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Council votes to place Department of Facilities question on February ballot after motion to reconsider
Summary
After a motion to reconsider passed, the North Smithfield Town Council approved a proposed charter amendment to create a Department of Facilities and Capital Assets and agreed to renumber existing sections; the vote passed by roll call with three yes votes and one no.
The North Smithfield Town Council voted July 20 to place a charter amendment on the February ballot that would create a Department of Facilities and Capital Assets (Article 15, Section 12) and renumber the subsequent section.
Council moved first to reconsider the question that had failed previously; the motion to reconsider was seconded and passed by roll call. The council then voted on the substantive question to authorize the ballot item. Clerk roll call shows Mister Cristoforo, Missus O'Hara and Mister Punchak voting yes and Miss Ellis voting no. The chair confirmed the procedural steps required under council rules before the reconsideration motion was allowed.
Supporters said the change would centralize management of municipal assets and help the town track spending. Opponents reiterated earlier concerns about creating a new department during tight fiscal conditions. The council’s action places the question before voters rather than implementing an administrative change immediately; any final change will depend on the outcome of the public vote.
