[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6206882,"mediaKeyId","3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e","parentId",3760172,"title","State Authority Schedules Mount Hope Bridge overlay, outlines cable dehumidification plan and E‑ZPass fixes","audioSeconds",1402,"startMs",1648415,"endMs",3051085,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e&start=1648&end=3051","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e/thumbnail_1648415.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6206882/Rhode-Island/State-Authority-Schedules-Mount-Hope-Bridge-overlay-outlines-cable-dehumidification-plan-and-EZPass-fixes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206882-f3da5019220d543b18d02d046e2ea22a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143694&Signature=nCwevcZ91NR6yPfKH5gDVEVXDPml7EtbPScqcN6qe2RDip9iQoaCIecb0x0LKWtsqmPegy4pWCRH2-ff5BuvpHnigJFXd0XUOM-6U7EV91aVE7g40oMcWJ91fDZD7hscqQQx3op1Y21mfMkfkt83pxYGuH~VG0lpFtHfaKf~ZSmaQa-xk6mQv3KQr9QeVAKy69O0K9JlTl77EJ0A57L6Ygg1r6xp1kwGYt8I1hB8j4EXdG-n9N3VGR0-0ky8V0qkBOiTqTdxqw2rKqzhTb03lsdSd79gaUt3jdaMTXutIMrxCmkkcqC7H1Y77StyruXr9ZZI2NGrrsvJuS-TXTEp2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Portsmouth, RI","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority told the Portsmouth Town Council on June 9 it will perform a surface overlay on the 96-year-old Mount Hope Bridge and pursue a longer-term full deck replacement and a cable dehumidification system.

\"We certainly would not do work before July 4,\" Laurie Karen Silvera, executive director of the authority, said. She said crews will micro-grind between one-half and three-quarters of an inch of the existing top material and then install an \"ultra thin bonded overlay\" — a polymer-modified asphalt laid with a controlled screed — intended to restore ride quality. The authority and its contractor expect to work lane by lane and have budgeted roughly 30 hours per lane for the milling and overlay operations.

Engineering director Eric Seabury described the technical approach: a micro-grinding pass followed by patching and then the ultra-thin bonded overlay. \"It's a special paving machine that comes in with a polymer based asphalt material, very fine aggregate, and it lays it down,\" he said. The authority told councilors it may close the bridge for a short, concentrated period (they discussed an approximately 72-hour closure window as one option) or perform full closures over successive weekends to shorten the overall disruption.

Silvera said the authority has completed cable-airflow testing and has an RFQ for a consultant to study a full deck replacement; bids for the dehumidification construction are due July 9. She said the dehumidification effort has a federal PROTECT grant award of $17,000,000 and that the dehumidification system would be commissioned to keep cable humidity at about 40 percent to arrest corrosion. \"It's an air conditioning system for a suspension bridge,\" Seabury said, describing air-conditioning plant rooms, injection and exhaust ports, sensors and an airtight wrap for the cables.

Councilors pressed the authority on safety and timing. Councilor Payero asked whether the bridge is safe; Silvera said a recent inspection produced typical findings for a bridge of this age and that the structure is safe. Councilor Reese and others asked whether the authority had traffic counts and whether work could be staged at night; officials said work will be both day and night and that the authority will coordinate with police and fire for public-safety logistics.

Silvera also addressed recurring customer complaints about E‑ZPass billing that the authority is trying to fix. She said walk-in centers and phone lines are taxed by a high volume of calls and by scam text messages that prompt customers to call. \"We do not text you for payment. We will never do that,\" she said, and encouraged customers to email the authority's customer-service address and noted a $10 transponder replacement cost. She said some transponders purchased in 2008–2009 have dying lithium batteries and recommended replacement; the authority has supplied handheld transponder testers to several AAA offices to reduce customer trips to Jamestown.

The authority said the overlay may occur after July 4 or after Labor Day, depending on coordination with municipalities, major events and the university academic calendar. A complete deck replacement is on a longer capital schedule and will be studied with a consultant; some options discussed include phased weekend replacements or temporary superstructure sections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","06/09/2025 Portsmouth Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority told Portsmouth officials it will micro-grind and apply an ultra-thin bonded overlay to the Mount Hope Bridge and is moving forward on a federal‑supported cable dehumidification project while also expanding customer support for E‑ZPass problems.","taxTitle","Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island","taxId",79583,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6206887,"Council Asked Why Town Administrator Hired Melville Park Steward Without Council Vote",192,603925,796755,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e&start=603&end=796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e/thumbnail_603925.jpg","/articles/6206887/Rhode-Island/Council-Asked-Why-Town-Administrator-Hired-Melville-Park-Steward-Without-Council-Vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206887-b46998af437e3680b999f47f35f6fe51/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143694&Signature=cVUYrr0XZEDPGGhU6-uPBdp4nropmHRmEF9cKskc~5~uoUtB-i4grSov4tK97zSlaAlqsqcG7K-nPoxswMxhCIB3yHasUgMu9R9~tPyvB125obhdCwM-c~wXzK0BZtkHifiZYALJWFegQyqUo54ZY~NmouZ14QgSPl9TvpsPHIwkH~GrLtxeH7qvKhNCkyZVJIuXepNqG9RdWMFsfysK9Lh6ewRfsfkIvsegCOuiis6QLUW9hL-c45SSEw631gR40p4vJx~H9Ts9sxC7KyOE5n28yxe-vhq1e2EpemSsLd7LSpMeQzuVfqsJoadFzJD428CeNW9dhXm4z8pJBqz07g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Administrator Luis Raynor announced a temporary seasonal pilot position to serve as a Melville Park steward and said the pay would be capped at $8,000 for a 20-week, part-time assignment.

The announcement prompted questions from resident Larry Fitzmaurice and others about whether the council had to approve the hire and the funding source. Fitzmaurice said the council’s practice has been to approve new positions and their funding and asked why that had not happened this time. \"I believe that these things, when we add personnel to our employees in town government, council is supposed to be approving the position and the funding,\" Fitzmaurice said.

Raynor replied that the position is a temporary seasonal contract and that past practice has been for seasonal hires to be handled by departments, not the council. \"This person is not going to be a town employee. They're going to be a contract employee, just like seasonal employees we've hired through DPW over the past 5 or 10 years,\" Raynor said. He said funding exists in the Melville Park budget line and that the $8,000 cap keeps the pilot within existing appropriations.

Town Solicitor (name not given) said he reviewed the charter provision Fitzmaurice cited and did not believe that the charter required council approval for a temporary, seasonal hire assigned to an existing department. He advised that if the position becomes permanent it should be included in the next budget for council approval.

Residents raised liability and insurance questions. Tom Grebe asked whether the contractor would supply liability insurance and whether the town would withhold taxes. Raynor said the hire will be under a 1099 contract and that the town carries insurance; staff said they would follow up with a definitive answer the next morning.

Council members suggested modest next steps: asking the solicitor to screen for potential ethical conflicts if the committee chair also serves in a paid role, preparing a job description for the ethics commission if needed, and directing staff to confirm insurance and contractor paperwork before the steward starts. No formal council vote was taken on the hire; Raynor said the recruitment and appointment fall within administrative authority for seasonal/contract hires.

Councilors and residents also discussed committee continuity and whether the Melville Park Committee could sustain volunteer maintenance without the pilot. Raynor said the pilot is intended as a short-term experiment to evaluate whether a part-time steward improves trail and vegetation maintenance and whether a permanent part-time position should be proposed in the next budget.

The council did receive two resignations earlier in the meeting (including Mr. Luce’s resignation from the Melville Park Committee) and approved other routine reappointments and committee vacancies by recorded motions during the meeting.","At the June 9 Portsmouth Town Council meeting residents and councilors debated the town administrator’s temporary seasonal hire for Melville Park, with questions about whether the appointment required council approval and how liability and funding would be handled.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6206872,"Council Approves $209,990 to Replace Radios After Statewide Network Notice",920,6536105,7456670,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e&start=6536&end=7456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e/thumbnail_6536105.jpg","/articles/6206872/Rhode-Island/Council-Approves-209990-to-Replace-Radios-After-Statewide-Network-Notice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206872-30fe9f8cf85457a6f58e655004290c66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143694&Signature=DfcL8F5-KO2t4bkp27SFky5NK7AA~kM1Yi0QBHtodd0F0K6aFVCveHtGVSxaenf0-22ddyDWTLFHQvBvQoPa4QXz8BF8HFN1hBRSYSt18y90JJPSdV8jOGulbxpwjmdBp8AuRPn7nQjRJaRFB90ZVUOPQ48HzirpnPVnvgV5q0HIQjSa5XSV0NTFPBzesgCo2qM5vrFUBscFF7p96kXSgMIQQBCelx9C0uf7V5IDCtzdY2vBwG~ur8O7P4cc348TuJuDqFs2xVAzGzC1H2mEtx6Bc1hB8EpJkDq4WLQiou8SYWLaN2bofcG6kRe62vUBTjiJBpTBes7CrRoBr90nFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors approved a one-time reallocation of $209,990 in under‑spent FY2025 salary lines to a restricted account to purchase replacement radios after the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency announced the Motorola XTS and XTL models will no longer be allowed on the statewide network after June 30, 2028.

\"The Rhode Island EMA has announced that Motorola XTS and XTL radios will no longer be allowable on the statewide system after 06/30/2028,\" Town Administrator Luis Raynor told the council. Raynor said the town inventoried police, fire and DPW equipment and identified 22 vehicle radios and 25 portables that will need replacement. He said the municipal finance director identified vacancy savings in policing and other lines that could be reallocated, so no new revenue or levy increase is required.

Deputy Fire Chief provided technical detail and said the town can use Kenwood radios for fire and DPW on the statewide network in some cases; police radios require encrypted-capable Motorola models. The deputy chief said Kenwood units are substantially less expensive than Motorola and that the town will mix vendors where permitted to lower costs.

Councilor Gleeson and others questioned the timing and whether the notice had been sudden. Raynor and the deputy chief said the town learned of the formal deadline in the last month and moved quickly to secure budget authority and early ordering to avoid shortages and price increases.

The council voted 7–0 to place the funds into a restricted account and authorize the purchase planning and phased ordering to beat anticipated supply shortages and pricing pressure as other jurisdictions act on the same mandate.","Portsmouth council approved reallocating $209,990 of underspent FY25 budget lines to buy vehicle and portable radios after the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency restricted older Motorola XTS/XTL models from the statewide network.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6206877,"Portsmouth Council Debates $12,000 Chamber Dues, Supporters Cite Regional Economic Returns",3732,2377600,6110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e&start=2377&end=6110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3760172-a47064edae21c896a8c715c2e42fa42e/thumbnail_2377600.jpg","/articles/6206877/Rhode-Island/Portsmouth-Council-Debates-12000-Chamber-Dues-Supporters-Cite-Regional-Economic-Returns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206877-5b8bda5a0559472672658ec65c5a5bf7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143694&Signature=QQBC-52F6z3vtuAJzWDIQk-L82E7edoc35y4CklOglPpNCEWTaAobjx5DoDTGnAgaq1ZF5PRCTBHtO4tBRWAKd7xaYy2sr47NHKZoYAR8YCniWJmzTcYwmQGNPlok6P3gh40rxz34ER8V~6MzCNPI7edgmT1w8eRXVBzLVTpfa0tnITyMvplfLz7uE1RCQvUSKDBzBrZHVwnZldJqwUQyquJVZRpKGJHr5B-3DNzxsg9S-YQk0Esj9OA4w2Hknmv7ICQncqKTXPZolFvf7MH9tjfe-d0PZ77PmLuJ3h5gOiS~kUNhEYEeahBMTHiL4dkwXNjBTt-yrgza0PlqOPFlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erin Donovan Boyle, president and CEO of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, presented the organization’s regional economic development work to the Portsmouth Town Council on June 9, describing a four‑pillar strategy — Enhance, Advocate, Innovate and Connect — and a regional Connect Greater Newport program that Portsmouth joined in 2019.

\"Connect Greater Newport ... is a public private partnership where all of the communities throughout Newport and Bristol Counties contribute resources,\" Donovan Boyle said, describing business-retention outreach, a \"soft landing\" attraction program funded with a Commerce Corporation network innovation grant and research reports on housing and broadband.

Councilors and residents exchanged views about whether Portsmouth should pay roughly $12,000 in annual dues to the chamber. Tom Grieve, a Portsmouth resident who spoke during public comment, said the chamber is a private membership organization that primarily advocates for businesses and should not be subsidized from public tax dollars. \"The Chamber of Commerce is a private organization that and foremost exists to advocate for and promote the interests of businesses, not the interests of residents or the municipality as a whole,\" Grieve said.

Other speakers urged a broader view. Council supporters said the chamber helps the town access grants, coordinate regional planning and connect local employers with workforce and innovation programs. Councilor Baier noted that the chamber helped trigger collaboration and programs with Roger Williams University and the city’s innovation center; Portsmouth’s economic development committee chair said Connect Greater Newport created opportunities for municipal-business connections and grant partnerships.

Councilors asked administration staff to clarify how the dues are recorded in the budget; several councilors said they preferred the town’s contribution to appear in a civic‑support section for transparency. No formal action was taken on the chamber membership during the meeting; councilors said they would continue the budget discussion during the upcoming budget hearings.

Donovan Boyle said the chamber has about 900 members and that the Connect Greater Newport partnership pools municipal and private resources to pursue business outreach, a business walk and annual economic pulse reporting. She said the chamber has leveraged regional grant funding from foundations and federal sources to support studies and implementation work.","The council heard a presentation from Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce President Erin Donovan Boyle about regional economic programs and Connect Greater Newport. Several councilors and residents debated whether Portsmouth should allocate roughly $12,000 in annual dues from town funds to the chamber.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State Authority Schedules Mount Hope Bridge overlay, outlines cable dehumidification plan and E‑ZPass fixes

Council Asked Why Town Administrator Hired Melville Park Steward Without Council Vote

Council Approves $209,990 to Replace Radios After Statewide Network Notice

Portsmouth Council Debates $12,000 Chamber Dues, Supporters Cite Regional Economic Returns