2023 -- H 6261
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LC002607
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,000,000 FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
ACT FUNDS TO THE TOWN OF FOSTER TO RESOLVE COVID-INFLATED COSTS
IMPACTING CONSTRUCTI ON ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY, BUILDING CODE AND
ADA COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH THE TOWN'S POLICE STATION AND PUBLIC
SAFETY COMPLEX
Introduced By: Representative Michael W. Chippendale
Date Introduced: April 05, 2023
Referred To: House Finance
WHEREAS, The funding provided under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 1
"provides a unique opportunity for state and local governments to make strategic investments in 2
long-lived assets, rebuild reserves to enhance financial stability, and cover temporary operating 3
shortfalls until economic conditions and operations normalize"; and 4
WHEREAS, The Town of Foster requires relocation and construction of a new Foster 5
Police Station and Public Safety building in order to address numerous public safety, building 6
code, and ADA compliance issues with the existing structure; and 7
WHEREAS, The Public Safety building will house and support multiple functions in 8
service of the community, including, but not limited to, the new Town Police Station, a multi-9
function community room, dedicated space for the Town’s emergency operations center, and 10
space for the Town’s Municipal Court to handle traffic, zoning, and housing issues; and 11
WHEREAS, The proposed location for the construction of the Public Safety Building is 12
on the most prominent and publicly visible and accessible intersecting roadways in the Town and 13
will serve as the anchor to the revitalization of the community of Foster including the promotion 14
of economic development, affordable housing planning, public education, and Emergency 15
Management Operations; and 16
WHEREAS, The original plan's costs of $3,000,000, which included a budget of $400/SF 17
and 25 percent allowance included for furniture, fixtures, equipment, and design fees were put 18
LC002607 - Page 2 of 3
before and subsequently approved by voters in the Town of Foster; and 1
WHEREAS, During the intervening time between formation of the design plan, passage 2
by the voters and actual construction, COVID-19 struck producing a "devastating impact on the 3
global supply chain and labor markets" and adversely impacting the costs and availability of all 4
building materials as well as the cost and availability of skilled craftspeople; and 5
WHEREAS, Resultantly, the cost for the code compliance construction that is necessary 6
to support safety, ADA compliance, and LMIH goals for the new Foster Police and Public Safety 7
building is now estimated to be $550/SF with a 30 percent allowance for furniture, fixtures, 8
equipment, and design fees, minus additional Town resources which have been allocated, which 9
has left a deficit of $1,000,000 to complete the project; now, therefore be it 10
RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money from the American 11
Rescue Plan Act in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 20232-2024, the 12
sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) to the Town of Foster for relief in combating elevated 13
COVID-related construction costs to the Town's Police Station and Public Safety Complex; and 14
the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer 15
for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon 16
receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. 17
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LC002607 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $1,000,000 FROM THE AMERICAN RESC UE PLAN
ACT FUNDS TO THE TOWN OF FOSTER TO RESOLVE COVID-INFLATED COSTS
IMPACTING CONSTRUCTI ON ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY, BUILDING CODE AND
ADA COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH THE TOWN'S POLICE STATION AND PUBLIC
SAFETY COMPLEX
***
This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $1,000,000 to the Town 1
of Foster for relief in combating elevated COVID-related construction costs to the Town's Police 2
Station and Public Safety Complex. 3
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