Smithfield Council reallocates ARPA money, approves pickleball courts and multiple town contracts

The Smithfield Town Council on Oct. 1 approved an amendment to the town’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations to obligate funds on a group of capital projects before the federal year-end deadline and also approved a series of licenses and Master Price Agreement contracts for recreation and public-safety work.

Councilors voted to reallocate ARPA balances to projects described in staff memos as ‘‘shovel-ready,’’ town staff said. The memo cited an existing award of “over $2,400,000” toward the Smithfield Neighborhood Center as a major funded project that allowed reallocations to cover other needs, including road paving, DPW roof work and new recreation facilities.

The town authorized a $142,250 contract with Narragansett Improvement Company to begin paving work for eight pickleball courts at Willow Field, with surface finish and fencing to follow in spring. The council also approved a $146,051 contract through the state Master Price Agreement with United Fence Construction Corporation to install a 10-foot perimeter fence, 6-foot dividers between courts and a sound-mitigation barrier along the western fence line.

Public Works Director (listed in the meeting record as Shane Allen) told the council the contractor will scarify and regrade the existing pavement, install base asphalt and leave sleeves for later fencing; the director said conduits and water lines are being installed to allow later camera and utility hookups.

The council approved a $312,800 contract with Stillwater Construction under an MPA for an apparatus-bay extension at the Log Road Fire Station, funded from ARPA and capital reserves. Fire Department Chief Sellers said the addition will allow modern apparatus to be housed indoors and reduce maintenance costs associated with keeping vehicles outside. Council also approved related work: installation of three new overhead bay doors for $29,632.50 and electrical work for $47,390.

In other business, the council authorized: a request for qualifications (RFQ) for an owner’s project manager for Stage 1 and Stage 2 school projects required by the Rhode Island Department of Education (CTE, culinary arts and special-education spaces); an RFP for an electronic messaging board at Smithfield High School (a donation from the class of 2020); replacement of infrared heater exhaust flues at the Smithfield Ice Rink; and award of the town insurance broker contract to Capital City Insurance. The council also approved a set of one-day beer-and-wine licenses, mobile food-truck licenses and a peddler’s license as listed on the agenda.

During discussion of the ARPA amendment, a council member asked whether funding for Georgeville Pond aeration would “rectify” recurring blue-green algae; staff said the aeration should improve circulation but noted underlying causes such as septic runoff are not resolved by aeration alone. Resident David Takoyi spoke in favor of the pickleball project, thanked staff and council for reallocating funds, and said the town had previously applied for a $400,000 DEM grant that was not received but did get a $120,000 open-space grant.

All listed motions were approved when put to a vote. The council moved on to public comment and then adjourned.