Jamestown — Councilors used a Jan. 7 workshop to exchange their top priorities for the coming year and to ask staff for a clear, prioritized plan to match projects with funding options.

“I gave everybody copies of the goals that we had written,” Councilor Mary said, introducing a previous set of council goals and asking members to compare them with individual priorities presented at the workshop. The exchange produced broad agreement on a handful of recurring priorities: water supply and resiliency, major infrastructure repairs and investments, Fort Getty improvements and maintenance, housing (including short‑term rental policy and workforce housing), improved town communications and additional staffing or contracted capacity for grant writing and IT.

Several councilors offered specific emphases. Councilor Eric described his “number 1 priority [as] to look to find a path to generational investment in Jamestown,” citing roads, the bike path plan, Eldred Field improvements and the need to address deferred maintenance at town facilities and the school. Councilor Ed (Town Administrator) told the council staff has compiled a list of active and near‑term projects “somewhere around $22,000,000 worth of projects that we're currently working at,” and he outlined a range of capital needs and permitting hurdles the town faces.

What was discussed
- Water and resiliency: Several councilors called water the town’s top infrastructure issue. Suggestions ranged from feasibility studies and alternative sources to small measures (rain barrels, conservation programs) while staff noted active study and grant applications for water‑system projects and meter replacement.
- Infrastructure and capital planning: Councilors emphasized the town’s capital backlog, from roads and drainage to Fort Getty electrical and camp‑site infrastructure. Several said the town’s practice of yearly small set‑asides is unlikely to remedy large projects given recent spikes in construction costs.
- Fort Getty: Fort Getty was flagged both as an asset that generates revenue (camping, rentals) and as a site with deferred maintenance needing a coherent master plan tied to revenue and investment decisions.
- Housing and senior services: Short‑term rentals, accessory dwelling units and workforce housing were raised repeatedly. Multiple councilors also urged more services and support for the town’s large senior population and asked council and staff to explore options such as assisted‑living partnerships.
- Town staffing and grants: Several councilors proposed investing in staff capacity or contracting for grant writing, IT/cybersecurity and communications so the town can access state and federal funding and deliver better resident services.

Staff asked councilors to prioritize the lists so staff can match those priorities to funding strategies, including grant applications, ARPA, local bonding and Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank loans. Ed said the town is preparing a more detailed, bond‑ready package for larger investments and will return with a recommended order of priorities and estimated costs.

Councilors agreed to continue the discussion at a future workshop and to present a shortened, prioritized goals list that staff can use to guide budget and grant efforts. No votes or funding commitments were made at the session.