North Smithfield Town Council - January 20, 2026
Regular Meeting — January 20, 2026
Meeting overview
Agenda at a glance
| Agenda item | Summary | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Consent Agenda | Minutes from five meetings (Nov 17 – Jan 5) and monthly reports. Several corrections requested: name spellings, formatting uniformity, roll call detail. Alves requested expanded municipal court reports to include zoning case outcomes. | Approved with amendments |
| Payment of Bills | Revised total: $2,968,077.72 (reduced by $19,638 from fire dept appropriation). Questions on GZA invoices (~$14K, reimbursement pending), OPEB negative balance (investment strategy), and police station budget line overages. | Approved |
| Junkyard License — Leo’s Auto | Revocation hearing for HG Auto LLC (955 Iron Mine Hill Rd) moved to Feb 17 due to Feb 3 special election. | Moved to Feb 17 |
| ECC / Police Station | Placeholder item. Special meeting scheduled Thursday Jan 23 for bond questions and status update. | Informational |
| RI 250th Anniversary Resolution | Heritage Association designated as local 250th anniversary commission. Enables grant applications for programs and historical wayfarer signs. | Approved |
| PAR Corp. — Water System Inventory | Contract for water system asset inventory and management program evaluation. GIS mapping, valve location, data collection tools. Not to exceed $78,400. | Approved |
| PAR Corp. — TTHM Removal | Contract for engineering services related to trihalomethane removal system at Comstock tank. Includes process evaluation and system design. Enterprise fund. Not to exceed $117,600. | Approved |
| Appointments / Resignations | Stan Zuba reappointed as Tree Warden. Resignations accepted from Public Art Committee (2) and Economic Development Committee (1). Alves raised concerns about EDC quorum failures. | Approved / Accepted |
| Salary & Wage Ordinance | First reading. Annual update for actuarial/insurance purposes. Seasonal personnel wage to be corrected from $15 to $16 (minimum wage). Second reading scheduled Feb 17. | Accepted (first reading) |
| TA Grant Updates | COPS grant ($500K) resubmitted after earmark dismissed — awaiting approval. Route 146 Phase 2 TIF study kicked off. RAISE transportation grant not accepted. Davy Brooks flooding grant executed. | Informational |
| Senior Services Update | Linda Thibault reported 3,162 seniors served July–December 2025 at Scouters. Programs include exercise classes, Blue Cross partnerships, congregate meals, Medicare specialist appointments, Veterans Appreciation Dinner (87 attendees). | Informational |
Key issues and discussion
Water System Asset Inventory — PAR Corporation ($78,400)
Bill Dacoto, Superintendent of Water and Sewer, presented a contract with PAR Corporation for a comprehensive water system asset inventory and management program evaluation. The core problem: North Smithfield’s water infrastructure records are fragmented, with maps scattered across drawers, materials undocumented, and no unified GIS model. Dacoto described spending hours investigating whether a single property can tie in to the water system.
The project has four components: a physical field inventory to locate all valves and infrastructure, a GIS model consolidating all records, an evaluation of asset management software options, and data collection tools to allow in-house updates going forward. Paul Munchen, Chair of the Asset Management Commission, emphasized that institutional knowledge is fragile with a small staff and that accurate shutoff locations save significant money during emergencies.
Punchak asked several substantive questions about bundling sewer for economies of scale (a later phase due to cost), GIS integration possibilities, and lessons learned from Providence Water’s Johnston acquisition. The contract was approved unanimously.
Trihalomethane Removal — Comstock Tank ($117,600)
Dacoto presented a contract for engineering services related to trihalomethane (TTHM) contamination at the Comstock tank in the industrial park. The tank’s 21-day water turnover cycle, combined with chlorine disinfection and naturally occurring organic matter, produces disinfection byproducts that exceeded the federal limit of 80 parts per billion in summer testing.
The proposed solution is an aeration system: TTHMs are volatile, so aerating the tank and exhausting through a roof fan eliminates them without additional chemicals. The $117,600 contract covers process evaluation ($35,250) and, if needed, full design, permitting, and bid package. If the evaluation finds a simpler fix, the design costs drop away — but based on experience and peer communities, the aeration system is almost certainly needed. Funded from the water enterprise fund. Approved unanimously.
Senior Services Year-End Report — 3,162 Served
Linda Thibault presented a detailed six-month report on North Smithfield Senior Services, which took over programming at Scouters in July 2025. From July through December, 3,162 seniors were served across exercise classes (Zumba, yoga, Pilates, weight training, line dancing), health presentations through Blue Cross Blue Shield partnerships, congregate meals ($3 donation), Medicare enrollment assistance, and special events including a Veterans Appreciation Dinner (87 attendees) and holiday programming.
The program has been built largely through volunteer energy and no-cost partnerships. Thibault reported outreach to the Office of Healthy Aging, Meals on Wheels for a veterans’ café, and state legislators for grants once the nonprofit filing is complete. The TA noted that software is being purchased to improve tracking, and that bylaws are being filed with the state for nonprofit and tax-exempt status.
RI 250th Anniversary — Heritage Association Designated
Rich Keane, president of the North Smithfield Heritage Association, requested the council designate the Heritage Association as the local committee for Rhode Island’s 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. The designation enables grant applications for programs and historical wayfarer signs. No battles were fought in North Smithfield, but several Revolutionary War veterans are buried in town cemeteries, including Captain Buxton, who served on Washington’s staff. Alves suggested a cemetery walk as a 250th event. The resolution was approved unanimously.
Grant Status — COPS Grant and Route 146
The TA reported that the $500,000 COPS grant for the police department, dismissed when all earmarks were dropped during the 2026 continuing resolution, has been resubmitted through Congressman Magaziner’s office and is awaiting White House approval. The Route 146 Phase 2 TIF study has kicked off. The RAISE transportation grant was not accepted. The Davy Brooks flooding grant has been executed and the RFP is going out.
Public comments
| Speaker | Summary |
|---|---|
| Mike Clifford 489 Black Plain Rd, (Opening Forum) |
Criticized agenda clarity, specifically the vague “ECC” reference under old business. Argued the average citizen could not determine what was being discussed. Requested the solicitor’s opinion on whether the agenda description meets open meetings law requirements. Alves explained it was a monthly placeholder for police station updates; solicitor was not present. |
| Stan Zuba 910 Iron Mine Hill Rd, (Opening Forum) |
Spoke in support of the police station renovation from a human resources perspective. As a former town firefighter, described the pattern of North Smithfield training employees who then leave for better-equipped departments. Argued a better facility would improve retention and professionalism. Noted the building is 50+ years old. |
| Claire O’Hara 16 Summit Ave, (Closing Forum) |
Reported falling through a sinkhole on her property in July 2023, discovering an underground tunnel beneath the sidewalk. Sustained significant injuries ($23K dental damage, needs hip and knee replacement). Disputes responsibility for filling the tunnel she did not install. Seeking town or state assistance. |