Municipal leaders lay groundwork for future cooperation

NORTH SMITHFIELD - With municipal budgets straining under the ripple effects of a sour economy, a state unemployment rate of 13 percent and eroding state aid, five northern Rhode Island municipal leaders gathered last Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 21, in Town Hall to lay the groundwork for future cooperation surrounding common issues affecting their respective communities.

The leaders decided they cannot remain idle, but must prepare.

"We see the writing on the wall. The state is reducing local funding. We just want to be proactive," Town Administrator Paulette D. Hamilton, who called the meeting, reported after the session.

During the meeting, each leader agreed to examine his community's best practices.

These practices will be compared when the leaders meet again to determine if any can be shared by the participating communities, leading to improved efficiency and reduced costs, saving taxpayers money, Hamilton said.

"We want to develop a generic blueprint to determine efficiencies in these very difficult economic times," the administrator said.

The session continues the work of the coalition of communities first organized by Cumberland's Mayor Daniel McKee that's led to a series of initiatives including talks about regionalizing fire, rescue and dispatching services and accident reconstruction teams.

Joining Hamilton at the roundtable discussion were T. Joseph Almond, Lincoln town administrator; Michael Annarummo, Woonsocket director of public works/administration; Dennis Finley, Smithfield town manager, and Michael Wood, Burrillville town manager.

Kenneth M. Bianchi, former North Smithfield town administrator and current Blackstone town manager, and McKee also were invited, but were unable to attend, Hamilton reported.

Hamilton also said she intends to invite a Glocester representative to the next meeting sometime in mid-November.

The administrator said the goal is for the leaders to meet monthly "to keep the lines of communication open" and to work as a team.

As state finances continue to deteriorate, Hamilton says its imperative for the municipal leaders to incorporate realistic, practical approaches in providing municipal services.

"We have to look at the worst case scenario that our (state aid) funds will be continually eroded at the state level," she said.

Hamilton envisions the northern Rhode Island leaders will not only share problems, but solutions, as well.

"We will compare various practices in municipal services in each community in a bid to identify efficiencies that can be shared and collectively adopted," she said.

But after just one meeting, Hamilton said it's premature to consider any regionalization of municipal services, although some degree of regionalization could be implemented in the future if deemed feasible.

One reason municipalities must cooperate with each other, Hamilton said, is "we all know we can improve" in delivering town services.

While no timetable's been set, Hamilton said the leaders cannot allow themselves to stew in inaction, but must move forward in assisting each other.

"It can be done incrementally over several years, but we have to begin the process," she said.