North Smithfield planning board recommends Dr. Roberts as liaison to Groundwater Protection Committee; committee reports outreach on PFAS, wells

The North Smithfield Planning Board on May 8 recommended that Dr. Roberts serve as the planning board liaison to the town's Groundwater Protection Committee and received an update on the committee's recent public outreach and planning work.

The vote followed a report to the board describing a Department of Health-funded mini grant the committee used to educate residents about drinking water issues and to conduct a needs assessment of community concerns. "The purpose of the mini grant was to educate the community on drinking water in our community and to do a needs assessment to find out what are concerns of the community," Dr. Roberts said. He told the planning board the committee focused on PFAS, nearby Superfund sites and private-well testing.

At the meeting Dr. Roberts said the committee partnered with URI Extension to provide expert information and offered a public testing presentation that drew about 30 people in person and about eight online. The committee also co-branded materials with the Department of Health and used the grant to pay postage for a postcard mailing to every resident. The postcards were described as about a 6-by-8 size intended for refrigerators; the committee also produced roughly 10 posters for public display and a logo to identify its communications.

Committee members described beginning a strategic planning process and invited the public to a continuation session next week. "We started strategic planning a couple months ago'in May we're continuing the strategic planning in this room and members of the public are invited to attend," Dr. Roberts said; the meeting was scheduled for May 14 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.

Dr. Roberts said the committee has openings for a planning-board liaison (the seat the board recommended he fill), a representative from the Conservation Commission or the Land Trust, and an additional community member. He credited board member DJ Oshier with leading the effort to establish the committee.

A motion that the planning board formally recommend Dr. Roberts as the planning-board liaison to the Groundwater Protection Committee passed by voice vote. The board did not record individual member votes in the meeting minutes; the motion carried with board members answering "Aye." The recommendation will be forwarded to the town clerk and the town council for the formal appointment process.

Board members and Dr. Roberts encouraged continued outreach and coordination with town staff for posting materials, and noted local media coverage: Dr. Roberts said organizers learned many attendees had found the event via the Valley Breeze. Members also discussed appropriate locations for posters and agreed to follow property and vendor posting protocols.

The briefing and the liaison recommendation were presented as an informational item and a planning-board recommendation; no ordinance change or binding policy was passed at the meeting.