BURRILLVILLE – U.S. Sen. Jack Reed visited the town of Burrillville last week to meet with local officials at Town Hall and visit redevelopment sites in the village of Pascoag.
In a press release following the visit, Town Council President Donald Fox noted that at Town Hall, Reed, his State Director Christopher Albert, and his Director of Federal Projects and Intergovernmental Affairs, Erin Arcand, met with him and Town Manager Michael Wood, along with Supt. Michael Sollitto; Police Chief Col. Stephen Lynch; and Town Planner Ray Goff.
“The discussion centered on projects and programs that are ongoing or planned within town,” noted Fox.
Projects discussed included affordable housing, and the fact that Burrillville has met the state’s 10 percent affordable housing threshold and has plans to add more, including a senior housing project in Harrisville.
“Burrillville’s long-standing achievement of this 10 percent goal allows the town to protect itself and local zoning requirements from undesired development of affordable housing that is outside of the town’s control,” the release noted.
Goff reportedly presented a new site reuse assessment for the now-demolished Metech Mill properties in Mapleville that included both recreational and housing development. The site reuse proposal is reportedly scheduled to be presented to the Town Council at its first meeting in September.
Wood discussed the $1 million Emerging Contaminants grant received from the state, which had financial backing on the federal level. The grant is being used to find a new water supply for Nasonville. The Nasonville redevelopment plans also include sewer extension and could result in cooperation with neighboring towns.
“This project, which is critical for redevelopment in Nasonville, will cost approximately $25 million dollars to develop and build the distribution system,” noted Fox.
The Burrillville Town Council has been working for some years now with the Burrillville Redevelopment Agency and the town administration to start the long-term transformation of the Nasonville Village area.
Also discussed were the Burrillville Addiction Assistance Program and Prevention Action Coalition, which receive federal funding, and the police presence and safety in all Burrillville schools.
“These programs have been successful in Burrillville,” noted Fox. “The Town Council and town administration continue to seek out state and federal grant funds to continue the safety upgrades throughout the Burrillville School District.”
Sollitto discussed the ever-increasing needs of students in schools, while funding is decreasing each year and mandates increasing, according to the account of the meeting.
The group then visited the village of Pascoag to highlight major redevelopment over the past decade. There, Reed met Burrillville Department of Public Works Director Jeff McCormick, Burrillville Redevelopment Agency Chairman James Langlois, and member George Lough, as they visited the recently installed pedestrian bridge, built to span the Pascoag River as an integral part of the ever-expanding Pascoag Riverwalk, noted Fox. The project was financially supported through a grant secured by the senator. The town has plans to connect this Riverwalk project to eventual development of recreational property acquired by the town behind Gonyea Park on Union Pond. The release notes that town officials envision recreational walking trails in that wooded area and fishing access to Union Pond.
The group took advantage of the nice weather by taking a short walk to Burrillville’s newest coffee shop, New Leaf Coffee Coffee Bar, where Reed and others were able to grab a drink and meet with the shop’s new owners. Reed also met with Peter Bancroft, CEO of WellOne Primary Medical and Dental Care, and Chris Mishoe, owner of Bravo Brewing Company.
On behalf of the Town Council, Fox thanked Reed and his staff for their visit to the town’s beautiful corner of the state. He notes he reminded the group of Burrillville’s strong financial standing and strategic foresight in planning for community needs, which makes the town a worthy candidate for future federal grant opportunities. Fox noted that federal grants have and will continue to help the town focus on infrastructure, recreation, safety and housing development, without impacting the Burrillville taxpayer.
