Development News for North Smithfield, Rhode Island
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North Smithfield Town Council Meeting 06/01/2026
Monday, Jun 1, 2026
Town Council Reviews Proposed FY26-27 Budget with 3% General Fund Increase
The town council reviewed the proposed FY26-27 budget. The general fund budget is proposed at $57.05 million, a 3% increase from the previous year. The net property tax levy increase is 2.61%, below the 4% cap. The budget committee's proposal is $631,000 below the administration's recommendation, focusing on specific cuts rather than across-the-board reductions. Key drivers for the increase include the first-year payments for the police station renovation bond, contractual personnel obligations in public safety, and a reduction in state aid to schools. The highway department's budget increased by $955,000, police by $642,000, and fire by $480,000, largely due to contractual obligations and new positions. The council also discussed using town reserves to cover the police station bond payment rather than increasing the property tax levy. Differences between the committee's and administration's proposals include $575,000 for parks and recreation capital projects, with the committee preferring to allocate funds when projects are shovel-ready. The committee also added $200,000 back to highway capital for equipment and drainage. For police, the committee maintained academy recruit pay at status quo and trimmed overtime, while for fire, they approved one of two requested floater positions. Staffing adjustments included declining to backfill a tax assessor position and converting a part-time to full-time position. A significant change is raising the assumed tax collection rate from 98% to 98.5%, which is based on historical collection performance of around 99%. The school department saw a state aid reduction of approximately $335,000 due to changes in the property valuation calculation, impacting total school funding to $32.45 million. The budget also accounts for a $125,000 increase in water and sewer spending, including $120,000 for capital to clean a tank for compliance with statewide water quality standards, leading to a projected rate increase from $10.52 to $13.01 per thousand gallons. The budget committee recommended adopting a capital scoring framework for prioritizing future capital requests.
Town Council Approves Business Licenses and Payment of Bills
The town council considered several licensing matters. Elevate Collective LLC, doing business as Rise Up Nutrition, received approval for a victual license as a new owner, Jessica Fernandez. Phantom Fireworks also sought a license, with discussions clarifying the roles of the manager and operator. Renewal by Anderson applied for a solicitation license, with council members questioning the effectiveness of their outreach and the process for handling customer refusals. HT Auto LLC's licensing requirements were mentioned with no update. The council also approved the payment of bills totaling $175,427.35.
Town Council Authorizes Signing of $500,000 Pachico Park Grant Agreement
The town council discussed and authorized the town administrator to sign a grant agreement for the Pachico Park Recreational Grant. The town received a $500,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Management. The project includes improvements to the play structure, walking path, and public infrastructure, with a public input process planned. A resident suggested considering a fence around the playground for child safety.
Appointments Made to Conservation and Planning Boards Amidst Discussion on Process
The town council discussed appointments to various town boards. For the conservation commission, an appointment was made to fill a three-year term. The administrator noted that the commission now has a quorum and is expected to become more active. For the planning board, a discussion ensued regarding the appointment process for a vacant position. While legally there's no requirement to appoint the first alternate, historical precedent suggested it. After attempts to contact the first alternate yielded no response, the council voted to appoint a new member, Mr. Hammond, to fill an unexpired term ending in 2028, though a motion was later made to consider the first alternate for a future agenda item. A typographical error in a transfer request form for the police department was corrected.
Residents Raise Concerns Over Zoning Enforcement, Permit Transparency, and Board Appointments
During the open forum, a resident expressed concerns about the handling of the road use permit renewal for Material Sand and Stone Co-op, citing a perceived lack of transparency and follow-through on promises made in previous meetings regarding truck counts. Another resident submitted a formal statement alleging illegal non-conforming uses and unlawful expansion at the Poundill Quarry and asphalt plant, stating that the town has failed to respond to zoning enforcement complaints and has not properly grandfathered these uses. The resident also accused the town of ignoring tax assessment errors that subsidize the company and urged for enforcement of zoning ordinances. The council also addressed issues regarding appointments to town boards, specifically the planning board, where a debate occurred over whether to appoint an existing alternate member or wait for further clarification, ultimately voting to appoint a new member to an unexpired term.
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