NORTH SMITHFIELD – The Town Council dissolved the two boards that helped to establish a location for the town’s new multi-generational center this week, creating instead the “Halliwell Multi-Generational Building Committee,” to help to guide the project forward.
Councilors voted last year to create a community center at the Victory Highway property that once held Halliwell Elementary School, hiring firm Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype, Inc. for design and construction services in November. The decisions followed years of debate and discussion on the project, which will be funded, at least in part, through federal grants.
Two boards had spearheaded efforts to plan the facility, with a Multi-Generational Advisory Committee, made up of local scouting officials and seniors, advising the council on their needs for the center, while a Halliwell Review Committee analyzed the potential for that particular property, a 32 acre town-owned lot that’s been underutilized since the school closed in 2019. The new center is expected to include dedicated space for both the town’s older residents and for scouting troops.
With the location for the center finally determined, on Monday, the two boards became one, with the leaders of both joining in the mission to move forward with construction at Halliwell.
“They’re advisory. Everything has to come back to the council,”explained Town Administrator Scott Gibbs.
According to a resolution approved unanimously on Monday, Feb. 3, the Halliwell Multi-Generational Building Committee will consist of ten members, including five voting members, two alternates and three members from the town’s professional staff. Councilor David Punchak will serve as the council’s liaison along with four other members with voting authority: Jeff Porter, Linda Thibeault, Scott Sevigny and Jo-Ann Paulhus.
Porter was chairperson of the HRC, which has worked on long term planning for the property since it was first established in 2021.
“They have completed its work,” said Council President Kim Alves. “I just want to thank everyone for their work on it. I know its been long.”
Thibeault, who also serves as chairperson of the town’s Senior Advisory Committee, had led the Multi-Generational Advisory Committee over the past several years. The group also looked at the potential for building the center at an alternative site at Scouter’s Hall.
The voting members of the new board will be joined by alternates Robert Najarian and John Taglione, as well as representatives from the town’s Public Works Department, Planning Department and Building office.
On Monday, Councilor John Beauregard reiterated his concerns regarding funding for construction. The center is estimated to cost at least $6 million, and the town has secured two grants to date totaling $5 million, including $1 million exclusively dedicated to the grounds.
“I just have a problem putting my name on something… we don’t have the money for it,” said Beauregard. “I’m just concerned we’re about to approve something that we can’t finish.”
Gibbs said town officials are committed to filling that gap in funding through additional grant sources.
“There will come a time during the process where we’re going to have to do a gut check on the budget, and depending where we are on that, then we’ll have to make a decision whether or not we can continue to go forward or we have to scale back a little bit,” Gibbs said. “I think that gap can be managed.”
“I have the same concerns,” Alves said of Beauregard’s statements.
“We have to keep in mind – that million dollars can’t be used on the building,” Alves said. “It’s just outside.”
“It’s not for the buildings but it is part of the total project cost,” said Gibbs. “Those types of improvements would have to be made anyways.”
Councilors noted that letters of appreciation will be sent to all who served on both of the two now dissolved volunteer boards.
Are you sure you still have those grants? Maybe Mr Trump and Mr. Musk have cut the funding. I know what will happen funding will be less than expected and then the town will turn to debt aka the taxpayers of NS to make up the difference with zero money for operations. But one person on the new committee will make a promise of funding that will not materialize and then again turn to the NS taxpayers for the funds. Again another idea with zero financial viability. I thought the new administrator was suppose to be experienced at these types of investments and make fiscally responsible decision instead of popular political decisions. Well once again more lies.
This could be the best thing that North Smithfield has done in my lifetime. Imagine the possibilities of a center that could serve the needs of generations of North Smithfield residents. We have an opportunity to build something that might attract businesses, their owners and their families to establish roots in North Smithfield.
Yes, additional monies will be needed, but there are corporate sponsorships, foundational, state, federal and other monetary resources to be approached. I, for one, hope that this project comes to fruition and believe that generations will benefit from the work that Jeff Porter envisions.
Amen. Amen is what you say when you hear a prayer. The town has zero funds to operate the facility at $1 million per year and there will be zero corporate, state, or federal money available. So the tax burden will fall on the taxpayers or you will build a facility that will sit empty because there are zero funds to pay for operations. How about this for a idea let the people who use the facility pay for the use. But what will happen is the facility will not succeed. The problem is the people who want the facility don’t want to pay anything but they want the people who don’t want or use the facility to pay for it. Waste of taxpayers money.
Hey DT- have you offered up to volunteer for this board (or any other for that matter)? Or have you spoken up at a Town Council meeting in regards to this topic? It would be wonderful to have your expertise.
I believe this administration will do just fine in handling this much needed amenity for the town. Also glad to see the council actually making a decision to move forward on something.
DT is at almost every TC meeting and often makes his voice heard in open forum. Always about not spending money and people being incompetent that work for the town.
You used the right word amenity, that the town cannot afford. The town has survived without this facility for 154 years and I think the town will do just fine without this nice to have if it wants to survive another 154 years. I would rather see the town waste the money on a tax break for seniors than a facility. I bet that if you asked all the seniors in town if they want a tax break or a facility the vote would in a landslide for a tax break.
Actually DT, I grew up in the days that the vast majority of North Smithfield kids went to Tupperware in Blackstone. I would bet that most of them that are senior today, like myself, would also like a place where they could swim, do water aerobics, have their grandkids learn to swim etc. Seniors in town already receive tax breaks and maybe having something to show for them might be a nice change.
Woonsocket with 4 times the population cannot support a swimming pool. It is a very short drive to Woonsocket to use there pool for a fee. But instead you want to use a pool for free on the backs of the taxpayers. So why don’t you invest in opening an indoor swimming pool facility and charge people to use the pool and see if you can make a profit or breakeven. Because I do not need a swimming pool. But I would like an indoor ice skating rink that I can skate for free with the taxpayers picking up the costs. Now in Warwick and Cranston with larger populations they have a swimming pool and ice rink but the facility an operations is supported by the groups that use the facility.
“DT” it’s clear you’re against spending any money whatsoever on community facilities & engagement, schools and personnel. All you are interested in is roads, making sure large young families pay the trash tax and giving seniors tax breaks. Sounds very much like the constant narrative of someone we all know; and no it’s not Tom Devito.
That being said, why should younger families pay higher taxes so seniors can pay lower taxes. You’re all about equity unless it’s age based. Double standard hypocrisy!
“DT”
JP I see you want equity among residents which I agree. So how about we tax residents based on volume instead of housing value or the user pays. So if you have a family of 5 that creates more trash and uses the schools they should pay more tax. Now what I do believe in is being fiscally responsible and doing what is the town responsibility which is roads, safety, and education. Now the town needs to be achieving quality results on the core tasks before it takes on additional responsibilities that is can not handle or afford. For example the core responsibilities in NS are just average but the town wishes to spend additional funds and increase operational budgets on items that add little to no value such as spending many millions of dollar on a multi generational center, over $2M football field, etc. Again I have no problem if the people who want these services support the services with their own money and not my money.
It’s about time! NS has been in Paralysis of Analysis far too long with any nay sayer holding thousands of citizen taxpayers hostage over relatively minor concerns! Now that you’ve finally figured out a proposal made years ago is in fact the best way forward…get it done. Hopefully in this century.