Woonsocket Radio News Room

MARCH 17, 2025

6:45 P.M.

NORTH SMITHFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
CHANGE OF LOCATION - NORTH SMITHFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL, 1850 PROVIDENCE PIKE PARTICIPATION FOR THIS MEETING WILL BE IN-PERSON ONLY


The meeting will also be livestream. Please join the meeting (viewing only) from your computer, tablet, or smartphone by clicking on this link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFgw5KxL950ZgZ_DKz8B-MQ
or go to the North Smithfield YouTube page - North Smithfield Town Meetings
*If technical difficulties occur during the livestream the above specified meetings will resume as scheduled.


Documents related to the meeting will be posted on the Town Council’s page of the Town’s website on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., see link here: https://www.nsmithfieldri.org/

FOR BOARDS/COMMISSIONS VACANCIES: https://onboard.nsmithfieldri.org/

FOR ONLINE APPLICATIONS:
https://www.nsmithfieldri.org/FormCenter/Boards-Commissions-5/Application-for-Board-Commission-46


I. OPEN MEETING-PRAYER-PLEDGE
II. ROLL CALL
III. OPEN FORUM – PURSUANT TO 42-46-6 (d) (Maximum 3 minutes per person)
IV. NORTH SMITHFIELD TOWN COUNCIL SITTING AS BOARD OF LICENSING –
Transfer of Liquor License for Buffalo Wild Wings Located at 51 Dowling Village Boulevard
V. DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL, VOTE, OR OTHER ACTION ON PAYMENT OF BILLS
VI. DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL, VOTE, OR OTHER ACTION ON CONSENT AGENDA
All items listed in this section are considered in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilor requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda.
    A. Town Council Minutes of March 3, 2025
    B. Communications
        1. Animal Control Monthly Reports January and February 2025
        1. NSF&R Monthly Report for February 2025
        2. NS Municipal Court Monthly Report for February 2025
        3. NSPD Monthly Report for February 2025
VII. OLD BUSINESS
    A. Discussion by Council, Vote or Other Action on Status/Progress Report of Specific
    Items
        1. Asset Management – Mr. Gibbs
        2. Grants – Mr. Gibbs
        3. Human Resources – Ms. Alves
        4. Municipal Building Review Task Force – Ms. Alves
    B. Discussion by Council, Vote or other Action on Petition/Application for an Amendment to     the Zoning Ordinance Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 45-24-50 and 45-24-51 - 45-24-53 as     follows:
        1. Petition/Application for Amendment to Zoning Ordinance filed by Pound Hill Realty,         LLC, c/o 618 Greenville Road, North Smithfield, RI 02896, the owner of the parcel of land         situated off Old Oxford Road, Pound Hill Road and Pine Hill Road in the Town of North         Smithfield, more particularly described as Town of North Smithfield Tax Assessor’s Plat 7,         lot 38, consisting of 89.44 acres (subject property).
        2. Text amendment and a zoning map amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of
        North Smithfield (the “Zoning Ordinance”). The proposed zoning amendment will create a
        new zoning district “Industrial Special Management District 1 Overlay,” the intent of the
        district is to allow mining, quarrying, sand and gravel extraction, loam stripping, stone
        cutting operations, crushing, washing, and/or processing of materials. The zoning map
        amendment proposes to amend the zoning designation of the parcel of land located at 14         Pine Hill Road in the Town of North Smithfield, more specifically described as Assessor’s         Plat: 7, Lot: 38 (the “Property”) from Rural Agricultural (RA) & Rural Estate Agricultural         (REA) to Industrial Special Management District 1 Overlay.
            a. Continuation of Public Hearing
            b. Discussion by Council, Vote or Other Action
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
    A. Discussion by Council, Vote or Other Action on Approval of Contract Addendum No. 3     from Pare Engineering for Mowry Fire Tower Project – Mr. Pendergast
    B. Discussion by Council, Vote, or Other Action on Resolution in Support of Rhode
    Island League of Cities and Towns 2025 Legislative Priorities – Mr. Gibbs
IX. ADJOURN

Individuals requesting special assistance should contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 767-2200, ext. 504 seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting date.

Agenda posted March 13, 2025

Vice President JD Vance sees a double-standard when it comes to the media coverage of the leaked Signal group chat. Speaking from Greenland, Vance said the American media didn't seem to care when 13 U.S. service members died during the Afghanistan pullout under President Biden. Now, Vance says that same media demands someone get fired over a leaked group chat where no American died.        A halt on President Trump's use of a war time law to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members is being extended. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg extended his temporary restraining order on the Trump administration's application of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act until April 12th. Boasberg previously issued a two week freeze on using the law earlier this month.        A judge is pausing President Trump's dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Trump has been trying to overhaul the watchdog agency, but is facing legal pushback. On Friday, a judge ruled the CFPB will stay up and running until the legal challenges are resolved.        Elon Musk's AI startup is buying the social media platform X, which he also owns. On Friday, Musk announced xAI [[ X-AI ]] acquired X in an all-stock transaction for 45-billion-dollars. He said they're officially making steps to combine the data, models, distribution, and talent.        Utah is the first state to put a ban on fluoride in public water. The mineral is known to help prevent tooth decay. Governor Spencer Cox signed the bill this week and it goes into effect May 7th. While his signature was the final step necessary in the process, he told ABC4 Utah earlier this month that "it's not a bill I care that much about."        The Baltimore Ravens are locking down their future head coach. The team announced its decision to extend John Harbaugh for three more seasons. Harbaugh has coached the Ravens since 2008 and has won the most games in franchise history, with 172 regular season wins and 13 postseason victories.       

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