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Portsmouth administrator says broadband, curbside rollout, fraud alerts and hazard plan advancing
Summary
Town Administrator Rayner updated the council Feb. 10 that Portsmouth will be included in the next round of ConnectRI broadband funding, the town launched its curbside waste program the same day and a free property-fraud alert subscription is now available.
Town Administrator Rayner updated the Portsmouth Town Council on Feb. 10 on several administrative items, saying broadband, a new curbside solid-waste program and a free property-fraud alert service are moving forward.
Rayner said ConnectRI — the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation program implementing broadband funding — has assured town officials that Prudence Island will be included in the next round of infrastructure deployment. He did not give a release date for a specific award but said the next proposal will be released this quarter.
Rayner also announced the town’s curbside waste-and-recycling program officially launched the day of the meeting. He said the sign-up webpage went live that morning, information packets were mailed to residents, carts have been ordered, and stickers are available at the tax office. Rayner said eligible households should sign up by March 28 through the tax collector’s office to receive service starting July 1.
On property recordings, Rayner described a new free Property Fraud Alert subscription available through the town clerk’s records website. He said the service will monitor land-record filings for a registrant’s name and alert subscribers to potential fraudulent recordings; he added the program is an early-warning tool and “does not prevent fraud,” but provides notification so property owners can take action if needed.
Rayner summarized regional planning work on the Aquidneck Island Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, saying a draft will be released for public comment in February and will come before the council in March. He said local approval is required before the plan goes to Rhode Island Emergency Management and FEMA, and that an approved plan is necessary to compete for state and federal mitigation grants.
Other updates: the police department completed its CALEA (Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies) assessment and the final report is pending; the town appointed Matthew Kent, the assistant building official, as building official after State certification and will advertise to refill his former position; town hall will be closed on Presidents’ Day (Feb. 17).
