MORE DAM PROBLEMS FOR LINCOLN

See article in the Valley Breeze here.

 

TOWN COUNCIL TO VOTE ON DOUGLAS LUMBER SEWER CONNECTION

With only 5 toilets and a few sinks in the building, we wonder why Douglas Lumber has spent so much money persuing this ill advised connection to the Lincoln sewer system.  Independent engineering firms have estimated a completly new septic system is very feasable and cost effctive for this location.  The only possible reason can be for development and expansion of this site.....something that invariably will increase Twin River Road traffic...already overburdened with cars visiting the hugely expanded Twin River casino.

 

ANOTHER FINE FOR THE TOWN OF LINCOLN

The town was recently fined $1,000 from D.E.M. for failure to comply with the upkeep and maintenance of the Lime Rock Dam.

See ProJo article here.

DEM ruled that, that if the dam  requirements were not adhered to immediately that the dam will be ranked as a high risk issue,and that a failure or mis-operation of the dam will result in a probable loss of human life.  See Current Issues page for more details.

 

BLACKSTONE COURTHOUSE PROJECT VETOED BY CARCIERI

Declaring that another new Rhode Island courthouse is “unnecessary” in tight budget times, Gov. Donald Carcieri vetoed a joint resolution establishing the need for the courthouse, providing for financing of the $88.5 million project, and appropriating $100,000 for prep work at the proposed Smithfield building site.

The proposed courthouse was originally slated to go in Lincoln near the Community College of Rhode Island. It became controversial when town officials and residents objected to siting the facility in a residential area that already sees heavy traffic from the college and nearby Twin River casino.
One of the principal functions of the joint resolution was to formally change the location of the courthouse to a site along Washington Highway in Smithfield, where town officials welcomed the project.

 

ARREST MADE IN ASSAULT ON TOWN COUNCILMAN 7 YEARS AGO

Convicted bribery conspirator Robert R. Picerno was arrested yesterday morning and charged with hiring two men to attack then-Town Council member Dean L. Lees Jr. in 2001.

Picerno, 61, was arrested at his North Providence home and arraigned in District Court on one count of threatening a public official and one count of conspiracy in the Jan. 4, 2001, attack on Lees. He was released on $25,000 personal recognizance bond, according to the state police. He faces potential maximum sentences of five years in jail on the threatening charge and 10 years on the conspiracy count.

 

LIME ACRES TO BE SITE OF NEW SENIOR CENTER

The town council recently voted to build a new senior center on Limerock's only park, Lime Acres.

With no hearing, public input nor a hearing in how the bond monies are to be spent, this heavily used park will now be developed.

The council justifies this action by saying they will build a new ball field on middle school property but that will not be a public field.

In fact, the Lime Acres Park was bought with federal monies when Lincoln Almond was TA, now his nephew wants to develop it.

The council voted to give the OK before even having the government's approval.  

 

100 CONDOS TO BE BUILT NEXT TO LINCOLN WOODS

United Home Construction is proposing 100 condominiums on 36 acres of pristine forest land next to Lincoln Woods, across from MacColl Field on Breakneck Hill Road.  By seeking a comprehensive permit, the builder will be allowed to seek waivers from local planning and zoning regulations and will only have to go before the planning board for review.

Town Planner Albert Ranaldi said he's comfortable with the condo project.

 

ALL TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS ANNOUNCE RUN FOR RE-ELECTION EXCEPT

JAY O'GRADY

Town council president Jay O'Grady has decided to leave office after his term expires.

For more on this see Election 2008

 

FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING BUDGET DECISION CONTINUES TO UPSET RESIDENTS

See Letters to the Editor page.

Coincilman John Flynn, a Democrat who represents Lonsdale, said he will propose a change to the Lincoln Town Charter and ask voters to eliminate the century-old Financial Town Meeting. "The Financial Town Meeting does not work for the taxpayers of Lincoln," he said in a statement this week. In its place, Flynn is proposing a process that would see the town administrator submit a recommended budget to an elected Budget Board. The Budget Board would review it and the Town Council would have final approval. The town administrator would have veto power and the Town Council would have override power. Said Flynn, "This process would put the responsibility for spending decisions where it belongs - on the shoulders of the elected officials."

He noted that the process would also include a public hearing prior to the council's vote.

 

FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING APPROVES UNNECESSARY SCHOOL BUDGET

School Committee members were nothing short of "reckless" at Monday's Financial Town Meeting when they endorsed a $500,000 increase to the school budget, Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond said Tuesday.

"They simply said, 'We want it. Give it to us and we're going to spend it,'" said Almond.

The school budget proposal before voters was for $47.78 million, representing an increase of $1,124,550 or 2.5 percent over the current budget. In a vote of 170 to 113, the assembly of taxpayers boosted it to $48.3 million. The rest of the Budget Board's proposal was approved as presented, for an overall town and school budget of $71.8 million.

"Parents," said Almond, "were misinformed" by school leaders who didn't identify program or service cuts.

Said Almond, "I just think that they overall sold out property taxpayers during the negotiation of a (teachers') contract. I dare them to answer how this money will improve education for our kids. We're in a recession. Property taxes are the most regressive tax there is. There's no account of a person's ability to pay."

 

FIRST 24 HOUR GAMBLING APPROVED, NOW EXTREME FIGHTING

may shortly be appearing at Twin River. 

A bill submitted to the General Assembly by Representative Peter Petrarca and others, allowing the new form of violent, extreme martial arts fighting may pave the way for such "sport" to be held at Twin River.  See bill submitted here.

What has happened to our town?

 

24 HOUR GAMBLING APPROVED FOR TWIN RIVER

State lawmakers Tuesday overturned Gov. Don Carcieri's veto of the bill, which also allows Twins River in Lincoln and the Newport Grand to stay open until 3 a.m. on weekdays.

Patti Doyle, a spokeswoman for Twin Rivers in Lincoln, told the Providence Journal that the facility planned to begin offering 24-hour gambling this weekend, and would soon announce "special promotions and services" beginning at 2 a.m. Saturday.

Newport Grand made no immediate announcement about around-the-clock operations, with a spokeswoman saying the parlor would first meet with city officials to address their concerns.

The House voted 51-16 to overturn Carcieri's veto, while the measure passed 24-8 in the Senate.

Read more here

 

TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENT CAVES IN TO TWIN RIVER

The House Finance Committee met in Newport in February to hold hearings on two proposals involving around-the-clock gambling at Twin River in Lincoln and Newport Grand.
The meeting, which took place Thursday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m. at the Newport Colony House (also known as the Old State House), in Washington Square, Newport, was being held in Newport as part of a House of Representatives program to bring government closer to Rhode Islanders by holding committee meetings in locations around the state. This concept, initiated by Speaker William J. Murphy, began last year and this will be the first “on-the-road” hearing of the 2008 legislative session.

The hearings are open to the public, and a steady stream of people went before the House Finance Committee yesterday to urge its members to reject legislation that would allow 24-hour gambling in Rhode Island.

 

The main bills being discussed centered around opening Twin River and Newport Grand 24 hours per day, H-7161 particularly required the approval of the host community if the hours of either of the gaming facilities are expanded to the hours between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m.

More than 150 people packed the historic meeting house on Washington Square for the afternoon hearing. Many of them held signs proclaiming their opposition to a change in the law.  Much to our surprise, our own Lincoln Councilman, Jerimiah O'Grady, was one of the few who spoke in favor of it (along with members from Twin River and Newport Grand),

saying he could support expanded hours but only on weekends and holidays and only if Lincoln gets a share of the increased revenue.

Instead of fighting for the will of the people of Lincoln, as proved by the recent referendum results, he explained his change of heart by citing “a climate of inevitability” surrounding the gambling legislation.

Only 3 months ago, Jay O 'Grady was saying "Lincoln residents clearly reject 24-hour operations at Twin River and do not relish the prospect of bleary eyed up all nighter gamblers getting behind the wheel just when Lincoln residents hit the road for work...in the morning.  The 65 per cent rejection of Question 1 reflects these concerns."

 

Now just three months later, O 'Grady has given in to the legislators and said:  "It became clear to me that the best ....for the town would be for the legislature to adopt 24-hour expansion for weekends and holidays only...with expanded local revenue sharing for overnight hours"  Instead of fighting for our right for the host community to determine how the expansion proceeds, Mr. O'Grady merely called it "inevitable"

 

 

CAMP MEEHAN UNDER PRESSURE FROM DEVELOPERS AGAIN

See the Camp Meehan page for more information.  By the way, when will Lincoln residents be allowed to use this property?  It has been fenced off to the public ever since it was purchased.

 

TWIN RIVER BEING UNDERTAXED?

Outspoken and motivated Lincoln resident and former candidate for 2006 town administrator, John Barr II has brought up charges that the town has undervalued the improvements made at the Twin River slot complex, possibly costing the town millions of dollars.

The owners have boasted of spending $220 million in improvements in addition to the

$435 million purchase price, yet they are only assessed for $94.8 million!

Barr feels the park should be rightfully assessed at $555 million, a figure that represents a compromise between the total investment of $655 million and taking out the value of the video slots machines.  The LTA applauds Mr. Barr for bringing this information to light.

 

INTERSECTION OF TWIN RIVER ROAD AND OLD LOUISQUISSET PIKE TO GO COMMERCIAL

A historic house built in 1910 that occupies this land is now up for sale and is being promoted as a commercial site for development.  Prominently advertised as zoned CR-2, this site will allow a bar, fast food restaurant or night club amongst other uses.

 

 

This lot was always zoned RA-40 and was only recently changed to CR-2 in order to accommodate new zoning for then Lincoln Park.  However, this zoning change appears to be inconflict with the 350 ft. buffer zone for the CR-2 zone of the casino.

 

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