The North Smithfield Town Council on Jan. 6 authorized a request for proposals to replace its current grant-writing contractor, approved a $151,396 bid to repair the Morey communications tower, voted to participate in the state Municipal Resiliency Program, and approved several smaller items including a senior-transportation contract amendment, a utility pole installation and a holiday-sales business license.

The council approved the RFP to seek a new grant-writing firm after members and the administration said they wanted a vendor with stronger state and congressional contacts and a track record of originating grants. Town Administrator (unnamed in the record) told the council that two short-term documentation needs related to multigenerational facility grants required immediate attention and that the town could, under the administrator’s authority, hire a contractor for work under the $5,000 threshold while the RFP process runs. “The grants have already been awarded… the money has been awarded to the town already,” the Town Administrator said, explaining the need to complete federal paperwork now. The council approved the motion to go to RFP on a roll-call vote with members present voting yes.

Why it matters: council members said a new contractor should be able to originate larger awards and work closely with state departments and the congressional delegation; the change could affect how the town pursues funding for major projects including the multigenerational facility.

The council also awarded the construction contract for the Morey tower rehabilitation to Mill City Construction, the lowest bidder, for a base bid of $151,396. The project will use a Department of Justice appropriation of $140,000 secured with help from Senator Reid’s office; the administration said it expects to use the grant and draw on a town capital reserve account with $86,733.69 if needed. Officials warned that environmental testing for asbestos or lead could increase the final cost. The administration said the grant has an internal expiration date in June and a submission due date of 04/30/2025; the council directed staff to bring the final contract back for formal approval if Mill City submits a separate contract document.

On the Morey tower item the administration and consultants had prepared bid documents and recommended Mill City after comparing bids with the project estimate. One council member indicated they would recuse from the vote; the meeting record shows the award was approved by the members voting on the item.

The council voted to join the Municipal Resiliency Program, a partnership led by The Nature Conservancy and the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank that provides a town-level workshop, staff support and a final report assessing local climate-related risks and adaptation steps. The administration said participation requires no direct financial investment from the town but will require some staff time to form a local core team and host a public workshop. The administrator said participation also makes the town eligible for Infrastructure Bank grant programs to support projects such as flood mitigation; members stressed the town’s flood-prone areas and interest in state grant access.

Other approvals and changes:
- Senior transportation: The council approved a revised award to Sincere Transportation after the vendor adjusted billing to charge per vehicle per hour rather than per person per hour. Assistant Planner Bobby Monaghan told the council the revised non‑handicap rates would be $45–$50 per hour per vehicle and $60 per hour for handicap‑accessible vehicles (both including mileage). Monaghan said residents at the Meadows had already used the service and billed the town about $135 for a three‑hour trip in December. The council also authorized the town administrator to sign contract documents if a revised agreement requires the administrator’s signature.
- Utility pole: The council granted formal approval for Rhode Island Energy and Verizon New England to install a new utility pole at 447 Buxton Street to serve a residence; the director of public works, Ray Pendergast, recommended approval so the installation can be recorded with the town clerk.
- Business license: The Town Council sitting as the Board of Licensing approved a new owner application for Turk LLC d/b/a Rise Up Nutrition at 900 Victory Highway, Unit 17, including a requested holiday-sales endorsement. Applicant David Najera spoke briefly at the podium; the clerk reported the paperwork was in order.

What the record shows about process and next steps: the administration said it is preparing an RFP and, in the short term, may hire a contractor under the $5,000 administrator spending threshold to complete immediate grant documentation. For the Morey tower work, the council awarded the bid but instructed staff to return with any contract the contractor provides for the council’s approval and authorization to sign. For the resiliency program, the administration will form a core team of department heads and selected public members to work with the program.

Public comment at the start and near the meeting’s end included resident Mike Clifford raising questions about the town audit schedule, board minutes filing, microphone use during meetings and concerns about grant‑writer influence and political giving. “This seems to me to be feeding into that…program,” Clifford said, criticizing the concentration of political connections in some grant‑writing firms.

The council adjourned after the votes and directions listed above.