Thursday, May 16, 2013
Your guide for life in East Greenwich today, May 16.
East Greenwich Fire District meeting CANCELLED: The meeting was cancelled to due a lack of a quorum. This could be the last time the EG Fire Commissioners meet officially, since the bill to abolish the fire district and establish a town fire department awaits Gov. Chafee’s signature. 7 p.m. at Town Hall. AARP Safe Driving Class signups: East Greenwich Senior Services is offering an AARP Driver Safety Class at Swift Community Center next Wednesday, May 22, at 1 p.m. The instructor is our own Carl Hoyer. The only trick is you need to sign up by tomorrow. On Friday ... Bike to Work Day: I’ll be biking around EG on Friday (yes, with a helmet this time!). How about you? Goddard Park Farmers Market: It’s back! Actually, it started up last …
Friday, May 10, 2013
Parting thoughts from Fire District Chairman Bill Daly.
As the merger of the East Greenwich Fire District with the town becomes official, I would like to add that it’s been my privilege to have been associated with this fine organization over the past three years. I hope that in some small measure I’ve been able to contribute to the success of the District. The Fire District has some true professionals serving it, starting with Fire Chief Peter Henrikson and including Deputy Chief Russell McGillivray, the administrative staff, Kristen Henrikson and Pam Johnson (since retired), District Clerk Janice Peixinho, and the firefighters. With their continued good diligence the East Greenwich community will be well served. The district has been fortunate to have Peter Henrikson as chief, Scott Spear as…
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Step by step, inch by inch, the demise of the East Greenwich Fire District and creation of a town fire department draws closer.
It's all over but the governor's signature. And possibly another quick vote or two in the General Assembly. Depends who you talk to. What's known for sure is the state Senate passed 35-0 legislation that would abolish the East Greenwich Fire District and make way for a town fire department. That follows a similar outcome in the state House last week. The bills are identical, with no traditional "reconciling" to be done. Still, there are two bills. The governor will sign only one. Which one? But that is a parlor game. The fact is, sometime soon, Gov. Chafee will very much more than likely sign into law a bill calling for the 216-year-old East Greenwich Fire District to cease to exist. That all this takes place just as the budget for …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Your guide for life in East Greenwich today, May 2.
Fire District budget hearing: The East Greenwich Fire District will present its 2014 budget at tonight’s meeting. With passage by the Rhode Island House Wednesday of a bill to transform the separate Fire District into a town fire department, the budget presenation could represent the last time such an action is taken. The meeting begins earlier than usual – at 6 p.m. – at Town Hall. Mystery Carnival: I wish I could tell you more about what I'm calling the "mystery carnival," in the parking lot in front of Marshalls at Hunt River Commons. Alas, the information has been harder to get than a good parking space on Main Street! But I did hear the carnival opened last night, so it's a good bet it will be open this afternoon and evening. I'll …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The full Senate could hold a vote as early as next week.
The Rhode Island House voted 73-0 Wednesday in favor of a bill that would abolish the East Greenwich Fire District, allowing for the establishment of a Town of East Greenwich fire department. Two members abstained. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Anthony Giarrusso (R-E.G.). It came at the request of the Town Council following a two-thirds majority vote on a referendum last November that asked EG voters if they thought the Fire District should become part of the town. As it stands, the Fire District is a completely separate municipal entity, with its own taxing authority. An identical bill is before the state Senate. The Senate Finance Committee approved that bill Tuesday; a vote before the full Senate could happen next week. If that bill …
Monday, April 29, 2013
The R.I. House Municipal Government Committee approves a bill allowing the Town of East Greenwich to take over the Fire District; the full House will vote on the bill on Wednesday.
The Rhode Island House Municipal Government Committee approved a bill Thursday that would dissolve the East Greenwich Fire District, making way for the Town of East Greenwich to establish a fire department. It was the first legislative hurdle toward a takeover following passage of a referendum last November in which voters said a town fire department was preferable to a separate fire district. "We're very pleased," said Town Council President Michael Isaacs simply. The House bill now goes before the full House on Wednesday. Meanwhile, on the Senate side, the Senate Finance Committee will vote on the bill on Tuesday. If passed there, it will then go to the full Senate. Since both bills are identical, it would seem there would be no need …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Your guide for life in East Greenwich today, April 25.
House panel to vote on EGFD bill: The R.I. House Committee on Municipal Affairs is scheduled to vote on legislation to merge the East Greenwich Fire District with the Town of East Greenwich. Approval will move the bill to the full House for a vote. It’s to take place “at the rise of the House,” – in other words, sometime after 4 p.m. Room 203 of the State House. Fire District meeting: On the agenda is discussion and possible vote on the purchase and sales of the property at Cedar Avenue and Post Road, as well as the possible abatement of taxes for Stanley Bostitch on its South County Trail. The meeting will be held in Council Chambers at Town Hall at 7 p.m. Dining Out for Life: Participating restaurants across Rhode Island, including our …
Saturday, April 13, 2013
The land at Post Road and Cedar Avenue may include a Native American burial ground.
Archeology investigators found a skull last week on the parcel of land at Post Road and Cedar Avenue wanted by the East Greenwich Fire District for a new fire station. It is presumed to be Native American remains. The Fire District is looking at the parcel of land to build a replacement of Station 1, the Main Street fire station. The Fire District presented the reasoning behind building a new station at a special meeting last Feb. 18 at New England Tech. The main reason to move the station is because most EGFD calls are coming from beyond the downtown area and the only other fire station is located across town on Frenchtown Road. The state has put a $360,000 price tag on the property. The company undertaking the investigation – Public …
Friday, April 12, 2013
The House Municipal Affairs Committee heard testimony on the takeover legislation Wednesday.
The fat lady hasn't sung yet, but Town Manager Bill Sequino is beginning to prepare for the town's acquisition of the East Greenwich Fire District. The House Municipal Affairs Committee took up the legislation Wednesday, a week after the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on their bill. Neither panel has voted on the bills yet, which is necessary before they can reach the floor of their respective houses for full votes. Still, Sequino said he is confident the bills will pass. "What issues do the legislators have?" he said Thursday. "They only heard from two Fire Commissioners, testifying as individuals," who were against the bill. "Seems to me, on a local bill where almost everyone's in agreement, why wouldn't they pass it?" The "…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
If legislation to merge the EG Fire District into the town passes – as expected – town departments will bear the burden.
As legislation that would transform the East Greenwich Fire District into a town fire department wends its way through the General Assembly – with a House hearing Wednesday – Town Manager Bill Sequino acknowledged some of his department heads are less than happy with the prospect of the additional work the merger will bring. "Some of my people may not want to take on more work," he said late last week. The East Greenwich Fire District and the Town of East Greenwich are two distinct municipalities, each with its own taxing authority. In November, voters approved a referendum calling for the abolition of the Fire District and the establishment of a town fire department. Such a change can only be accomplished at the state legislative level…
Gene Dumas
8:14 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013
Thank you and all those that have served on the EGFD Commission for over 200 years! Commendable! more ›