News Room

News Room

Tax bills mailed next week
Tax bills will be mailed next week. August 15th is the due date for the first quarter payment. Just as a reminder, many will receive auto tax bills this year, as we strive to recoup the $2 million reduction in state reimbursement. Please contact us at 767-2200 with questions. We are here to help.

To search the public tax records in North Smithfield, visit
http://www.opaldata.net/ritaxrolls/PublicMain.aspx?MunID=NorthSmithfieldTown

To make a credit card payment / balance lookup visit
https://www.opaldata.net/RIeGov/Login.aspx?MunID=NorthSmithfieldTax

To read more about motor vehicle taxes,
visit http://www.projo.com/news/2010/popup/car_tax/car_tax_reimbursement_FY2011.htm

Water Ban for Blackstone Water Users

The Town of Blackstone has raised the level of restriction for our water ban.
MANDATORY PHASE III WATER BAN
Absolutely NO outdoor lawn watering, pool filling, car washing.
Gardens may be watered on an odd/even basis between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Residents with even numbered homes may water gardens on even days, and odd numbered homes may water gardens on odd days ONLY between the hours of 5:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Violators will be fined according to Blackstone Code Article II 189-8.

Sewer Use Fee Decreases
The town's sewer use fee has decreased almost $30 from last year. Sewer users paid $383.72 last year. This year the new rate if $354.45 for a reduction of $29.27.

The decrease is due to an increase in the number of users in the system. "

REMINDER: Residents should note that the one year tie-in requirement will expire October 19, 2010. There are advantages to connecting to the system before the October deadline, such as a waiver of connection permit fees. The town has also secured low interest loans to assist residents in the process. Anyone with questions regarding sewers should call Jim Wilcox, sewer administrator, at 767-2200, ext. 305.

Child Safety Seat Check
Planned for July 18

The Police Department will conduct a Child Safety Seat Clinic on July 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Smithfield Fire Department located at 675 St. Paul Street. Specially trained police officers will be available to the public to inspect and properly install child safety seats.

If you would like more information about this free service, please contact Officer Gene Cabral of the North Smithfield Police Department at 762-1212.

Recycling and Trash Reminder:
Keep those bins out!

Please remember to keep your recycling bins out next to your trash cans until the trash has been picked up. There are two different trucks that pick up your recycling and trash. If you take your bins in too early, the second truck does not know you recycled and WON'T pick up your trash.

The trash collectors CANNOT go back and pick up trash, so leave those bins out so you don't have to wait a week.

Questions about recycling? Call Donna Kaehler, recycling coordinator, at 767-2200, ext. 345 or 641-9018.

Sincerely,

Paulette Hamilton
Town Administrator

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Hamilton sets course for future

Paulette D. Hamilton, candidate for Town Administrator in North Smithfield has announced that her reelection campaign is underway and will focus on leading through the crisis. "During the past two years, we have had several unprecedented events that have been handled effectively and with outstanding results. We were successful in migrating through an H1N1 pandemic and supplied all town residents, teachers, students and seniors with vaccines to protect them against a deadly flu. The historic floods of 2010 then swept through our area. We secured assistance from FEMA, the federal government, state officials local public safety and DPW departments to assist in clean up,insurance claims, working to get things back to normal and to get people the help they needed. In the most devastating economic downturn since the great depression, we maintained our fiscal stability, recalibrated our bond rating to a higher rating and maintained a healthy surplus that provides a basis for future growth. We worked with residents, through public meetings and written communication, to more fully understand the ramifications of the sewer project of 2009 and have implemented polices and procedures that will ensure continuity as new users connect to the town system. Our most recent accomplishment is the signing of an interlocal agreement with Burrillville, Smithfield and Glocester to share services and equipment, which creates the first formal agreement of multi-jurisdictions in the state. I look forward to my continued service to our community as we head into the future."

Town of North Smithfield

Office of the Town Administrator

June 29, 2010

In an effort to collect taxes due the town, tax collection letters were sent to residents stating that properties that had non- payment of taxes would be sent up for tax sale.

Only residents who owe more than one year of taxes should have received that letter. Resident who owe less than one year should have been sent a letter saying they owed taxes; not a notice of tax sale.

"I want to clarify that residents who owe less than one year of taxes should have received a letter indicating to them that they needed to be current on their taxes. The tax sale letter was sent in error to those resident," said Town Administrator Paulette D. Hamilton. “As soon as I learned of the error, I wanted to notify residents. Some residents who received this notice are under the impression that the town will be asking them to leave their homes. That is not the case and I want residents to know that the town will work toward an amicable solution.”

For more information, call 767-2200, ext . 511.

Town of North Smithfield

Office of the Town Administrator

Press Release

June 25, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NORTH SMITHFIELD – The town has been awarded a $10,637 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant. The money will be used for computer equipment upgrades for the North Smithfield police department as well as the purchase of a taser and training for that piece of equipment.

“Capt. Tom Lafleur has written many grants for the town allowing us to purchase needed items and replace equipment as needed without having to go to the taxpayers for additional funding,” said Town Administrator Paulette D. Hamilton. “His diligence in searching for and writing these grants has helped the taxpayers in our town tremendously. I publicly commend him for his hard work.”

Town of North Smithfield

Office of the Town Administrator

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NORTH SMITHFIELD – Three North Smithfield High School students will be spending part of their summer working as interns at Town Hall, Town Administrator Paulette D. Hamilton announced.

Rachael Gonera, Brian Murphy, and Caitlin Sheridan who are also members of the newly-formed Youth Leadership Association student group will be expanding their knowledge of town government as volunteers.

"I am so pleased to have these future leaders as interns for summer community service. They are learning more about their government and its residents from the inside out,” said Hamilton. “They are all students of Constitutional law and have been reviewing our town charter and the most recent charter revisions that are proposed. This opportunity will give them insight into how government works, provide practical application and give them additional experience on their school resumes.”

NORTH SMITHFIELD – The town will have a municipal court in the fall.

Legislation creating the court was passed by the General Assembly last week according to Paulette D. Hamilton, Town Administrator. The Town Council will submit a resolution to adopt the court and the planning will begin.

Upon the recommendation of Hamilton, the Town Council approved the creation of a Municipal Court earlier this year. A $20,237 Byrnes JAG grant, through the Recovery Act, will fund all the start up equipment needed including software, furniture and recording equipment.

According to Hamilton and Captain Tom Lafleur, of the North Smithfield Police Department, who have been working on the initiative, the court will create a gross income of about $75,000 for the town. Annually the court is expected to cost $23,000 to operate with an anticipated net income of $52,000 per year.

“In an effort to fund the court, without taxpayer assistance, we were assisted in our grant application by the Burrillville Police Department and received $20,000 for all our start up costs. I would like to extend thanks to both Police Department’s for their cooperation in making this a reality,” stated Hamilton.

The court will operate out of Scouter’s Hall with two sessions per month being planned. This court will hear cases for moving and non-moving violations, animal control and zoning issues, among other things and allow residents the opportunity to be heard in their own town.

“Rather than pay the state to adjudicate municipal matters, we will keep the money here to benefit our own community. It will also help us hear cases for zoning and animal control, for which currently do not have a venue,” said Hamilton. “Every step we take, no matter how small it may seem to some, collectively helps the town in the long run.”

Docket for Woonsocket City Council meeting of July 07 2010

Town of North Smithfield

Office of the Town Administrator

Press Release

May 26, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

North Smithfield Great Pumpkin Festival Set for Saturday, Sept.18

NORTH SMITHFIELD - The 4th annual Great Pumpkin Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18 at North Smithfield High School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 19 has been established as well.

North Smithfield non-profit community and school groups are invited to have a free booth to help raise awareness and funds for their specific organization. Letters will be going out to the different organizations, but in the interim, organizer Doug Guilbert wanted to let these groups know go ahead and begin planning.

"This community festival is a great way to have fun and to support our local school and community organizations. We also need many more volunteers to assist in the overall event,” said Guilbert. “There still is no charge for the groups to have a booth; we just need more volunteers to organize an event of this size.”

For more information, call 765-3274, e-mail dguilbert@ft.newyorklife.com or visit the official Great Pumpkin Festival Web site at www.greatpumpkinfestival.com.