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NOVEMBER 6-12, 2014
by MelaNIe thIbeaUlt
Valley Breeze staff Writer
melanie@valleybreeze.com
SMITHFIELD – Former
Republican Town Council Vice
President Richard Poirier, who
as of Tuesday night was within
six votes of a council seat and
was awaiting mail ballots, after
last week being accused of
receiving special property tax
consideration, is being sued by
an abutting neighbor for alleg-
edly maintaining a junkyard on
his property at 320 Stillwater
Road.
Providence attorney Anthony
Bucci claims that Poirier's col-
lection of junk has diminished
the value of his client's prop-
erty at 300
Stillwater Road,
and is interfer-
ing in his cli-
ent's efforts to
develop homes
on the prop-
erty.
That client,
real estate
developer Vincent Mesolella,
claims that Poirier's operation
of the junkyard is "negatively
affecting, altering, and forever
changing the landscape of the
surrounding neighborhoods
(and) roadways."
The lawsuit, filed in Superior
Court on Oct. 23, also names
the town as a defendant and
claims that Smithfield and its
officials have had knowledge
of the situation and failed for
years to enforce ordinances
against Poirier.
Bucci and his client are also
both unhappy with the town
of Smithfield for not provid-
ing access to Poirier's public
records within the 10-day time
limit set forth in Rhode Island
Neighbor files lawsuit against alleged junkyard on Poirier's property
PoIrIer
see ProPerty, Page 23
by MelaNIe thIbeaUlt
Valley Breeze staff Writer
melanie@valleybreeze.com
SMITHFIELD – The votes
were in Tuesday night, but
without results from 518 mail
ballots, the town of Smithfield
was waiting Wednesday to
see whether the Republicans
or Democrats have control of
the previously Republican-led
Town Council.
Unofficial results show that
the Democrats are in a 3-2 lead,
with incumbent Democrats
Suzanna "Suzy" Alba and
Bernard Hawkins re-elected by
voters.
Republican incumbents
Alberto LaGreca, who served
as Town Council President
from 2012 to 2014, and Maxine
Cavanagh are in second and
third place.
Newcomer Democrat
Gregory Tocco, son of for-
mer Town Council President
Stephen Tocco who was ousted
in a 2007 recall election, placed
fifth.
But a former Republican
Town Council vice president,
Richard Poirier, was trailing
Tocco by just six votes for sixth
place on Wednesday.
Poirier, who was the top vote-
getter in the Republican pri-
mary election, has found him-
self in the news over the past
few weeks being accused of
receiving special property tax
consideration, as well as being
Town Council party control too close to tell
Valley Breeze Photo By DaViD Wuerth
Election night winners Steve archaMbaUlt, Senate District 22, and Smithfield Town Council member
SUzy alba pose for a selfie on election night.
Tocco and Poirier separated by
just six votes before mail ballots
see coUNcIl, Page 10
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