Live Blog from the Smithfield Town Financial Meeting

By voice vote, Smithfield residents on June 13 approved the town's $63-million proposed budget for fiscal 2014. Here are the field notes by Editor Joe Hutnak.

See complete coverage, including video interviews, on Friday morning.

8:31 pm: Voice vote called. Ayes have it. No 'nay' votes. Meeting is over. The town's $63-million spending plan is approved, including $450,000 in escrow that may be provided to the school district depending on the outcome of a performance audit.

8:28 pm: Richard Iannitelli is reminding the council that the motion on the performance audit says the town council will "evaluate" the school department and "may" decide how to disperse the funds.

8:25 pm: "They had ample time to give [all the revenue projections] to the council," Costantino said. He's claiming that the difference is showing a surplus. A resident has made a point of order that Costantino's statements "are not gemane" to the motion on the budget.

8:20 pm: Costantino is asking about an apparent $700,000 difference in the budget first proposed by the school department to the council and a later version. Iannitelli is explaining that the department is required under new federal law to add all other revenue sources to its budget.

8:18 pm: Richard Iannitelli has asked for written copies of the additional motions and votes that would be included in Costantino's motion; Finance Director Randy Rossi has provided them. Iannitelli joked that "it took awhile" for the written motions "to make it across Farnum Pike" to the school department.

8:12 pm: Costantino's motion is now up for discussion. School Board Chairman Richard Iannitelli is asking to confirm that the town is providing $27,267,117 to schools, with an escrow account of $450,000, and another $200,000 toward computer technology used for national testing.

8:11 pm: Tom Robitaille's motion is now up for a vote. Fewer than 30 hands seem to be raised. 15 are counted. The motion to remove $75,000 from the police department fails.

8:09 pm: Fire Chief Robert Seltzer is speaking "to address the drug issue," noting a drug-related death in a local motel and an instance of a heroine-overdosed teen being thrown out of a car.

8:07 pm: "I don't know that we need to add any funds to have another police officer to get the results we're getting," Scott Robitaille said. St. Sauveur replied that a dedicated detective is needed to do further surveillance and get into the drug networks in town.

8:05 pm: Scott Robitaille noted that police pension costs have risen about $900,000 in the last two years, and that the pension payment takes up $2 million — or almost half — of the department budget. "It sounds like our police officers are doing a great job — they're stopping more people from trafficking drugs in our town," he said.

8:03 pm: Resident Scott Robitaille is addressing the meeting. "There is definitely trafficking of drugs in town," but having another detective wouldn't have found them, he said — patrol officers pulling over vehicles has.

8:01 pm: "We have a drug problem in Smithfield, and it's the transient population that Mr. Robitaille is not acknowledging," St. Sauveur said. The additional police officer would allow the department to assign an officer "full-time to the drug problem."

7:56 pm: To Robitaille's point about the increase in residents, St. Sauveur said "it's the transient population" that his department must also handle. He's recalling the arrest of a woman driver who had marijuana in her car and who said she was from the Hartford Projects in Providence. A later strip-search of the suspect turned up more pot and four baggies of crack cocaine. "We have crack cocaine in town, in case anyone was wondering," St. Sauveur said. The woman also admitted to visiting the town for 80 deliveries. At the ACI, another search found 23 more samples of crack that the woman was hiding, he added.

7:55 pm: St. Sauveur notes that the town made 68 drug arrests in 2011, higher than Johnston's 62. In 2012, 69 arrests — overall, an increase of 10 in three years.

7:51 pm: Chief Richard St. Sauveur Jr. has taken the podium to speak. "I consider [Robitaille's] motion to be borderline irresponsible." The reduction would "prevent me form meeting my contractual obligations" and keep the department from adding a detective to address the town's drug problem.

7:47 pm: Robitaille noted that in the last three years, the town has added 18 residents. "So if you really think we need another detective every time we add 18 people... I would ask that you reconsider that."

7:46 pm: Tom Robitaille is speaking on his motion to reduce the police department budget by $75,000. He says the reduction in crime should "free up assets" that can be applied to drug interdiction, and is warning that the hiring of a new police officer could "cost millions."

7:42 pm: 70 'aye' votes, out of 128 voters counted, have been tallied. Counters are now checking 'nay' votes. 35 in the negative. Motion passes to remove the $75,000.

7:37 pm: Residents are protesting the fact that one of the counters has spoken on the motion and accused him of not being impartial. A voter has tried to make a motion to ensure impartiality; Iannitelli has found the motion out of order, but has disqualified one of the counters.

7:35 pm: Moderator Iannitelli is about to open the floor to a vote. Peter Pare has asked to have it clarified that a "yes" vote would delete the $75,000. A vote by show of hands is underway.

7:30 pm: Donald Brown told the council that proposed the new facility would "forever change" Deerfield Park, and is suggesting a larger site for it. LaGreca is explaining that the $75,000 will help the town qualify for matching funds.

7:24 pm: Peter Pare is speaking on his motion. "I think this is an unneeded expense" and "will detract from the quality of life" for people near Deerfield Park.

7:23 pm: School Committee Chairman Richard Iannitelli [the moderator's brother] is addressing the council on having three motions on the floor. Moderator Iannitelli has explained that there are two amendments and a main motion, and that they will be taken in order.

7:20 pm: Alfred Costantino has proposed to pass the budget, after resident Peter Pare [I'll check on this name to confirm] made a motion to remove $75,000 from the recreation budget. Iannitelli is conferring with Town Solicitor Edmund L. Alves Jr. about the order of the motions. Tom Robitaille, who has seconded Costantino's motion, is making his own motion to reduce the police department budget by about $75,000.

7:15 pm: Moderator Iannitelli has confirmed 122 voters in attendance and opened the floor to motions.

7:07 pm: The meeting has been called to order by Council President Alberto LaGreca, who has also led the assembly in a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Moderator Ralph Iannitelli has confirmed at least 15 registered voters present, the minimum needed for a quorum.

7:05 pm: Still awaiting the formal start of the meeting. The number of residents is around 100.

7 pm: Voters are still entering the auditorium. Three voting booths are set up at the foot of the stage in case any votes are taken at the session; a vote is necessary for any budget increases.

6:50 pm: Town Councilors and Town Manager Dennis Finlay are taking their seats on the stage. About 50 residents have arrived for the meeting.

6:40 pm: Residents and town officials are gathering in the auditorium. About 20 voters have already arrived and registered at tables outside the auditorium. Non-residents are being ushered into a separate area to the left of the stage. Supt. Robert O'Brien has just arrived. "Could be a late meeting," he said.