[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6551864,"mediaKeyId","5323158-804ac1a8c63597640f6add69f900ffad","parentId",5323158,"title","Council endorses architect for new library site and discusses town office space within project","audioSeconds",2974,"startMs",2996000,"endMs",5970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5323158-804ac1a8c63597640f6add69f900ffad&start=2996&end=5970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5323158-804ac1a8c63597640f6add69f900ffad/thumbnail_2996000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551864/Rhode-Island/Council-endorses-architect-for-new-library-site-and-discusses-town-office-space-within-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551864-b3a4ab80edbfa4e875b537ad8caadc42/orig.mp4?Expires=1775307199&Signature=DBwmlw4n5gZwaICTOQKNellbe61Rp-YnY8bnO3pl4PIIRH4sjfZuD84wmRz6L-uzbORgiNMmMMDE3LoP1cd18yRf7Nsp1onseU7NtkUfT0S2JG~s9U3gABj013WIlSyM6jj150bcqJh~bF6Ijdb5aQ3Srp2M7VwhSECQi-zYZB~vMEtnUSD9S1WKUepmOwFX~Ga0VmMIWmXTKYzxS4OJX~dRhL8eEtc9oc4cBe1B-2twjCPv9gCE8oFkHOFRLbJlyQj8bKHJuDLXAN7ZGnhEtCO4Z7xKWlpsphRuFMNKVZllYAk9mngnDIJ0s0YLkPNkLviRc6Dp-JXZvo2hcUNB5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Middletown, RI","date","2025-07-07T21:57:57Z","article","The Town Council approved a recommendation from the library building committee to hire Odin's Architecture to design the renovated library at 110 Enterprise Center. The Town Administrator and the library committee said Odin's was selected from six proposals and that construction-manager selection is underway.

Town Administrator Sean Collins told the council the library building will include space for town offices; staff estimated roughly 5,000 square feet for town functions and about 25,000 square feet for the library. Collins said the architect contract and cost accounting will separate town-office design and costs from reimbursable library elements because the state library fund will reimburse only library-eligible costs. The town administrator said the library board may already have approved a recommendation earlier in the day.

Councilors discussed the original intent when the building was purchased, and several said the parcel was bought for the library but town staff explained the idea to use a portion for town office functions developed during negotiations and planning. Staff said allocating some town office space reduces future operating costs and avoids renovating a separate property across a highway that the town had earlier considered for overflow space.

The council approved the architect contract and authorized the town administrator to execute the agreement; the council also discussed scheduling training for new board members and coordinating project meetings. The town's projected all-in budget for the library project was discussed in general terms and the town administrator said funding plans will include bond proceeds and that the fund balance will cover invoices prior to bond issuance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 7, 2025 Town Council","oneSentenceSummary","The council recommended an architect for the new library and discussed using part of the building for town offices; staff said about 5,000 sq ft could be allocated to town offices with the library occupying roughly 25,000 sq ft and some state reimbursement expected for library construction.","taxTitle","Town of Middletown, Newport County, Rhode Island","taxId",58176,"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},6551868,"Council interviews candidates and appoints six members to Zoning Board of Review",281,2309000,2590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5323158-804ac1a8c63597640f6add69f900ffad&start=2309&end=2590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5323158-804ac1a8c63597640f6add69f900ffad/thumbnail_2309000.jpg","/articles/6551868/Rhode-Island/Council-interviews-candidates-and-appoints-six-members-to-Zoning-Board-of-Review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551868-e4798afe36fe5307fb496e7ca658f223/orig.mp4?Expires=1775307199&Signature=TX0B652-wtW093qdXTUe1lZcB3xdnvVteL2Q0NKGpLZNUT9wPCOHeB-ayt16hxGcB165Wd5ZghtnVgMMQUIXJ0nUQZpxdO-bEe6K59U-X8Z1jiDZJVGmjlFOfzvbXkryPDN0-dJgtcfkeaEZS2~7TcWdXcyaYr-rpMPn~RroQQ9LHxcNWXH2OtVaLZOJkuUPlrP6DXnywDBGcICWPu7HdAtfVYkf0XvsvkiShdeVJrs0p1av66es8BWYZ6aCCsGokI3uaa4kbII2E9uLIkHqTTE4wCQd-dqs-VvdC6c0Z6CoMLcSAvSJBtWJvdJlI-JHdU~CtZFgoXPlvfQS8b4qKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council conducted interviews with applicants for six vacancies on the Zoning Board of Review and then appointed candidates to fill regular and alternate seats.

Councilors interviewed new applicants and returning volunteers, asking the seven standard questions on ties to the community, experience, land-use priorities and availability for regular fourth-Tuesday meetings. Candidates who addressed the council included Alicia Reyes, Rebecca Rogers and Christopher Rowe; applicants described long residency, community involvement, professional and volunteer experience and a desire to preserve Middletown’s character while balancing growth.

After interviews the council voted to appoint multiple candidates to regular and alternate positions on the zoning board. Nominations and votes were recorded on the council floor; in one contested regular-seat vote the record indicated a 4–3 result in favor of Mark Donahue for a term expiring April 2026. Other appointments included Rick Lombardi (regular member, term expiring April 2030), Rebecca Rogers (regular member) and Christopher Rowe (regular member and alternates as noted in the minutes). The council also agreed to schedule orientation and ethics training for the new members; the town clerk will follow up with letters and swearing-in.

Council discussion that followed placed the round of appointments in the context of state zoning-law changes that shifted some regulatory authority from the Zoning Board to the Planning Board, creating multiple vacancies and a need for new volunteers.

The council motioned and passed the appointments by roll-call votes and voice votes. New members will be sworn in after receiving official notices from the town clerk and will be offered training and an ethics briefing, either in person or online.","After public interviews, the Town Council appointed six people to the Zoning Board of Review to fill multiple vacancies, and discussed the board’s changed authority and training for new members.",{"_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},6551873,"Middletown council approves major school-construction subcontracts as project stays on schedule",600,3720000,4320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5323158-804ac1a8c63597640f6add69f900ffad&start=3720&end=4320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5323158-804ac1a8c63597640f6add69f900ffad/thumbnail_3720000.jpg","/articles/6551873/Rhode-Island/Middletown-council-approves-major-school-construction-subcontracts-as-project-stays-on-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551873-49af4e335a7f2c7903f0ce6fa8a81147/orig.mp4?Expires=1775307199&Signature=UNgmADKJbxyiyx9Zvf9wo2-WrwaAjnE8QTnwREPfmWrJNypDGRr~sN0q6iFo0KWAVSy-2HdoblAARm5mdpDdGxq7c2gntkLqZPVIBHcCrhj86zU1sCo8kNM0DB0aHqxm5C8Qh96jTtj9amIkJ7WZGaGTiUOwTpQAuWB1ssXJzLeNcN07-URYB96nWwVJ8mKHRmTPqSUaFMt2YUYHML0Our6Vc7EazcEbwAzInq2Qtci7aB7s0Tnj1HFIAL-fMeU1x4WhCCGn6puEModdehgGthINtJdlomRvB5VRQ1VZttnJGIO3ivcBCUjfkdDxKPMSvMRYfB-RQvGz3olCHNY7cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council on a series of motions approved subcontracts and authorizations for the new Middletown Middle–High School and renovation work at the elementary complex, awarding trades including roofing, glazing, gym equipment and site work and authorizing alternates to make the building storm-shelter ready.

Town project manager Justin Bernard told the council the packages recommended by Colliers and Gilbane follow the project schedule and budget. Among awards the council approved were: Patrick McKenna Roofing for roofing; JK Glass Company for interior glazing; National Equipment and Facility Solutions for gym equipment and bleachers; and contract amendments for trailers, site work, and electrical storefront and curtain wall work. Bernard said the roofing bid included a warranty per the design team, and the gym equipment package had a substantially lower low bid, which project staff attributed to vendor buying power and scope compliance.

Bernard also presented an Authorization to Proceed (ATP) to upgrade the school generator to 800 kW and to change windows in the gym area to hurricane-rated glazing to make the gym a true shelter. Town staff said the total for the two alternates was $484,308, and that school construction costs tied to shelter upgrades may be partially reimbursed by the Rhode Island Department of Education under the project memorandum of agreement.

For the elementary school renovations, Bentley Companies and Colliers recommended awards for acoustical ceilings and low-voltage work. The acoustical ceilings contract included an owner allowance for removal and reinstallation where above-ceiling utilities exist. The low-voltage award included a small owner allowance to cover an area-of-rescue provision tied to a potential elevator alternate.

Town Administrator Sean Collins and project managers told the council site mobilization and groundbreaking have been completed, topsoil is being hauled, concrete work is about to start and required state approvals have been received. Collins said the project remains on budget and on time and that the construction manager will submit a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) once the remaining packages are awarded. He also told the council the project team is actively tracking minority- and women-owned business participation and expects upcoming packages to bring overall participation closer to targets.

Councilors moved and passed resolutions directing the town administrator to authorize Gilbane and Bentley to award the recommended subcontracts, and to record related expenses in the school capital project fund.

Votes at a glance: The council approved the recommended awards and ATPs by motion and voice vote; councilors followed staff recommendations and authorized the town administrator to proceed with notices to award.

The project team said further trade packages remain to be procured in subsequent rounds; project staff estimated a total of roughly a dozen additional RTAs for the middle–high school and another dozen for the elementary project before the GMP is finalized. Collins said contingencies remain in place and that the town has budgeted contingencies in capital funds to cover expected adjustments.","The Town Council approved multiple subcontract awards and alternates for the new Middletown Middle–High School and renovation work at the elementary complex, and authorized the town administrator to notify contractors. Town staff said the project remains on budget and on schedule.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council endorses architect for new library site and discusses town office space within project

Council interviews candidates and appoints six members to Zoning Board of Review

Middletown council approves major school-construction subcontracts as project stays on schedule