Friday, May 24, 2013
Construction crews are expected to finish installing the toll gantry in Portsmouth on Friday morning.
Commuters traveling from Portsmouth over the Sakonnet River Bridge on Route 24 will drive underneath the tolling gantry for the first time Friday morning - but they won't be charged until this summer. Although construction crews are slated to complete the installation of the tolling infrastructure by early Friday morning, the technology won't be ready to start charging drivers for at least another three to four weeks. "Yes, tonight [Thursday] it will be erected across the roadway and be up by the time people get up tomorrow [Friday] morning, but this doesn't mean it will be operational," said David Darlington, chairman of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. "By [Friday] morning, it will just be in place. Equipment will still…
The Little Compton Town Council voted to keep the town's fire rescue boat moored at Sakonnet Point at its meeting on Thursday.
With just one spot available to use, the Little Compton Town Council voted to moor the town's fire rescue boat at Sakonnet Point instead of its police boat. Councilors agreed riparian homeowners and the town's marinas and harbors would be better served in emergency events if the boat were permanently moored throughout the season rather than dry docked. "If there's an emergency it could take considerable time to get that boat in the water depending on the tides," commented on council member. In other business, the council voted to approve a license for the Little Compton Game Club for single-day beverage license for a clambake to be held on June 2 at the Game Club facility on John Dyer Road.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The town of Portsmouth filed a restraining order in U.S. District Court against the implementation of bridge tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge Thursday.
The town of Portsmouth filed a restraining order in U.S. District Court on Thursday against the implementation of bridge tolls, only a day after the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority announced construction of a toll system. The temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction calls for restraining the defendents from proceeding in any way with or towards the imposition of tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge, including the transfer of the bridge from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, and any actions relating to the construction and installation of a proposed All Electronic Toll Collection (AETC) system. The full order reads as follows: Plaintiff, the Town of …
The Attorney General found no violation, according to a release Thursday.
The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office found no violation was made in an Open Meetings case regarding the Little Compton Budget Committee, the Attorney General's Office announced Thursday. According to the Attorney General's Office, the Little Compton Budget Committee (“Budget Committee”) did not violate the OMA or the APRA when the complainant requested a copy of the Feb. 5, 2013 meeting minutes on Feb. 8, 2013. The OMA requires “unofficial minutes shall be available, to the public at the office of the public body, within thirty-five (35) days of the meeting or at the next regularly scheduled meeting, whichever is earlier.” Accordingly, the Budget Committee did not violate the OMA or the APRA by failing to provide the requested …
41.510061
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The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will install open-road toll booths by Memorial Day weekend.
An open-road toll system will be installed on the new Sakonnet River Bridge by this Memorial Day weekend, reports ABC6.com. Despite pending legislation against the bridge's transfer, a lawsuit filed by the town of Portsmouth and widespread local opposition to tolls, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority plans to install an open-road toll system before the holiday weekend, according to ABC6.com. The cost to install open-road tolling totals as much as $2 million, the RITBA chairman previously stated to Patch. The cost for the arbor, or arch over the bridge, costs about $400,000 alone. Costs are added for the transmitters, cameras and other electronics in the arbor. RITBA previously approved a toll schedule of $.75 for vehicles …
One Local Voices writer says he's not happy with the town's referendum.
The Rhode Island Senate passed two bills Tuesday to improve school safety, but they also make safety plans exempt from public records. What do you think? Should these plans be made public?
School safety is on everybody's mind, especially after the tragic shooting in Newtown, CT, which was deemed the worst school shooting in recent U.S. history. On Tuesday, the Rhode Island Senate passed two bills aimed at improving school safety. The first bill, 2013-S 0800A, introduced by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), directs the Commissioner for Elementary and Secondary Education to certify annually that all school safety plans and school emergency response plans have been reviewed and updated as appropriate. The second bill, 2013-S 0801A, sponsored by Senator Gallo, requires all schools to perform a school safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire and school safety teams within 30 days of …
Monday, May 20, 2013
Eva-Marie Mancuso, the state’s new Board of Education chair, uses courtroom demeanor to try to convince angry teachers and nervous parents that change is necessary.
Eva-Marie Mancuso enjoys a lively debate but is clear about one thing: When it comes to educating Rhode Island’s children, the status quo is not an option. At a recent Q&A session in East Greenwich, the state’s new Board of Education chair, sparred with state Sen. James Sheehan (D-NK, Narr.) over teacher evaluations, cajoled teachers to work with the state, and tried to reassure at least one parent that using passage of a test as a graduation requirement is the right move. The forum, organized by the EG Democratic Town Committee, was held at EG’s Town Hall, the former Kent County Courthouse. The setting suited Mancuso, a personal injury lawyer. Although the new Board of Education for the first time combines all levels of public education…
Friday, May 17, 2013
Two Tiverton High School students were honored at the State House on Friday for excellence in leadership.
Two Tiverton High School Students were awarded with the Secretary of State's 2013 Civic Leadership Award at the State House on Friday. Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis honored high school seniors from all over Rhode Island with the annual award that recognizes students who make outstanding contributions to their school and their communities. The ideals of the award were to honor outstanding achievements in public service, leadership ability and academic achievement. Tiverton High School recipients Elizabeth Janick and Samuel Turner accepted awards from Mollis during the Friday evening ceremony. “This award recognizes students who show an understanding of the importance public service has in a democratic society,” said Mollis. “These …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Voting on the town's $47 million budget starts today at the Town Hall.
Early voting for Tiverton's $47 million budget at the Tiverton Financial Town Referendum begins today at the Town Hall. The 2013-14 budget represents a 2.2 percent increase in the town's property tax rate to cover operations increases - the real and tangible tax levy accounts for 77 percent of Tiverton's revenue while non-local property as well as motor vehicle, federal and state tax support the remainder of the budget. A majority of voters must approve the school transfer of $28.7 million and operations expenses totalling $18.4 million in order to unlock the funding and authorize the tax rate for the 2013-14 budgetary year. The proposed increase in the property tax rate is estimated to cause a 38-cent increase to homeowners - bringing the…
Robert Oliveira
7:53 am on Friday, May 24, 2013
Joe, as of right now, you're not involved in this fight. The last thing we need is another show of numbers from places we already have votes. Let's all agree on something: STOP, the TCC and the PBA have all had their chance. Amateur hour has ended. When we want moronic strategy and a lack of message control again, we'll call you. more ›