The nearly century-old former Bushee School is back in the news, slated to soon commence with renovations. Per the article published on NRI NOW and comments made at the 10/16/2025 North Smithfield Town Council special meeting, please note the following observations:
- Per ECC management firm Project Executive Inga Knox, when asked about the state of the building by TC Beauregard: “It’s in rough shape. I don’t know if I want to say it publicly.” Does this instill any confidence in spending additional NS taxpayer dollars to renovate the former Bushee School and transform it into a modern, code-compliant police station?
- TC Punchak, when opining on Tecton Architects, who has designed more than 150 public safety facilities: “That was a statement from an architect that is looking to get themselves involved in an $18 million or $20 million dollar project. You have to do everything you can to further your agenda there.” Does TC Punchak have any proof beyond anecdotal or a “gut feeling” that Tecton was primarily interested in self-enrichment? If not, I suggest the public comment he made (while serving the town as a sitting TC member) is defamatory if not libelous, and likely opens up the town of NS to a lawsuit. I also suggest we employ an architectural firm well-versed in constructing public safety facilities, and not a novice such as Signal Works.
- TC President Alves: “It’s going to be a nice building. It’s going to function and it’s going to be our police station.” The new construction bond didn’t pass because TC Alves and comrades helped to shoot it down, and we are now apparently helplessly stuck with a project severely over proposed budget. How far over budget? Eric Army of Signal Works determined and reported to the TC in October of 2024 (just over one year ago) that the cost estimate was “between $2.7 million and $4.5 million.” Last week we learned that four firms submitted estimates between $5.4 million and $8.3 million – at a minimum a 20 percent increase (high-end estimate vs. low-end bid), and conceivably more than three times the cost estimated by Signal Works. And with add alternates for a Sally Port, Elevator, Garage and Fire Sprinklers (all likely vital per required functionality/best practices, safety and building codes, fire safety codes and ADA compliance) estimated at over $1.5 million, just how high can this project conceivably go?
- TA Gibbs: “We can do this without any impact to taxpayers.” Patently false. Any reserves utilized to pay for the renovation of the former Bushee School are taxpayer dollars in the bank, and utilizing those reserves can adversely affect our finances and bond rating. Per the Government Finance Officers Association, “a common benchmark (for municipalities) is three to six months of operating expenses” in reserves. With an approx. $55.3 million Town of NS budget for FY 2025-2026, that equates to at least $13 million recommended for NS to have in reserves – that is, in the bank. At (as reported) $10.8 million in NS’s unrestricted fund balance, we are currently not close to being where we need to be, and according to major credit rating agencies like Fitch, Moody’s and S&P, “a decline in reserve levels is a common trigger for a negative rating action or downgrade.” It appears the utilization of reserves will come at a potentially significant negative impact to taxpayers – and, as a kicker, what is the probable cost of a proposed special election to NS taxpayers? “There has to be some debt on this project” – spot-on there TA Gibbs.
- TC DeCristofaro: “It’s our responsibility to be as transparent as possible with our constituents, and they need an understanding of what happened between $4.4 and $6 million. We need to understand what transpired. It is probably inflation.” Agreed TC DeCristofaro, transparency (and accountability) should be much more than campaign buzzwords, and architect Signal Works should be pressed for answers in this regard. However, with US inflation rates of 3.4%, 2.9% and 2.9% (to date) from 2023 through October 2025, inflation is not likely the only culprit.
At this point, and considering the above commentary, this taxpayer doesn’t want to see the town spend another nickel on a “tired, old building” (per TA Gibbs), until we have hard answers to the posed questions, transparency, accountability, definitive estimates and a plan – another failed bond referendum is not the solution. Agreed – hire a firm to perform pre-construction analysis and estimates and give taxpayers a conclusive budget, and then determine next steps. Until taxpayers get concrete answers, any renovation work should cease.
The “embarrassment” cannot be allowed to continue.
Tony Guertin
North Smithfield
Tony Guertin the person with zero fiscal responsibility still flapping his gums. Taxes are sky high as people are struggling to make ends meet. It was voted on twice and was rejected in a landslide. Second the police department is a mess with multiple lawsuits and zero accountability and enforcement of the law. The current police department does not even enforce simple traffic and vehicle laws. A new police station who just reenforce poor performance .
They hope fewer people will vote since it’s an off year, that way it’s rammed down our throats.
NS stands for “Nothing Smithfield”
Nothing happens, never progress, never proactive approaches to things. Nothing but NS = NON SENSE!!
The town has NEVER had a police station – Ever!!
A town hall building where the police operated out of tie basement doesn’t count.
A turn of the century school building retrofitted for a station doesn’t count.
It’s about damn time to just build a police station (from the ground up brand new) and call it a day.
The same approach to studies, kicking the can down the road, putting lipstick on the pig isn’t helping anyone or future generations. A pig is. Pig no matter how you dress it.
Those who came before us sacrificed for what we have today. We have to sacrifice for the betterment of our future community.
Once again, it was voted on already and the people of the town said no.
To quote the famous Benjamin Franklin:
“The masses are asses”
This town needs a police station and so much more….
It needs to rid of small minded townies who obstruct and delay any progress because of the “us vs. them” mentality
Amen!
I can empathize with your opinion Gus, as it does seem that almost nothing gets done with our town government. It can also be said that at least some of the reason for this political quagmire is our groundhog Day mindset that we can keep going back and submitting the same tired ideas for consideration. We have limited resources which are exacerbated by a bleak outlook for government subsidies in the foreseeable future. Until we actually prioritize a list of projects which are considered important to the future benefit of endorsement field will continue to spend in ever widening circles. A dollar is a dollar no matter how you spend it.
We had a priorities list for roads and that didn’t even get followed.
It doesn’t seem that way Mr. Grubb, it is exactly that way. Everyone is afraid to make decisive decisions due to a few, unelected loud voices. We elect a town council that can decide anything. They form a committee to oversee the committee of the committee to make recommendations that go nowhere. What’s even the point of our government. It’s a pathetic joke. Looks at Lincoln, look at Smithfield and now look at burrillville. Progress everywhere; but not here.
This town couldn’t change a lightbulb without ten people underneath it clucking like chickens!!
Or even simply fixing an uneven sidewalk without making a mountain out of a molehill! One day labor, still not done!
So….here’s to another study, to study the study on what was already studied as to needs, and costs. But…but….by the time THAT new study is done, costs would be even higher! What a fiasco!
It’s Deja vu all over again! LOL.
We the people decided and gave a concrete answers of what should happen at least twice now. 61.6% of the town said no new bond measure. Why do you want to go against the will of the town?