The Smithfield Town Council on Oct. 7 granted conditional approval for a restaurant change-of-ownership license, contingent on the Rhode Island Department of Health confirming by email that the facility may operate following an inspection.

Applicants Jared and Gina Traficante told the council they purchased an existing turnkey restaurant (transfer of ownership took place Sept. 29) and expected to open within days; they said the state Department of Health was operating on a four-to-eight-week inspection backlog. The Tranficantes said the prior owner had a completed inspection in August and that they had prepared food and marketing under the assumption a transfer could be completed rapidly.

Town legal counsel and staff advised that state health certification is required for food service and that the municipality could face liability if it allowed operation without the Department of Health's sign-off. The council asked staff to contact a health-department contact and the town's EMA director to attempt to expedite an inspection.

Council voted to approve the license on the condition the Department of Health send Lynn (town staff) and Todd (EMA director) email confirmation that the inspection was completed and the facility was cleared to operate. The council instructed staff to follow up first thing the next morning if the Department of Health could not meet the timeline.