Woonsocket Radio News Room

DECEMBER 16, 2024

6:45 P.M.

NORTH SMITHFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
83 GREENE STREET, NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI 02896
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 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, December 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., see link here: https://www.nsmithfieldri.org/


FOR BOARDS/COMMISSIONS VACANCIES:

https://onboard.nsmithfieldri.org/


FOR ONLINE APPLICATIONS:


I. OPEN MEETING-PRAYER-PLEDGE
II. ROLL CALL
III. OPEN FORUM – PURSUANT TO 42-46-6 (d) (Maximum 3 minutes per person)
IV. DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL, VOTE, OR OTHER ACTION ON PAYMENT OF BILLS
V. 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 November 18, and December 1, 2024
        B. Communications
            1.  Animal Control Monthly Report for November 2024
            2.  NSF&R Monthly Report for November 2024
            3.  NS Municipal Court Monthly Report for November 2024
            4.  NSPD Monthly Report for November 2024
VI. OLD BUSINESS
    A.  Discussion by Council, Vote or Other Action on Status/Progress Report of Specific
    Items
        1. Facilities Manager
        2. Human Resources Position – Ms. Alves
        3. Municipal Building Review Task Force – Ms. Alves
    B. Discussion by Council, Vote, or Other Action on Salary and Wage Ordinance – Mr. St.     Onge
        1. 2nd Reading
VII. NEW BUSINESS
    A.  Discussion by Council, Vote, or Other Action on Proposed Memorandum of     Understanding (MOU) by and between North Smithfield Fire and Rescue Services, Inc., and     the Town of North Smithfield – Chief Chartier
    B.  Discussion by Council, Vote, or Other Action on Selecting a Date for a Joint Meeting     Between the Town Council, The Halliwell Review Committee, and the Multi-Generational     Advisory Committee – Ms. Alves
    `C.  Discussion by Council, Vote, or Other Action on Amendment of Section 15-5 of the     Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Article II entitled “Length of Service” – Ms. Alves
        1. 1st Reading
VIII. OPEN FORUM – PURSUANT TO 42-46-6 (d) (Maximum 3 minutes per person)
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 December 11, 2024

Russian President Putin says his country is open to a ceasefire plan. During a news briefing today, he reportedly said the proposal needs to "lead to an enduring peace and should remove the root causes of this crisis." This as U.S. officials traveled to Moscow today to discuss a possible ceasefire with Russian officials. Earlier this week, Ukraine said it would agree to a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire plan if Russia did as well.        Anti-Israel protestors are being arrested inside Trump Tower in New York City today. They are calling for the release of a detained activist. Video shows at least 100 people crowded in the dining area of the building. They are pushing for former Columbia student Mahmoud Khaill to be let go after he was arrested last weekend.        Alcohol is latest target of the global trade war. President Trump says he will place a 200-percent tariff on European wine and Champagne. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said it would be in response to a 50-percent tariff on Whiskey implemented by the EU. The President said the union was created for "the sole purpose of taking advantage of the U.S."        President Trump's pick for CDC Director is having his nomination withdrawn by the White House. According to a senior administration official, former Florida congressman Dave Weldon will no longer attempt to be confirmed as the next head of the CDC. It came just hours before Weldon was set to testify before a Senate committee at his confirmation hearing. It's unclear why the nomination was withdrawn.        Cities in the U.S. are growing again, and it's driven by immigration. According to the Census Bureau, the number of people living in U.S. metro areas went up by three-point-two million between 2023 and 2024. That's more than a one-percent gain. Nearly 90-percent of U.S. metro areas grew in population. All of the country's 387 metro areas had an increase in international migration in the same time period, accounting for almost two-point-seven million of the total population gain.        Conference tournament action is in full swing in the college basketball world. Major conferences like the ACC, Big East, and Big 12 are playing their quarterfinal round games today, while the Big Ten and the SEC are playing their 2nd round games. Games of note include number 12 Iowa State vs. number 18 BYU in the Big 12, number ten Clemson against SMU in the ACC, number 23 Marquette vs Xavier in the Big East and Indiana is taking on Oregon in the Big Ten tourney.       

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