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Town manager reports PFAS settlement payment, road safety assessment and school bond timetable
Summary
Town Manager Ralph Malis updated the council on PFAS settlement payments, a road safety assessment award, school bond planning toward a Sept. 15 Stage 2 submission, and other municipal projects including the Woodward waterfront parking lot and broadband/camera appropriation requests.
Town Manager Ralph Malis told the North Kingstown Town Council the town received its first PFAS class-action settlement installment — $552,114 — and expects additional payments toward roughly $3.5 million before costs and fees.
Malis said the council and town solicitor previously approved joining the class action. He said the council will approve any spending of settlement funds but that he hopes the money will pay for PFAS decontamination, replacement of affected wells the town voluntarily closes, and PFAS-free gear for firefighters.
Malis reported that the town is preparing a Stage 2 submission for the school building project to the Rhode Island Department of Education with a target date of Sept. 15. He said the town’s goal is to secure as close to 35% reimbursement as possible and that the school building advisory committee will meet this week.
On traffic safety, Malis said Baumann Consulting Group will conduct a road safety assessment on two locations identified in the town’s Safe Streets proposal: a segment of Pawtucket Road and the intersection of Stony Lane and O’Baptist. The study, running July through September, will identify safety deficiencies and recommend improvements.
Other updates included progress on the Woodford Waterfront municipal parking-lot project (phase 1 binder course placed), lifeguard staffing and beach parking-pass enforcement at town beaches, seasonal ADA sand-and-water features, and a planning timeline for the public safety complex and police station floor plans with a public meeting likely after Labor Day.
Malis told the council that the governor, Daniel McKee, is scheduled to visit on July 17 for a community education roundtable with parents participating in a Learn365 RI program; the town will provide childcare during that event. He also noted two appropriation requests submitted to the state: $625,000 for a broadband and camera system and $250,000 for rehabilitation of the Old Town Meeting House.
Malis announced a free “Family Day” at Wilson Park on Sept. 6 and a planned August visit by artist Thomas Dimbo and his team to begin work on a public sculpture (a “troll”), with staff seeking sponsorship to help cover costs beyond grant funding.
