2023 -- H 6261

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LC002607

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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 CONSTRUCTION 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)

"provides a unique opportunity for state and local governments to make strategic investments in

long-lived assets, rebuild reserves to enhance financial stability, and cover temporary operating

shortfalls until economic conditions and operations normalize"; and

     WHEREAS, The Town of Foster requires relocation and construction of a new Foster

Police Station and Public Safety building in order to address numerous public safety, building

code, and ADA compliance issues with the existing structure; and

     WHEREAS, The Public Safety building will house and support multiple functions in

service of the community, including, but not limited to, the new Town Police Station, a multi-

function community room, dedicated space for the Town’s emergency operations center, and

space for the Town’s Municipal Court to handle traffic, zoning, and housing issues; and

     WHEREAS, The proposed location for the construction of the Public Safety Building is

on the most prominent and publicly visible and accessible intersecting roadways in the Town and

will serve as the anchor to the revitalization of the community of Foster including the promotion

of economic development, affordable housing planning, public education, and Emergency

Management Operations; and

     WHEREAS, The original plan's costs of $3,000,000, which included a budget of $400/SF

and 25 percent allowance included for furniture, fixtures, equipment, and design fees were put

before and subsequently approved by voters in the Town of Foster; and

     WHEREAS, During the intervening time between formation of the design plan, passage

by the voters and actual construction, COVID-19 struck producing a "devastating impact on the

global supply chain and labor markets" and adversely impacting the costs and availability of all

building materials as well as the cost and availability of skilled craftspeople; and

     WHEREAS, Resultantly, the cost for the code compliance construction that is necessary

to support safety, ADA compliance, and LMIH goals for the new Foster Police and Public Safety

building is now estimated to be $550/SF with a 30 percent allowance for furniture, fixtures,

equipment, and design fees, minus additional Town resources which have been allocated, which

has left a deficit of $1,000,000 to complete the project; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money from the American

Rescue Plan Act in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 20232-2024, the

sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) to the Town of Foster for relief in combating elevated

COVID-related construction costs to the Town's Police Station and Public Safety Complex; and

the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer

for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon

receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

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 CONSTRUCTION ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY, BUILDING CODE AND

ADA COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH THE TOWN'S POLICE STATION AND PUBLIC

SAFETY COMPLEX

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $1,000,000 to the Town

of Foster for relief in combating elevated COVID-related construction costs to the Town's Police

Station and Public Safety Complex.

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