Wednesday, December 2, 2020        

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Home for the Holidays House Decorating Contest

Do you have the most festive home in your neighborhood?

The Town of Smithfield invites you to participate in our first annual holiday home decorating contest!

To enter, email Town Manager, Randy Rossi with your name and address.  Please also specify whether you’d be willing to have your address posted on our website through the month of December for community viewing.

Entry deadline is Friday, December 18th at 4:30pm

Contest judging will take place from December 18th-21st and winners will be notified on December 22nd.  First, second and third-place winners will receive prizes that include cash, gift cards and more!  All participants and winners will also be recognized at the first Town Council meeting in January. (Flyer)

Checkout these displays that have been entered into the contest.

22 Candlewood Drive, Greenville, RI
12 Lisa Ann Circle, Greenville, RI
11 Joyce Ann Drive, Smithfield, RI
12 Pineridge Drive, Smithfield, RI
11 Lakeside Drive, Smithfield, RI
13 Cherrywood Drive, Greenville, RI
2 Willow Road, Greenville, RI
6 Carltons Trail, Smithfield, RI
5 Eisenhower Drive, Smithfield, RI
10 Baldwin Drive, Greenville, RI
5 Clark Road, Smithfield, RI

Car Tax Bills will be issued the week of October 12th

Update October 7, 2020:  Car Tax Bills will be issued the week of October 12th

The Town of Smithfield will issue motor vehicle tax bills the week of October 12th. The first quarter due date for these tax bills is November 16th, with subsequent quarterly payments due according to the normal quarterly schedule at the end of December, March, and June.

These tax bills are being issued before the finalization of the Rhode Island state budget. If the final state budget includes any changes to the motor vehicle tax phase-out calculation, the Town of Smithfield may be required to issue additional supplementary tax bills.

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September 1, 2020: The Town of Smithfield has further postponed the mailing of motor vehicle tax bills amid delays in the state budget caused by the pandemic.

The 2020 real estate and personal property tax bills were mailed on July 31st, and town officials anticipate motor vehicle tax bills will follow by the end of September after state lawmakers reconvene to pass the budget.

 

Four Recycling Events on Saturday, November 7th

Four Recycling Events on Saturday, November 7th

Restore RI Small Business Grant Program

RISmallBiz - Masthead (2020)

Commerce RI listens to RI Small Business Coalition, makes Restore RI small business grant program more inclusive and simplified, program updated September 22, 2020.

Rhode Island Commerce announced that the Restore Rhode Island grant program expansion launched on, Tuesday, September 22. This new round will feature expanded program eligibility, an updated application process with reduced documentation for all applicants, and other new program features. In the seven weeks since the program began receiving applications, nearly 900 Rhode Island small businesses have already received Restore RI grants totaling approximately $8M.

Key Program Changes

    • More businesses are now eligible including sole proprietors and businesses without employees and businesses with up to 50 FTEs
    • Streamlined grant amount calculation process: any eligible business with at least 30% revenue loss in a month March to July may now apply.
    • Fewer documents to upload for all applicants

Important note: if you are a business who has already applied for the Restore Rhode Island grant program and was previously deemed ineligible (perhaps because you were a sole proprietor with no additional employees) you will NOT need to reapply for the program. To request your previous application be reactivated, contact Commerce here.

NEXT STEPS

All applicants:

  • Most recent business tax return (sole proprietors must provide schedule C), ownership information, Business EIN/Tax ID
  • Revenue (sales) records for a month March to July of 2020 and for either the same month in 2019, January 2020 or February 2020.
  • DUNS number (federal requirement to receive grant funds). You may request one here. Important: when prompted to select the “Primary Reason for DUNS Number Registration,” please select “I’m a US Government Contractor or Grantee” from the dropdown menu. Selecting any other option could result in a 30 day wait for your DUNS number.
  • Records of your eligible expenses and information about state or federal funding you’ve received, including PPP, EIDL, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Unemployment Insurance, among others.
  • Owner info: government ID (e.g. driver’s license), SSN, and most recent tax return

Applicants with employees or independent contractors will also need:

  • A completed grant calculator: download the template for the grant calculator here
  • Employment and/or contractor tax records. Applicants must have their IRS 941 or RI-TX 17 from Q1 or Q2 of 2020 and 2019 IRS 1099s if listing independent contractors.
  • Current bank statement for the business

We will continue to update you as we get more information, and here to help you to ensure you apply quickly and accurately. 

LEARN MORE

Smithfield Launches New Citizen Reporting Tool Powered by SeeClickFix

The Town of Smithfield has partnered with SeeClickFix to announce a new platform that will allow citizens to report quality-of-life issues and request town services.

With the free SeeClickFix mobile app and web tools, Smithfield citizens will now be able to provide town staff with pictures, videos, specific descriptions, and more valuable information needed to get the job done efficiently. In addition, the SeeClickFix platform provides Smithfield officials with a centralized issue management system to manage issues from creation to resolution — engaging citizens throughout the process.

This partnership not only allows Smithfield citizens to report problems, but also to view and comment on problems submitted by their neighbors. Citizens can even create their own “watch areas” to receive notifications about all the issues reported in their community, enabling them to follow the progress of all service requests — not just the ones they report.

The SeeClickFix mobile app is available for download on Android and iPhone. In addition to the mobile apps, citizens can send reports to Smithfield’s website, and seeclickfix.com.

 

 

 

About SeeClickFix
SeeClickFix was founded in 2008 to empower citizens with tools to publicly document quality of life concerns in their neighborhoods. By radically improving the quantity and quality of this data, SeeClickFix was quickly adopted by local governments, who needed a better way to receive information from citizens.
This exchange helped to build one of the largest neighborhood networks in the world — upon which public agencies and public citizens engage to improve communities. Today, SeeClickFix has official partnerships with hundreds of cities, engaging hundreds of thousands of citizens in the resolution of millions of issues.
SeeClickFix has worked with government partners to develop municipal management tools on top of this citizen network. As SeeClickFix is adopted into the everyday lives of government users, the benefit of the engaged citizen base continues to grow.

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Esmond Street Water Main Replacement Project

The Esmond Street Water main replacement and relining project will begin on Monday, August 3rd. Providence Water Supply is upgrading their distribution system to improve service to its customers. In order to complete this work safely, and in an expedited manner, Esmond Street will be closed to through traffic.

The Department of Public Works has worked with Providence Water Supply and their contractor, Boyle and Fogarty Construction, to develop the detour plan along with notifications to the residents of the pending construction. Attached is the traffic detour plan and estimated project schedule.

The project timeline is about 2 ½ – 3 months without permanent road restoration, which would be performed in Spring 2021.

Smithfield COVID-19 Response Update – November 23, 2020

 

November 23, 2020
 
 
Dear Residents, Businesses, and Community Partners:
 
I hope you and your family are doing well and staying safe. 
 
Rhode Island’s healthcare system is experiencing a record number of hospitalizations due to the rising cases of COVID-19. This is putting extreme stress on the healthcare system and its workers.
 
We all must make immediate changes to our daily activities and routines. Residents should limit the amount of people they are in contact with and the number of places they are going on a daily basis. Please plan for small Thanksgiving gatherings limited to your household.
 
With the rise in cases, the State of Rhode Island announced a two-week “pause” with new closures and restrictions – some are immediate and others will begin November 30th.
 
  • Effective immediately:
  • Social gatherings are limited to those within your household.
  • Stay-at-home advisory continues:
  • 10:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. Sunday – Thursday
  • 10:30 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
 
The following changes are in place from November 30 – December 13:
 
Over the next three weeks, please keep healthcare workers and small businesses in mind. If individuals refuse to follow the guidelines, they are putting healthcare workers lives and the livelihoods of small businesses at risk. Let’s come together to overcome this virus! 
 
Supporting Local Businesses is Key
These new restrictions present additional barriers for small businesses, during a time when they are already struggling. I strongly urge residents to Shop Local this year. Many are offering online ordering or curbside pick-up.
 
Businesses:
  • The online application form, webpage, and FAQs are now available for the relief program for restaurants and bars here.
  • Box stores will be required to have a plan in place to handle the expected increase in holiday and Black Friday customers.
  • For more assistance programs, please visit the Business section below. 
 
The Smithfield Town Hall will be closing its doors for public traffic beginning today, November 23rd. Town Hall business will continue as normal and all staff will be available by phone, email or the two secure drop boxes located in the front of Town Hall. 
 
Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation.
 
Sincerely,
 
Randy R. Rossi
Town Manager
 
General Information:
 
Testing: visit
 
Travel:
  • Please limit your travel.
  • Testing for those planning to travel
  • Testing Rhode Islanders who travel to or from the states listed here must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Rhode Island or schedule an asymptomatic test. 
 
Behavioral Health Resources
  • Adults seeking mental or behavioral health support should call BH Link at 414-LINK (5465). For services for children, call (855) 543-5465.
  • People with moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD) can access telehealth service for initiation of buprenorphine treatment at (401) 606-5456.
 
Business Support
  • Business Assistance: For business economic support, constituents should visit CommerceRI.com, call at 401-521-4357 (HELP), or email.
  • Breakrooms:  The Governor has ordered on the closure of breakrooms for 90 days. Employers are still being encouraged to let people work from home to the greatest extent possible.
  • Business Assistance: The Restore RI program has been expanded. Learn more here and here.
  • Remote Work Technology Grants available here.
  • Relief program for restaurants and bars that must close earlier than usual due to COVID-19 visit.
  • Please encourage your employees to sign up for asymptomatic testing at portal.ri.gov
 
Child and Family Assistance
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants are now able to select and pay for their groceries online using their EBT card at Amazon and participating Walmart stores. For more details, visit dhs.ri.gov. 
  • American Red Cross: Established the Virtual Family Assistance Center to support those that lost loved ones. Visit their website or call (833) 492-0094.
 
Employment Support
  • RI Navigator provides resources for jobseekers to learn new skills, explore career options, and prepare for a job. RI Reconnect.
  • Employment: Jobseekers should visit EmployRI.org to find jobs as well as other important resources including information on unemployment insurance, résumé tips, and other COVID-19 updates.
  • Unemployment Insurance: Visit RI DLT for information, applications, and factsheets. Contact the Department of Labor and Training at 401-234-4280 or by email. 
 
Food and Medication Delivery Services
  • RI Delivers: Through the Office of Healthy Aging, RI Delivers connects those in quarantine or isolation with access to food and medication delivery services. To contact call 2-1-1 or the Point at 401-462-4444. Visit RI Delivers
  • RI Thrives is available for deliveries of groceries, medication, and health, beauty & medical supplies. For more information go to: RI Thrives.
 
Housing Assistance and Information
  • Safe Harbor Housing Program: an eviction diversion effort to serve as an alternative to the traditional eviction process and provide landlords and tenants an opportunity to work towards a solution outside of the court system. Tenants who are behind in their rent because of COVID-19 and in danger of eviction, or who have already received an eviction notice, can call 211 to be connected to the program.
  • Renters and Homeowners: For constituents seeking housing-related information and resources, visit: RI Housing
  • Housing Help RI: The statewide homelessness prevention initiative provides emergency housing assistance to very low-income renters who have been severely affected by the COVID-19 emergency and are at immediate risk of homelessness. Visit: Housing Help RI
 
Violence Prevention Support
  • Safe at Home: The Rhode Island State Police launched Safe at Home to raise awareness of the threat of increased violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Safe at Home is focused on connecting with those who may be facing violence at home and providing all Rhode Islanders with resources to identify and help those at-risk.
  • Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence and member agencies are open, as are domestic violence shelters. Those seeking help can call (800) 494-8100.
 
Additional Resources and Support
  • RI Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – The Commission now has a website dedicated to COVID-19, with specific information that is critically important to members of the community with hearing loss. The site has videos presented in American Sign Language http://www.cdhh.ri.gov/covid-19/
 
Questions About COVID-19: Please visit the R.I. Dept. of Health website for factual up-to-date information or call 401-222-8022. In addition, the United Way is available 24-7 to answer questions and connect residents with resources through their 211 hotline. 

 

East Smithfield Public Library Update

Starting on Wednesday, July 15 the library will be offering additional services. We will have appointments for computer use on Wednesdays and Fridays. Please call the library between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (231-5150 ext. 5) to set up your appointment for that day (1 hour time slots will be given from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. to 2 people at a time to ensure social distancing regulations of 6 ft.). Face masks MUST be worn in the building.  Assistance with or instruction on computers will not be available at this time because of social distancing requirements.

We will also offer 20 minute appointments for you to come into the main floor of the building to browse new books and DVDs and check them out. If you request material that is available in the library at the time of your appointment a staff member will retrieve it for you. Only 1 person will be allowed at a time. You can call for your appointment from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Face masks MUST be worn in the building.

We will continue to offer contact-less pick-up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesdays please call the library (231-5150 ext. 0) between 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. to request your pick up on the same day between 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. On Thursdays please call between 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. to request pick up on the same day between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Please feel free to call during these times to request items through inter-library loan or ask any other library related questions.

 

Attention Businesses! Take It Outside Applications Now Available

The Town of Smithfield was recently awarded $75,000 in grant funds to serve as an intermediary organization to use the funds to cover the cost of producing wintertime events and procuring items such as heat lamps, tents and tables.

The Take It Outside Initiative was created to encourage and increase outdoor commerce and reduce the transmission rate of COVID-19. To support these efforts, the Town of Smithfield and Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, are supplying businesses with select outdoor equipment.

The Application Period began on Wednesday, October 28th and closes at noon Friday, November 6, 2020. The Town will make every effort to fill eligible applicants’ requests; however, there is limited funding available. The average estimated value of items distributed to each applicant is expected to average $2,000 to $3,000 in value, with a maximum amount of $7,500, depending on the number of requests received and if additional funds become available.

Smithfield Take It Outside Application (.pdf)

Town Manager Signs Executive Order Extending Expanded Outdoor Dining

Restaurateurs: On Monday, November 30th, the Town Manager signed Smithfield Executive Order 2020-04 extending expanded outdoor dining and developing the necessary procedures for a streamlined approval process. Please complete the online application here.

From Town Manager Randy R. Rossi: 
“Today, I have signed Executive Order 2020-04 extend the expanded outdoor dining to accommodate the outdoor dining option for restaurants through December 31, 2020. The Town is reaching out to all restaurants to provide the necessary guidance and a streamlined process.”
 
Helpful Documents (.pdf)


Submission Requirements

All Applicants must submit an online application here :

  1. A plan showing:
    1. The proposed outdoor service area;
    2. The proposed number of seats (capacity may not exceed the current licensed capacity);
    3. The location of physical barriers or other protection to keep diners separated from other trafficked areas; and,
    4. For restaurants wishing to temporarily convert a portion of off-street parking areas into service areas, a parking plan;
  2. Evidence that the expanded service area is covered by liability insurance;
  3. Where any portion of the proposed area of temporary expansion is owned by a separate legal entity, a written authorization from the property owner; and
  4. All temporary expansions of service areas shall make adequate provisions for parking and the physical safety of diners, and shall be operated in compliance with current:
    1. Social distancing or other applicable regulations issued by RIDOH and/or RIDBR;
    2. All applicable fire codes and provisions of the Life Safety Code;
    3. Applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and,
    4. Shall maintain a setback of at least ten feet (10’) from the front side and rear property lines of the licensed premises, and shall maintain a setback of at least twenty feet (20’) from any property line abutting a residential use.
  5. The hours of operation of any temporary outdoor service area approved hereunder shall be limited to 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
 
 
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