[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6089311,"mediaKeyId","2874856-9afb1dd65c52e63e8b9e36f1c1f9a581","parentId",2874856,"title","Votes at a glance: Foster council approves interim administrative officer, records opposition to state gun bills and advances zoning review schedule","audioSeconds",3591,"startMs",400000,"endMs",3991000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874856-9afb1dd65c52e63e8b9e36f1c1f9a581&start=400&end=3991","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874856-9afb1dd65c52e63e8b9e36f1c1f9a581/thumbnail_400000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089311/Foster/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Foster-council-approves-interim-administrative-officer-records-opposition-to-state-gun-bills-and-advances-zoning-review-schedule","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089311-2c564b497785bd0c71206bb604d80d56/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061001&Signature=Y~hVWUjQ-KYv5ZRIvQPZBJiPyldxpm4NxQ5ytTcxVec1SROUHrKLxxeT1VJrAQ769BXMV0~Njvl6cq6-WOQ3od4T6ydGoDtA-KnNazCibG8AcUEkjcnm8mzVJpq~g9nPdRFY7wJK5hAi3riFD9IsHJkpWTT~mwFIlF-qfNLvno8wx-f2SmQQhZF3d-n3Yuk8UipBlQgPxygEWNZHqvQMjNKCcjlSfh-0ni0I~dnKQE0pL-rDl2S0cg48HU7JPLgxHmMlmVszXgoK4EfdRfSbZwAUs~WRk0VGsMTBdYXhuMrucp1PIBV0n-dz91fw8zT0P3NCmQTtPkBcQBUGv--jWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Foster, RI","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Foster Town Council recorded several formal actions Wednesday during its meeting.

Consent agenda: The council voted to accept the consent agenda as presented, except for the March 13 meeting minutes, which the council set aside for separate consideration. Councilors approved the consent agenda by voice vote; one council member abstained on the March 13 minutes noting they were not present for that meeting.

Appointment of interim administrative officer: The council voted to appoint interim town planner Peter Lipola as administrative officer, giving him authority to sign certain documents as described by staff. The motion carried on a voice vote after a motion, a second and brief discussion that this authority would allow the administrative officer to sign routine items.

Resolution on 2025 gun legislation: The council moved to place Resolution 2025‑01 — a resolution opposing pending Rhode Island assault‑weapons and related firearm restrictions under consideration in the 2025 General Assembly — on the town record. The resolution states the council's opposition to bills it views as unduly restricting the Second Amendment and objects to any unfunded local mandates the legislation might impose. After public comment from local residents who spoke in support of the resolution, the council voted by voice to put the resolution on record; the motion passed.

Zoning and ordinance schedule: Councilors voted to send a set of draft zoning ordinance amendments back to the planning board for further work and to continue several ordinance hearings to future meetings to allow additional review. The items sent back or continued included proposed updates to setback and parking standards, commercial‑vehicle language in residential zones, off‑street loading screening standards, and several housekeeping changes to align local code with state law. Specific ordinance references discussed included section numbers cited by the council (e.g., 38273, 38280, 38326 and others); the council set continuation dates for some items to April 24 and May 22 so planners could revise drafts.

How votes were taken: Most votes were voice votes. Where individual vote tallies or roll calls were not recorded in the transcript, the meeting minutes will include the official record.

Ending: The council took no final action on pending legislation or large capital appropriation moves during the meeting; most items were either administrative or sent back for further review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Foster Town Council Meeting 3/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a series of routine actions: accepting the consent agenda with an exception, appointing an interim administrative officer, placing a resolution opposing 2025 state gun legislation on record and sending multiple zoning ordinance drafts back to planning or continuing hearings.","taxTitle","Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",79684,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089316,"Foster council hears preliminary 2025 budget, pursues grants for police station, rec lighting and radio upgrade",266,3612000,3878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874856-9afb1dd65c52e63e8b9e36f1c1f9a581&start=3612&end=3878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874856-9afb1dd65c52e63e8b9e36f1c1f9a581/thumbnail_3612000.jpg","/articles/6089316/Foster/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Foster-council-hears-preliminary-2025-budget-pursues-grants-for-police-station-rec-lighting-and-radio-upgrade","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089316-af9c0df3d9fd452170286c78926bbcc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061001&Signature=A7rPvqpHXQKhcpc~9XKSQawVbL7FaJYmdTfCH40sBe2haQxmFg~ueJ91xqvtDao4fkyzSSwipj~6o8Tc-Vbn5orsEsj68cH7cOE2Of~sS1n9cIyzI2ufT5XJ-htX-DSuG6hUKjz9aTem5xkG8WYwnOloZh6TY8doLixJkBenTxIZGKwJ1v8z95J~sdbuqpd45OWmgzwWTSPHaicfkqPnxSXnfsl9ROlvOEC7w6AiRFeVgpeHqGExspoF4Q8UtvVpaZIaSsXPSF~TZJTZj5O~hYN9~2ID45r31UMcwYBTNNqn9iVBwvT2eZBD6W~MTnTxQAgOW~n12DK-rJ~KKRUCuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council Finance Director Kelly reviewed a preliminary 2025 operating and capital budget Wednesday and described several pending grant applications the town submitted to reduce local costs.

Kelly said the draft budget aims to keep the tax levy increase below 4 percent and that staff trimmed roughly $360,000–$370,000 of proposed expenditures from the original draft to reduce pressure on the levy.

Pending grant applications: Kelly described three active funding efforts. The town applied for a $600,000 grant for lighting at the recreational fields and parking lot; she said the town proposed a local match of about $100,000 to secure the full package. The council also applied for roughly $475,000 in equipment for an 800‑megahertz radio upgrade (radios, dispatch consoles and supporting hardware); the budget includes a $95,000 local match if the grant is awarded. Separately, council members said they would seek federal assistance to cover cost overages on the planned police station; Kelly said staff would apply for a discretionary grant to supplement the project.

Kelly said the town previously bid for a $2 million earmark that was cancelled and that staff would pursue a fresh $1 million application tied to the police station. She cautioned that these grant processes can take nine months to more than a year to finalize and that the town must avoid obligating funds that are later ineligible for reimbursement.

Other budget details: Kelly said the budget assumes a 97 percent tax collection rate and flagged uncertainty in meals‑and‑beverage receipts after an accounting error slowed collections. She also described likely higher refuse/removal and tipping‑fee expenditures next year and listed capital priorities including roadwork (with state matching assistance), a potential six‑wheel dump truck purchase and second‑year payments on the Hydrodig unit previously approved by the council.

Councilors asked for more detail on staffing and whether the town would need additional employees to operate a town‑owned housing project or to maintain new facilities. Kelly said any new full‑time position would be included in bond underwriting or grant budgeting when applicable.

Ending: Kelly said staff will continue refining revenue estimates, monitor RFP returns for refuse collection, and report back before finalizing the levy. No votes were taken on revenue assumptions at the meeting.","Council reviewed a preliminary fiscal 2025 budget and staff outlined several grant applications: $600,000 for rec‑field lighting (with a local match), an application for 800‑MHz radio equipment (roughly $475,000) and a renewed push for federal/state support to cover police station overages.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089321,"State Rep. Michael Chippendale pitches town-owned affordable housing plan to Foster council",2875,625000,3500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874856-9afb1dd65c52e63e8b9e36f1c1f9a581&start=625&end=3500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874856-9afb1dd65c52e63e8b9e36f1c1f9a581/thumbnail_625000.jpg","/articles/6089321/Foster/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/State-Rep-Michael-Chippendale-pitches-town-owned-affordable-housing-plan-to-Foster-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089321-ea3290b2756008e9eeef903b5e266d29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061001&Signature=fta~hZrk38xLBhHiCMDi78suILtWUV3runR5XFqKS5ZQyFc9mSUjm7CqBqr8lFJa6i8JGrF42KfHUzjko33zilm3NDwifntKBbDCVr6lQbPHFvzga-DTlPmNAY~Wko2mmH3qyI1GRAsx4ghXjWb6ioubRzo9YEd7wKIKxIIt45brIb~Gu8cQCSaQ49X6AMZnVVHcpT6SprVUY9m1Tve4sabj0OVS70BPboLg0Tg33RtTCf42MLRHOj4nA9Ch1HY9pgQXOFkmgCGVIaK2zPIOFBtFY-R5S0K4fF0qM0DXeveT78c5qo~Jj~GV-GEI9R-hXnJFCqt3AU16Qf9weH4D0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Rep. Michael Chippendale presented a town-owned affordable housing proposal Wednesday to the Foster Town Council, saying the plan would let Foster “take control of how affordable housing is developed in our community.”

Chippendale, who identified himself as a Foster resident and a member of the House Commission to Study Housing Affordability, said recent and pending state legislation is reducing local control over housing and that towns that do not prepare will be subject to development decisions from Providence.

\"If we do not take control of it, the state of Rhode Island will and will have 0 input into how it's done,\" Chippendale told the council. He described the proposal as a menu the council could modify, rewrite or reject.

Why it matters: Chippendale framed the proposal as a local alternative to state-driven development, aimed at preserving Foster's rural character while expanding units that working families, seniors and town employees can afford. He warned that Foster currently has roughly 2 percent of its housing classified as affordable and is therefore a likely target for externally driven projects.

The plan in brief: Chippendale said Foster has about 1,816 housing units, and that 10 percent — roughly 82 units — would satisfy the state affordable-housing threshold. \"We only have 36 approved. We need 46 more,\" he said. He proposed a mixed project that could be town-owned and town-managed, with examples of duplex or four‑unit buildings featuring roughly 650–700 square‑foot units heated by mini‑split systems. He suggested a small development — for example about 30 units — could be built without major change to town character.

Financing and legal structure: Chippendale emphasized revenue bonds and state and federal programs as the primary financing route, arguing that revenue bonds are repaid from project income and do not go against the town’s tax base in the same way general‑obligation bonds would. He listed potential funding sources discussed in his slides: HUD programs, Community Development Block Grants, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, USDA rural development loans/grants, Rhode Island Housing programs, the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for septic and well infrastructure.

Eligibility, deed restrictions and preferences: Chippendale described the state’s affordability rules as including income thresholds tied to area‑median income (AMI), deed restrictions for 30 years and a government subsidy for building or rehabilitation. He said the town could legally adopt percentage‑based local preferences — for example residents, people with familial ties, or downsizing seniors — provided fair‑housing compliance is maintained. \"Fair housing compliance is always going to be in effect,\" he said.

Timetable and scale: Chippendale outlined a three‑phase timeline: an initial planning and community survey stage (about 6–18 months), a funding and development stage (12–24 months), and construction/occupancy (two to three years). He said a well‑designed 30‑unit project could be feasible on town‑owned property and that town control would reduce developer risk related to septic, wells and ledge encountered on private sites.

Questions and council response: Council members asked about operation and maintenance, potential staffing, and how grants would be used. Chippendale said operational and maintenance costs would be built into the revenue bond underwriting and that the project could hire a property manager if necessary. He also advised the council a town plan and demonstrated progress would encourage state assistance.

What Chippendale said about local impacts: He argued the project could free up larger, rundown houses for sale and renovation, increase property values, and provide housing for teachers, first responders and other workers. \"One of the most consistent things... I was born here, **** it, and I'm gonna die here,\" he said, describing residents who want to age in place.

Next steps noted at the meeting: Councilors said they would publicize the proposal and hold town halls. Chippendale asked that the written proposal be posted for public review and offered to remain available for follow‑up questions. The council did not vote on the proposal; Chippendale left the matter for council consideration and potential follow‑up action.

Ending: Council members asked staff and the planning fellow to help organize future public forums and to provide technical assistance as the council considers whether to pursue the packet of ideas Chippendale presented.","State Rep. Michael Chippendale presented a town-owned affordable housing proposal to the Foster Town Council, describing financing options, likely unit sizes and timelines and urging the town to act to retain local control as statewide housing mandates change.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Foster council approves interim administrative officer, records opposition to state gun bills and advances zoning review schedule

Foster council hears preliminary 2025 budget, pursues grants for police station, rec lighting and radio upgrade

State Rep. Michael Chippendale pitches town-owned affordable housing plan to Foster council