NORTH SMITHFIELD – The North Smithfield Charter Review Committee has offered a number of questions for voters to answer on the November ballot, including a big one on new four-year staggered terms with term limits of eight years for Town Council members before they’d have to take a break.
Chairperson Jeff Porter told The Local Insider that they consulted with a number of boards and commissions, and feel strongly that all proposed updates are important.
Staggered terms bring more effective governance, he said.
“It helps us against having a complete turnover in the council, which is important when it comes to relationships, and continuing issues, whether they be legal, construction projects, etc.,” he said.
The committee strongly recommended the language on council terms and length.
The council would still consist of five members, but they would serve four-year terms. At the 2028 election only, the three candidates receiving the highest number of votes would serve four-year terms, and the two candidates receiving the next highest number would serve two-year terms, thereby establishing staggered four-year terms thereafter.
No elected town official would serve more than two consecutive four-year terms in the same office, excluding any partial term of less than four years, with eligibility to run again for the same office after a four-year break.
The committee’s first public question and answer session will be held on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Gregory Burnep is vice chairperson of the commission, Rebecca DeCristofaro is the secretary and Town Council liaison, and other members are Beth Newberry and Kevin Newton.
Since the first meeting of the Charter Review Committee last June, members have reviewed all 18 articles of the town’s charter. The committee began by reviewing past documents from previous charter review committees, scrutinized each article, and met with multiple boards and committees.
The committee identified five main areas where effective change and progress could be made by updating the charter language, and members are proposing revisions and new language to articles on the council, Personnel Board, and other offices and commissions.
Another question of particular note asks residents whether to establish a Department of Facilities and Capital Assets, headed by a director of facilities appointed by the town administrator, responsible for managing and maintaining public facilities, developing a capital improvement plan, overseeing construction and renovation projects, managing utilities and energy programs, ensuring compliance with environmental standards, and preparing and administering the department’s operating budget.
This question, if approved, would give the town a more proactive approach to maintenance and planning for infrastructure and buildings, said Porter.
“It’s no secret that the town struggles to maintain its buildings (as evident with the police station), and we need to be better prepared,” he said. “The Asset Management Commission also does not have a town department that they work with, so we are relying solely on the volunteers to make recommendations, and for the council to act on them appropriately.”
There are also a number of updates to language to reflect current practices (in regards to the Personnel Board), and updates with state law.
“This eliminates liability on the town’s end, and brings us up to speed with things that have not been updated since the onset of the charter,” said Porter.
Sandwiched between question one on term limits and question three on the Department of Facilities and Capital Assets is question two to remove the existing prohibition that members “shall (not) hold or be a candidate for any other public office or position” and related political activity restrictions, and to instead provide that Personnel Board members shall not hold or be candidates for elective office within the town, with resignation required upon candidacy. It would permit members to hold or seek elective office in other municipalities or at the state or federal level as allowed by Rhode Island law.
Here’s a link to the committee’s full report.
