ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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undertaking a complete and professional analysis of all our town properties
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creating rolling 5-year capital improvement plans
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improving Town financial reporting - resulting in multiple accolades
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implementing zero-based budgeting that requires all departments to start with a zero budget and annually justify all funding requests
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adopting a Hazard Mitigation Plan that addresses how to prepare for and respond to natural disasters
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appointing a Charter Review Committee and putting proposed changes on the Nov. 2020 ballot
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holding an annual public meeting to determine the Town Administrator’s priorities (see memo)
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working with the state to undertake a safety audit of East Main Road and with Portsmouth police to implement more aggressive speed control measures
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hiring an outstanding Emergency Management Agency Director and winning a $339,000 grant from the RI Infrastructure Bank for required climate change resiliency work – e.g., flooding at an egress from Common Fence Point
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hiring a full-time Parks & Recreation Director and expanding program offerings
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fostering a local agricultural business (a brewery)
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partnering with community groups that provide essential services to all residents, including the library and senior center
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regulating short-term rentals
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working with the School Committee and staff to facilitate school safety and capital improvements and vacancy appointment process (see memo)
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meeting with state legislators to establish town legislative priorities (see memo)
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managing the COVID-19 pandemic emergencies by setting up vacination clinics, while continuing to focus on helping our most vulnerable citizens - e.g., establishing new procedures for operating town properties, organizing and running a food bank, helping local businesses, etc.
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partnering with Church Community Housing to build a new senior center and about 54 units of senior housing
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supporting Quaker Manor affordable housing
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securing $500,000 and as much as $22 million over time from Southcoast Wind for work in Portsmouth that could have proceded without town approval and without the town getting any compensation