Sarah and Elizabeth are back with a deep dive into two of North Smithfield's most contentious local issues. First up: the quarry. Known officially as Material Sand & Stone (or Pound Hill Quarry), this operation has been battling the town over grandfathered mining rights, noise ordinances, silica dust, and well contamination since at least 2022 — though the legal saga stretches back to the 1950s. Then: HT Auto Junkyard, where a change in ownership turned a once-harmonious neighborhood business into a recurring public nuisance complaint — and a lesson in how hard it can be for residents to actually get heard.

But the real thread running through both stories? Citizen advocacy. Not politicians, not agencies — neighbors showing up, speaking out, and refusing to let things slide. With election season heating up, Sarah and Elizabeth break down exactly what you can do right now to make your voice count.

Public Comment: news by the neighbors, for the neighbors. Visit our website at nspubliccomment.com or follow us on facebook @ PublicCommentNorthSmithfield

Sarah and Elizabeth sit down with Paul Jones — small business owner, community advocate, and candidate for North Smithfield Town Council — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to govern a town well.Follow Paul's campaign at his website, electpauljones.com and get in touch at [email protected] Public Comment at  facebook.com / publiccommentnorthsmithfield  In this episode, Sarah and Elizabeth Cover:Paul's background running The Care Concierge and his decades of community serviceWhy North Smithfield is stuck in a cycle of reactive governance — and what proactive leadership looks likeThe Woonsocket Hill Road collapse and what deferred infrastructure maintenance really costsThe long-delayed senior center and why North Smithfield is one of the only communities in Rhode Island without oneBusinesses flouting town ordinances while individual residents get hit with $500 finesThe rooster debate — and why backyard chickens are actually a small business issuePaul's "Day One" priority: a digital town hall for transparent municipal trackingThe nonprofit Elves for Elders, and why it's Paul's proudest achievementElection Bingo — download your card at nspubliccomment.com!Full transcript and show notes are available at nspubliccomment.com

In this episode of Public Comment North Smithfield, hosts Sarah and Elizabeth interview Kevin Carrier, a candidate for North Smithfield Town Council and professor of social and political psychology at Stonehill College.

Kevin discusses his three core campaign priorities: government transparency, environmental protection, and housing affordability in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. The conversation covers the town's communication gaps, the controversy around the police station bond vote, the quarry and junkyard issues affecting residents, and the challenge of keeping North Smithfield affordable for young families and retirees alike.

Kevin also shares why he began attending North Smithfield Town Council meetings, what frustrated him about the public comment process, and what he would prioritize if elected — including making the town budget publicly visible and easy to understand. Full show notes and transcripts are available on our website, https://www.nspubliccomment.com/

Kevin’s campaign website is https://www.kevinforns.com/

The North Smithfield police station has been a problem since 2014. In this episode, Elizabeth Hammond and Sarah LaFontaine break down the full history — from the original $5.4 million bond that wasn't enough, to a failed $20 million ballot measure, to the $9 million bond that finally passed in early 2026.

They dig into what "minimum standards" actually means for the officers and residents who use the building, why crumbling brick, exposed wiring, and asbestos have been left unaddressed for decades, and what the difference between a "police station" and a "public safety complex" really signals.

Plus: why the town's communication failures may have cost them voters — and what you can do right now to make your voice heard before the renovation begins.

Public Comment is your neighbor-to-neighbor guide to what's actually happening in North Smithfield, Rhode Island.

What do you do with an empty lot where a school used to be? If you're North Smithfield, RI — apparently you think about it for seven years. Elizabeth and Sarah dig into the full Halliwell Elementary saga: the closed school, the demolished building, the $5M in federal grants, the multi-generational center that never quite came to be, and the latest pivot back to Scouters Hall. They break down why this keeps stalling, what's at stake with the grant deadlines, and how residents can actually make a difference before the next election. Honest, local, and just a little chaotic — because they forgot to hit record the first time.

A transcript and show notes are available at www.nspubliccomment.com/podcast-north-smithfield-public-comment/episode-two-the-halliwell-property

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North Smithfield residents can join the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/groups/northsmithfieldpubliccomment

Transcripts are available at our website nspubliccomment.com

Correction: Elizabeth mentions volunteering at CPAC in 2010. The conference she mentioned took place in 2011.Sarah and Elizabeth introduce themselves and their podcast — a monthly deep-dive intolocal politics and community issues in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, toldfrom the perspective of two neighbors, small business owners, and moms who aredoing the research so you don't have to.

Meet Your Hosts Sarah is a lifelong Rhode Islanderwhose husband's family has called North Smithfield home for four generations.Elizabeth is a transplant who fell in love with the town's community andcharacter after moving from the suburbs. Both are therapists, both are on theNorth Smithfield Democratic Committee — and both make clear this podcast isentirely independent of that affiliation.

A Little Town History North Smithfield broke off fromSmithfield in 1871 and is made up of five mill villages along the Branch andBlackstone Rivers. Its population hovered around 3,000 in its early days,dipped as mills closed, then grew steadily after WWII — reaching roughly 12,500residents in the 2020 census. Today the town is a mix of multigenerationalfamilies and newer arrivals drawn by open space, good schools, and proximity toProvidence, Worcester, and Boston.

How Local Government Works North Smithfield has five at-largetown councilors (elected by ranked choice vote to two-year terms) and afull-time town administrator (four-year terms). Boards and committees — staffedentirely by volunteers — do the deep research and bring recommendations to thecouncil. Sarah and Elizabeth highlight both the generosity of those who serveand the challenge of keeping seats filled.

The Budget The FY2026 town budget isapproximately $55.3 million. Funding comes from property taxes ($11.49 per$1,000 assessed value), ~$16 million in state aid (including ~$9 million forschools), fees, and grants. North Smithfield carries about $10 million in anemergency reserve fund and tends to be skeptical of taking on debt via bonds.

The Recurring Theme Delay, delay, delay — then a rushed,expensive fix when the problem becomes a crisis. Sarah and Elizabeth argue thispattern shows up across nearly every major issue in town, and they're here toshine a light on it before things reach that point.