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Smithfield council approves licenses, contracts and RFPs; schedules hearings and reschedules zoning hearing
Summary
At its Aug. 5 meeting the Smithfield Town Council approved multiple routine licenses and permits, authorized requests for proposals for building and road work, authorized a $38,500 contract for a water infrastructure replacement plan and rescheduled a zoning hearing to Sept. 2 because the Planning Board's findings were not yet transmitted.
The Smithfield Town Council on Aug. 5 approved a slate of routine licenses, mobile food-truck permits, pole petitions and contracts, and authorized several requests for proposals, while rescheduling one zoning hearing to Sept. 2 because advisory findings from the Planning Board had not been transmitted.
Among the votes, the council approved a memorandum of agreement (MOA) modifying a collective bargaining agreement covering the period July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026 between the town and the Smithfield Lodge No. 17 of the Fraternal Order of Police; approved multiple one-day special-event licenses including a fall festival scheduled for Sept. 6 and a Smithfield High School fundraiser on Aug. 14; and granted a variety of massage-therapy, peddler and mobile food-truck licenses for applicants named in the meeting packet. The council also approved a contract not to exceed $38,500 with Beta Group of Lincoln to develop a 2025 clean water infrastructure replacement plan for the town's water system.
The council authorized requests for proposals (RFPs) to restore and repaint the exterior of Town Hall and the Department of Public Works building, to procure an "ultra thin bonding wearing surface" product for road maintenance, and to contract a three-year street-line painting service. The council also approved pole-petition placements for Rhode Island Energy (relocating Poll Numbers 5 and 6 on Hillside Street) and a pole/anchor replacement on Dean Avenue to remove an older tree anchor and install a pole anchor instead.
Public comment at the meeting included a request for clearer accounting in council minutes and agenda items so voters and auditors can see which budget (operating or capital) funds individual items; a resident asked that motions and dollar approvals be tied explicitly to funding sources in the record.
Votes at a glance
- MOA (collective bargaining, 07/01/2023'06/30/2026) with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 17 — approved (voice vote). - Special-event license, 7 Seaters Farm fall festival, 09/06/2025 — approved (voice vote). - Smithfield High School one-day fundraiser (Chick-fil-A), 08/14/2025 — approved (voice vote). - Multiple massage-therapy licenses and renewals (Apple Valley Wellness Center; Body Grateful Day Spa; Oasis Spa, Inc.) — approved (voice votes). - New mobile food-truck and peddler licenses (Adriana Brothers Ice Cream LLC; Johnson's Shave Ice LLC; Chick-fil-A of Attleboro; Cider and Spice) — approved (subject to registrations/health approvals where noted). - New particular license (Ronzio Pizza) — approved subject to Department of Health paperwork. - Pole petitions for Rhode Island Energy and Nano Energy (relocations/anchor replacements) — approved. - Contract with Beta Group to develop 2025 clean water infrastructure replacement plan, amount not to exceed $38,500 — approved. - RFP authorizations: Town Hall/DPW exterior restoration; ultra thin bonding wearing surface (road treatment); street line painting services — approved.
Most motions carried by unanimous voice vote; where paperwork was outstanding (for example, Department of Health approvals or food-truck registration) council approval was conditioned on receipt of those documents. The council adjourned after public comment and brief announcements.
