Episode Three: The Police Station Renovation
In this episode of Public Comment: North Smithfield, hosts Elizabeth Hammond and Sarah LaFontaine take a deep dive into the decade-long saga of the North Smithfield police station renovation. From the 2014 bond and the failed 2023 ballot measure to the $9 million bond approved by voters in 2026, they break down every major decision, misstep, and milestone along the way.
In this episode of Public Comment: North Smithfield, hosts Elizabeth Hammond and Sarah LaFontaine take a deep dive into the decade-long saga of the North Smithfield police station renovation. From the 2014 bond and the failed 2023 ballot measure to the $9 million bond approved by voters in 2026, they break down every major decision, misstep, and milestone along the way.
Learn why the Bushey School building — built in 1929 and converted into the town's police station — has deteriorated to the point of being nearly uninsurable, what structural issues like asbestos, crumbling brick, and exposed wiring mean for officers and residents, and why the debate over "police station" vs. "public safety complex" matters more than it might seem.
This episode also covers lessons in municipal transparency, proactive infrastructure planning, and how North Smithfield residents can participate in the public comment process before renovation decisions are finalized.
Episode Two: The Halliwell Property
"It's 2019 to 2024 before they say we have to tear it down. That's going through multiple terms of town counselors and town administrators. And we don't have a good answer for why it took so long."
View the complete transcript.
Hosts: Elizabeth Hammond & Sarah LaFontaine
Episode Summary:
Elizabeth and Sarah dig into one of North Smithfield's longest-running unresolved issues: what to do with the former Halliwell Elementary School property. After the school closed in 2019, the town has spent seven years cycling through proposals, committees, and pivots — and still has no community center to show for it. With a $4 million federal grant on the clock and election season approaching, the hosts break down the full history and what residents can do right now.
In This Episode:
Recording Day Chaos – The episode almost didn't happen: a hotspot internet connection, and a fully recorded episode that was never actually started. They're back, 10 hours later.
Why Two Parts? – What was planned as one episode on Halliwell + the police station became two separate episodes to give each issue its due.
What Is Halliwell? – A quick explainer on the former Halliwell Elementary School, closed in June 2019, tucked off Route 146A.
A Pattern of Delays – From the 2019 closure to a January 2024 demolition decision, the hosts trace five years of inaction, committee turnover, and deferred maintenance questions.
The Multi-Generational Center Vision – What the town could build: a space for seniors, young families, after-school programs, and community connection — and why it matters as North Smithfield grows more diverse.
The Funding Gap – $4M secured via congressional grant (expires 2031), but the $7.29M project has a $3.29M shortfall. State and federal grant priorities aren't lining up, and the town isn't classified as a disadvantaged community.
The Scouters Hall Pivot – Town Administrator Scott Gibbs proposed moving the $4M grant to renovate Scouters Hall instead — folding it into a broader Main Street revitalization vision. The hosts walk through the pros, the concerns (parking, zoning, scout program access, feasibility), and why it might just restart the clock again.
Grant Risk – If the federal government recalls unused grant funds, the town could lose the $4M entirely — a real possibility in the current political climate.
Open Meetings Act & The Pace of Government – Why every pivot adds months (or years) of mandated process: public comment, advertising, environmental studies, rebidding.
Committee Morale – When the town council doesn't follow its own committee's recommendations, what's the point of having a committee?
Election Season – All five town council seats are up. Residents who care about Halliwell need to show up now.
Call to Action:
Attend a town council meeting and speak during the public comment period (3 minutes, any topic, no agenda requirement)
Email your town councilors
Join the Facebook group: Public Comment North Smithfield (residents only)
Follow on Instagram: @NPublicCommentNS
Website: NSPublicComment.com
Hosts: Elizabeth Hammond & Sarah LaFontaine
Episode Summary:
Elizabeth and Sarah dig into one of North Smithfield's longest-running unresolved issues: what to do with the former Halliwell Elementary School property. After the school closed in 2019, the town has spent seven years cycling through proposals, committees, and pivots — and still has no community center to show for it. With a $4 million federal grant on the clock and election season approaching, the hosts break down the full history and what residents can do right now.
In This Episode:
Recording Day Chaos – The episode almost didn't happen: a hotspot internet connection, and a fully recorded episode that was never actually started. They're back, 10 hours later.
Why Two Parts? – What was planned as one episode on Halliwell + the police station became two separate episodes to give each issue its due.
What Is Halliwell? – A quick explainer on the former Halliwell Elementary School, closed in June 2019, tucked off Route 146A.
A Pattern of Delays – From the 2019 closure to a January 2024 demolition decision, the hosts trace five years of inaction, committee turnover, and deferred maintenance questions.
The Multi-Generational Center Vision – What the town could build: a space for seniors, young families, after-school programs, and community connection — and why it matters as North Smithfield grows more diverse.
The Funding Gap – $4M secured via congressional grant (expires 2031), but the $7.29M project has a $3.29M shortfall. State and federal grant priorities aren't lining up, and the town isn't classified as a disadvantaged community.
The Scouters Hall Pivot – Town Administrator Scott Gibbs proposed moving the $4M grant to renovate Scouters Hall instead — folding it into a broader Main Street revitalization vision. The hosts walk through the pros, the concerns (parking, zoning, scout program access, feasibility), and why it might just restart the clock again.
Grant Risk – If the federal government recalls unused grant funds, the town could lose the $4M entirely — a real possibility in the current political climate.
Open Meetings Act & The Pace of Government – Why every pivot adds months (or years) of mandated process: public comment, advertising, environmental studies, rebidding.
Committee Morale – When the town council doesn't follow its own committee's recommendations, what's the point of having a committee?
Election Season – All five town council seats are up. Residents who care about Halliwell need to show up now.
Call to Action:
Attend a town council meeting and speak during the public comment period (3 minutes, any topic, no agenda requirement)
Email your town councilors
Join the Facebook group: Public Comment North Smithfield (residents only)
Follow on Instagram: @NPublicCommentNS
Website: NSPublicComment.com
Episode One: Welcome to North Smithfield
Meet Sarah, a lifelong Rhode Islander with deep local roots, and Elizabeth, a transplant who fell in love with North Smithfield’s character. In this episode, they dive into the town’s population growth, local government, and the major issues facing the community today. Get the full story on the town’s changing landscape and what’s next for its residents.
View the transcript.
Sarah and Elizabeth introduce themselves and their podcast — a monthly deep-dive into local politics and community issues in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, told from the perspective of two neighbors, small business owners, and moms who are doing the research so you don't have to.
Meet Your Hosts Sarah is a lifelong Rhode Islander whose husband's family has called North Smithfield home for four generations. Elizabeth is a transplant who fell in love with the town's community and character after moving from the suburbs. Both are therapists, both are on the North Smithfield Democratic Committee — and both make clear this podcast is entirely independent of that affiliation.
A Little Town History North Smithfield broke off from Smithfield in 1871 and is made up of five mill villages along the Branch and Blackstone Rivers. Its population hovered around 3,000 in its early days, dipped as mills closed, then grew steadily after WWII — reaching roughly 12,500 residents in the 2020 census. Today the town is a mix of multigenerational families and newer arrivals drawn by open space, good schools, and proximity to Providence, Worcester, and Boston.
How Local Government Works North Smithfield has five at-large town councilors (elected by ranked choice vote to two-year terms) and a full-time town administrator (four-year terms). Boards and committees — staffed entirely by volunteers — do the deep research and bring recommendations to the council. Sarah and Elizabeth highlight both the generosity of those who serve and the challenge of keeping seats filled.
The Budget The FY2026 town budget is approximately $55.3 million. Funding comes from property taxes ($11.49 per $1,000 assessed value), ~$16 million in state aid (including ~$9 million for schools), fees, and grants. North Smithfield carries about $10 million in an emergency reserve fund and tends to be skeptical of taking on debt via bonds.
Major Issues on the Horizon (all getting their own deep-dive episodes)
Police Station / Public Safety Complex — The building has twice been deemed uninsurable without emergency repairs. A $9 million bond recently passed after a $20 million proposal was rejected years earlier.
Hallowell Community Center — The former elementary school building has been demolished, leaving an empty lot. Plans for a community center (with event space, a larger food pantry, senior programming, and afterschool activities) have stalled repeatedly.
Route 146A Corridor — A stretch through town that's underdeveloped, with potential for new businesses or housing but no clear plan yet.
The Quarry — A mining company operating near residential areas, facing allegations of excess dust, illegal blasting hours, noise violations, and groundwater impact. Neighboring residents have been the primary advocates, using drone footage and public records requests to document violations.
The Junkyard — A residential-area junkyard with a history of citations for taking in unlicensed hazardous materials, non-compliant vehicles, and failure to properly fence the sprawling property. The town council recently extended the operator's compliance deadline, frustrating neighbors.
PFAS / Groundwater Contamination — PFAS has been detected in school well water. Much of North Smithfield relies on well water, and the long-term solution — connecting the whole town to municipal water — would be a massive, grant-dependent infrastructure project at a time when federal grants have been cut.
The Recurring Theme Delay, delay, delay — then a rushed, expensive fix when the problem becomes a crisis. Sarah and Elizabeth argue this pattern shows up across nearly every major issue in town, and they're here to shine a light on it before things reach that point.
Correction: In the podcast, Elizabeth mentioned volunteering at CPAC in 2010. The conference she was referencing took place in 2011.