Council Votes to Vacate Town Hall and Annex

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI—After months of debate, the Town Council on Wednesday night voted to vacate the Town Hall and Annex buildings, move staff to the former school administration building on Fairway Drive and direct the Asset Management Commission to explore options to preserve the old, crumbling buildings.

The vote came after nearly five hours of comments from residents, many who said that the town must protect and cherish the two more-than-100-year-old structures, which have been cited for fire and building code violations and described by town employees as mold and lead paint-ridden, not to mention cramped and not handicapped-accessible.

The council also heard from town employees, who said they can no longer work in such deplorable conditions.

“Is this were a school building, people would be picketing,” said Cheryl Travers, a town employee and steward of the Local 1033, a union that represents about 100 town employees. “Buildings do not define or represent what the town is and these buildings can be preserved and beneficial to the community if a proper plan is established.”

This story is being updated and will be expanded throughout the day.