NORTH SMITHFIELD – Town Councilor John Beauregard’s proposal to establish a committee for the purpose of recognizing property owners who go above and beyond is on the shelf for now, but colleagues said this week that they don’t hate the concept.
Beauregard explained Tuesday that the idea actually came from his nemesis, frequent critic Mike Clifford, who had recognized the owners of apartment buildings on Victory Highway for the improvements they made to the buildings.
As he kept thinking about it, said Beauregard, he liked Clifford’s idea of acknowledging those who do a great job with improvements and maintenance to make their properties look nice. He joked that Clifford finally had a good idea.
The proposal, said Beauregard, who is not running for re-election, will need to be picked up by a new council going forward, but he envisions formation of a “light, no-pressure” committee where members find properties where residents or business owners are doing an exceptional job of maintaining their properties and making them look nice and presentable.
He said The Valley Breeze newspaper is interested in doing little stories to highlight the awardees, and the town could also promote the monthly winners.
Beauregard said he sees this as a fun little idea to point people out and recognize them for their hard work. Some people truly go above and beyond, he said, and they should be recognized for adding value to not only their own property but the whole neighborhood.
In terms of a committee, some months could see three people show up, some months, 12, and it wouldn’t be formal, said Beauregard, who suggested making it similar to the art committee.
Councilor David Punchak said he could see it being so informal that it might be done via text message from the bar at Village Haven.
Council President Kim Alves said she could see some issues with privacy and people not wanting their addresses out there. Beauregard responded that some people will want to be recognized, others not and they can move on to the next one. Alves then said she could see it generating more traffic in a neighborhood as people decide to go look at highlighted homes.
Beauregard said it’s “kind of a reach” to make something negative out of this, saying it’s supposed to be a simple effort to recognize homeowners and business owners.
Town Administrator Scott Gibbs noted that Woonsocket used to do it and the Highland Park Children’s Center would often win. He said it was a nice gesture.
DeCristofaro said that logistically speaking, she doesn’t see this process being very informal, and it will likely take a lot of time and effort to identify potential winners get permissions, etc. She said it’s probably a great initiative for The Breeze to take on.
She said she does think Beauregard and Clifford are onto something, and she wonders if this might be expanded into a town-run community block grant program for those who want to improve their properties and beautify the town at the same time.
Beauregard said he thinks DeCristofaro is overcomplicating the matter.
“It’s not rocket science,” he said, but a fun idea to give recognition to people who are bettering their neighborhoods. Do with it what you want, he said, but he got a lot of positive feedback on the idea.
DeCristofaro said she thinks the town needs to get a handle on its boards and committees before adding any new ones. Beauregard responded that the effort could be added to the existing art or heritage committees.
He said he thinks the biggest concern from people about running for public office is the lack of imagination on doing good things. This is an easy project to do for the community, Beauregard said, adding that Clifford even “shot down his own idea” because the councilman ran with it and Clifford dislikes him so much.
DeCristofaro said it’s not about lack of imagination, but about where the idea fits and how it can be implemented. Once the town gets a handle on its committees, she said, perhaps it can be incorporated into and existing board or committee and it can be delivered to the vision of those in office at the time. She said she doesn’t think it’s a bad idea.
Punchak suggested that they table it to perhaps four months from now when a new council is in place, but Beauregard responded that the idea didn’t need any formal action right now.
