had against us was the fact that we're in Providence County. Providence County's not growing. So that wasn't a real favorable thing. But in terms of the town's operations, they highlighted the town's unrestricted fund balance, how important that really is, which I think is important to reiterate here. And secondly, they also emphasize that the town does not use the unrestricted fund balance as a way to fund operating costs for the town. Some towns do that and it's looked at very negatively. So they were very positive about the community and we stay focused on those operating procedures. If we have to go to market again in a few years for whatever it may be, the underwriting's well. So I think the council deserves a lot of credit on that because it's been your leadership that's kept that in mind.

Thank you. New business discussion by council about other action on amendment to the flood zone ordinance for a recommendation to the town council. Mark Carullo, public hearing. Mark, do you want to speak before we open the public hearing?

um this is a little bit of confusion for for a prior agenda item and i just want to be clear on this agenda item a couple of things one is this is amendment to the zoning ordinance this has been advertised once a week three successive weeks in may in the last two thursdays in june in the valley breeze full block ad that is a zoning amendment and it will be I know it doesn't say that in this agenda, however, I want to caution the council that there is a timeline on adopting these maps. And if they are not adopted properly prior to June 23rd, Anyone who has flood insurance in the town will lose their flood insurance coverage. So it's extremely important that we open the public hearing, take public comment, and that there be a vote this evening on this agenda item. If you'd like me to describe the item, I can do that. And then if anyone here for the public would like to speak, I would welcome their input.

Just a point, just so we're clear also. There's a distinction between the way this item was posted and the way the charter review. That's correct. The charter review indicates that it was discussion by council vote or other action on presentation. This is discussion border of action on amendment. So I'm satisfied that we're covered.

Yeah, okay.

And it was advertised that way via a block ad. Any other amendments or changes, it's clearly stated in the ad that the proposed amendment can be changed at the council public hearing as a result of public input without any further advertising or action. I don't suspect that'll be happening. Just update the council slightly. Each and every community in the state of Rhode Island that has a flood zone in it has flood maps that are created by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. And routinely, that agency will go through and update those maps. The town of North Smithfield among other communities in Northern Rhode Island this year have updated maps. I believe the last time the maps were updated was in 2009. so these would be new map updates to be adopted and implemented in 2026 june 30th the only change i think you have a track changes document in front of you highlighted in yellow is the is the dates and notations on the map as well as the revised date um also on the second page there's a change in notification to the federal emergency management agency region one is now in cambridge rather than boston i actually sent these amendments to rhode island emergency management agency they reviewed and they approved them in advance of them coming before the council so If this is adopted, the town will be fully compliant. These maps will go into effect. I have copy in the planning office as of June 23rd, 2026. Coverage will be continued for those residents in the community that have flood insurance.

My only comment or question is, our version doesn't show the change to Cambridge, it still says Boston. Are you talking about the risk analysis branch?

Okay, so yeah, I can show you that, Councilman, but yeah, that would be on page two and three

Yeah, as doesn't show that.

Okay, well, I apologize. So, I mean, if you want to adopt that as amended, it says Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 1, 220 Binney Street, Cambridge, Mass, 02142. That's in place of 99 High Street, 6th floor, Boston, Mass, 02110. What was the street? 99 High Street, 6th floor, Boston. No, what's the new address? The other one, B-I-N-N-E-Y Street, Cambridge.

Okay. Anyone want to make a motion to open the public hearing?

I'll make a motion to open the public hearing for the amendment to the flood zone ordinance.

That's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Birigan?

Yes.

Mr. Cristoforo? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alice? Yes. Would anyone like to speak on this matter? All right. Anyone like to speak?

Council President, I just also want to clarify, I got a couple phone calls from people who live in the Mechanic Street area. We're going to show up a little angry, which I understand. That's, and I explained to them, that issue has nothing to do with what we're doing right now. In fact, that area does not, and I confirmed this with the planner today, that area does not get identified by FEMA as part of the flood zone area. But we're working on that issue, but in case you get a call from any constituents about that, they're separate issues.

Okay, thank you. Okay, one last time, anyone like to speak? Okay.

Motion to close the public hearing for the amendment to the flood zone ordinance.

Okay, anyone like to make a motion to approve the flood zone ordinance?

I will make a motion to approve the flood zone ordinance with the modifications to the address for the risk analysis branch on page two.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Beauregard?

Yes.

Mr. Cristofaro? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alves? Yes. Excuse me. I have a question. David, first, you've made the motion to close the public hearing, but nobody seconded it. We never got a second.

Yeah, no. All right.

Is there a second to close the public hearing? Second. Roll call, please. Mr. Berrigan? Yes. Mr. Cristofaro? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alves? Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, John.

Yes.

Discussion by council vote. Other action on communications from town administrative Mr. Gibbs update on grants and update on asset management project.

Yes. In July, the grants writer will be attending that meeting. She'll have an opportunity to ask her any questions. Changes in this document since the last time you saw it. We have applied for numerous grants associated with the Pacheco Park area. We applied under Rhode Island Commerce Corporation's improvement program. We applied for $145,000 for 36,400 matching. As you know, we already have the DEM grant for a half a million dollars for Pacheco Park. We have a congressional request through Congressman Reed's office for a $930,000 grant for infrastructure parking and road upgrades concerning Pacheco and the entrance road. We also have a request under USDA. This is under Senator Whitehouse's office. $740,000 with $390,000 match. When I say match, you have to understand we have multiple layers of grants here. So we can use state money, state grants as match. So this is not like all town money. We also have a DEM grant application for $350,000 for resiliency. That's on the storm water upgrades to the Pacheco Park area. Currently, none of that has pollution control devices on it. That goes straight into the river. So we thought we could get some money to help us underwrite those costs. We also got a $17,000 grant that has been awarded as it relates to the kitchen fire suppression system for the redeveloped Scouters Hall. And we also have an outstanding congressional request through Congressman Amos' office for police station security and generator and the shed for 824,000. So the last 30 days, we put a lot out there, a lot. So we'll be obviously monitoring the state grants we expect to hear probably in the next 45 to 60 days. The federal grants, we probably will not hear anything until the mid fourth quarter of this year. That's usually how long it takes. As I said, Lisa Andoja will be attending the meeting on July 20th for any questions. And one other thing, we also applied for a grant under the Safe Streets Program. We applied for it last year, did not get it. This year we reapplied. There's about a dozen streets that we want included in town under the Safe Streets Program. This is through the US Department of Transportation. We asked for $164,000 for DOT on that.

What kind of things can that money be used for?

It could be anything from signage to road configuration. Speed bumps? It could be speed bumps, although I think that's going to be a longer play. I think we need to look at on a shorter term potential options on speed bumps. Speed bumps are a hairy issue here because it does create a problem for DPW. But the option of plastic speed bumps, which can be taken out in the winter, that's something we're clearly going to take a look at. Some of the speed bumps that you see put in Providence, they actually are much bigger. They go up to a very long flat area and they go back down. They still create a lot of problems for plowing, but we're going to have to take a look at all those. On the short term basis, we can maybe look at the plastic speed bumps, but we can make those issues part of the Safe Streets program if we get the grant. And I think we have a fairly good chance of getting that grant.

May I ask a question?

Yeah. I think it was back in 2021 or 2022 we formed, it might have been a little later, but didn't we form it, the Halloway Review Committee? And the original task of the Halloway Review Committee, it was long before we were thinking of putting a senior center there, was just to say what, see what we're going to, how we're going to, Transform that property. What are we going to do with that property? And then we got the million dollar grant and all of a sudden it seems that since we're not putting the senior center down there that the Hallowell Review Committee doesn't feel that they have a mission. But I think a million dollars is a lot that they could come up with a pretty good mission that they could enhance that property down there with some trails or maybe a gazebo or

That grant was for passive recreation. We have actually gone back to the feds and we've updated the application. That's been all processed. We are going to be going out probably early next week for both hollow well as well as scouters for what's called a environmental review. THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE WE DRAW DOWN FEDERAL MONEY THE ONCE WE GET THAT DONE WE'RE GOING TO GO THE PLAN IS TO GO TO MARKET FOR CONSULTING SERVICES LANDSCAPE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING FOR HOLOWELL AS IT RELATES TO A TOTAL REDO OF THAT PARK FOR A PASSIVE RECREATION AREA INCLUDING REPAVING THE ENTRANCE ROAD, NEW GUARD RAILS, REPAVING SOME OF THE PARKING AREAS, TAKING OUT SOME OF THE PARKING AREAS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE THERE ANYMORE, GRADING OF THE UPPER LAND, SEATING, AND PUTTING A COUPLE OTHER AMENITIES IN THAT. THAT'S THE IDEA. But when we get to that stage, we are going to be working with the Parks and Rec Committee as well as the public for input on that before we get too far ahead of ourselves. But we are quickly now moving forward with the Hollowell project, consistent with the $1 million grant, which is passive recreation.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Okay, I'll save the hollow question. Town beautification. I know that this is probably small peanuts in comparison to some of the other grants, but we do have that grant for 2000. It was approved and it was awarded and it expires in 2026. I know that you mentioned in the past that you wanted to potentially buy flags to put on some light posts. Is there anything else that we could possibly do with that town beautification and or are you still planning on buying flags?

Well, the problem we ran in with the flags and the idea was to have those up in time for the Memorial Day parade is that we were getting a lot of issues with Rhode Island Energy. Rhode Island Energy said, yeah, you have to go through this application process to put flags on our poles, and you can't screw your mounts into the utility poles. You have to have a basic sleeve that it goes on, and we were trying to Find a suitable option My planner last week told me he found a couple we could continue down that path or Again, we're talking about a small amount of money. We could pivot and use I'll have to go back to the state and

I mean, I think that there's probably other opportunities in the community, and I guess my recommendation would be to maybe engage Parks and Rec and see how they could potentially leverage that $2,000 for some town beautification projects. I feel like by the time you orchestrate a sleeve and how you're going to mount it to the pole and then buy the flags, we're going to get like five flats.

Well, that's fine. Actually, we're going to get all flag, all utility poles from the shopping center all the way to the VFW or Lindy. So we had that covered. However, with that being said, I don't have a problem pivoting. But I just can't pivot. We have to go back to the state and ask them if we can use it for something else.

Okay, so you already, with the state, you already essentially submitted that.

That's how we got the money, that's correct. We had to submit something. So we have to go back. It was through DEM. It was a very low lift. It was because of the governor's wife wanted this program. So I don't have a problem with picking up the phone and saying, hey.

we are having problems with rhode island energy as it relates to the flagpoles can we come up with another idea quickly for your consideration yeah and i think parks and rec might have some ideas i'm sure they will leverage that money okay thanks any other questions on grants we can't use that recreational grant hollowell to fund a landscaping consultant correct no they can't use it for soft costs

All right, how about update on asset management project?

Just the update is in talking to the chairman, they are still in the data collection side and the mapping side, but they're getting very close to completing that. And then at that point, they will start to pivot towards the software application side. I think they were looking at the completion of this project in August or September this year. So they're making good progress.

Discussion accounts about other action appointments to town board slash commissions one appointment to the planning board for one year first alternate term from 12 one 2025 to 1130 2026.

This is an easy one.

Yes, I will make a motion to appoint Philip W. Gasparro to the planning board for one year first alternate term ending 1130 2026.

It's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Birigod? Yes. Mr. Cristofaro? Yes. Mr. Punchak?

Yes. Ms. Alves?

Yes. Resignation from the Conservation Commission. Can you just send it out as usual? Thank you.

And Tammy, I know that we've talked about this in the past, and maybe we discussed this with Joanne, but we have had a multitude of resignations over the last six months or so. And I think that there's value in doing some sort of exit survey to understand the reasoning as to their resignation. I don't know if that's a simple email with a few questions. I don't know who needs to own that. I'd be happy to draft some questions that we could follow up with the former board or commission members. to then send to them to just better understand. It wouldn't be required. It would be optional. But I think it would be helpful to understand why they are resigning from these boards or commissions.

Sure. If you'd like to draft a few questions, I would appreciate that. OK. Thank you.

Discussion by council about other action on tax slash penalty adjustments. Senaj?

So I haven't come to the council for this fiscal year. I just figured I'd save it to the end of the fiscal year, just we're not doing this multiple times. If the council recalls, basically if anyone passes away or if there's a balance that the MCA determines that can't be collected They reach back out to us and they say, here's the balance left, you now have to write it off. So the balance for FY26 in totality is $4,806.20. And as stated in my memo, it doesn't affect the collection rate. It hits different accounts. There is a sliding scale that was implemented by Cynthia, the previous finance director. Starts at 50% at 2021 and goes from 10% every year after. And then once it hits 100%, it's uncollectible. So if there's any questions.

So the first five that have a year and it just says allowance for it.

So they've been sitting for- They've been sitting for X amount of time with MCA, Municipal Collection Agency. They chased them down and there's a certain point where there's no longer the amount of fees that they're incurring and time that they're investing is no longer valuable. So they send it back to us for us to write off.

These are all motor vehicles, so you can't send them to auction, huh? Correct. Too bad.

There's a lot of different stipulations nowadays with motor vehicle.

Is there some way we can put a process in place for someone who's deceased that we follow through?

Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you.

No, so when... I mean, is the office notified when someone is deceased?

Basically, so previously, I don't know if everybody remembers MJ. She was here for 20 years. She retired and she loved reading the paper and would just look at the obituaries. And that's how we had so many coming before the council. The ones that we have here are notifications through MCA. The only other way that I know of as of right now, without reaching out to the collections agency, is reading the paper and looking at the obituaries. So yeah, I can reach out to the collections agency, see if they have any processes in place in their municipalities, and see if we can implement the same thing.

Okay, thank you. All right, anyone like to make a motion to approve the tax adjustments?

I'll make a motion to approve the tax adjustments in the amount of $4,806.20. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. . Yes. Mr. . Yes. Mr. . Yes. Ms. . Yes. Discussion by council about other action on a bait account SS-0032-81 in the amount of $689.63 and delete it from the sewer tax rule. Mr. Sanosh?

So this is just a simple clerical error that was made. Again, same thing with the power. I don't have to be able to abate or write off a regular tax roll. I have to do the same thing with sewer. So the account was made an error duplication just due to the nomenclature SS versus SI. So there was an account SS and there was an account SI made. So we have to just. I can't just go into the system and delete it. The council has to approve me to have more deleted, the coordinator. And her explanation as to how it kind of happened is that long memo. Okay.

So SI and SS, one is out of district and one is in district?

Correct.

All right. Anyone like to make a motion to approve the abate account?

I'll make a motion to approve the abate account SS003281 to make the appropriate abatements in the amount of $689.63.

Second. That's a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call please. Mr. Beauregard? Yes. Mr. Cristofaro? Yes. Mr. Punchak? Yes. Ms. Alves? Yes. Open forum pursuant to 42-46-60, maximum three minutes per person. Would anyone like to speak in open forum? I'd like to speak in open forum.

I'm speaking as an abutter to the Pinehill Road Quarry. As an abutter to the quarry, I've kind of been waiting patiently and with bated breath to really understand some of the outcomes of the mediation. I think tonight we all kind of expected to have a better understanding of mediation and next steps and we were kind of all left in the dark. So I was, if able to, I was hoping for somebody to provide us with an understanding of what next steps are since it wasn't very clear what the moot point of the petition was.

Other than the council has been considering proposals from material on the lawsuit.

Okay.

But the petition has been withdrawn.

The petition for the overlay has been withdrawn?

Was withdrawn tonight by letter.

Okay, okay.

So that's no longer on the agenda.

Okay, okay, thank you.

Anyone else like to speak during the forum?

Motion to adjourn.

All in favor say aye. Aye.