The voters of North Kingstown adopted a Council/Manager form of government in 1954. This provides a five-member legislative body with a professional administrator. Council members are elected at large for two year terms. The Town Council has the power and authority to make rules and pass ordinances regarding the security, general welfare, and convenience of the municipality and for the preservation of health, order and good government. Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of every month.

The Town Manager is the chief executive and administrative officer of the town. Appointed for an indefinite term, he is responsible to the Town Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the town. Town services under the manager’s jurisdiction include police, fire, emergency services, public works, tax assessor, finance, planning and development, welfare, recreation, Town Clerk, animal control, community development and senior services. The Town Manager’s office is located in the main Town Hall at 80 Boston Neck Road. Additional town departments are located at the Town Hall Annex, 55 Brown Street.

The town recently received an A rating with a stable outlook from Moody’s Investors Service. Moody’s believes that the town will continue to make progress in strengthening financial operations. Property taxes account for almost 70% of revenues and collection rates have been over 96% for current year collections. Continued growth is expected in the commercial tax base as development continues at the Quonset Davisville Port and Commerce Park.

Public Safety- The North Kingstown Fire Department has five stations located within the town. There are over 60 firemen and 25 call men in the department. The department also responds to the Quonset Davisville Port & Commerce Park. The Police Department supervises town wide patrols 24 hours a day. DARE officers work in the elementary schools. Within this department there is an Animal Warden (there is a leash law in town) and a part-time Harbormaster. A Rhode Island State Police Barracks is also located in North Kingstown.

Department of Senior Services—One of eight senior centers in RI designated as a community focal point on aging, Beechwood House provides a broad range of services needed by older adults (age 55 and over). Among the components of the program are transportation, daily meals, health clinics, information and referral, outreach social services, volunteer and work opportunities, educational, cultural and recreational programs. Beechwood House, located on Beach Street on the Town Beach property, has several classrooms, a library, a dining room, ceramic and woodworking areas, shuffleboard court, greenhouse and offices. For further information, the Center is open from 8:30 AM - 4:30 weekdays, occasional evenings and weekend hours, or call 295-0666 (office), 295-5219 (dining and meals), or 294-6571 (outreach). Our gift shop is open to public from 10-3, featuring homemade items from all center classes. Beechwood House also offers a wide variety of physical fitness and dance classes and serves as a resource and support for family caregivers. Current center information is posted monthly on the Town of North Kingstown website: (www.northkingstown.org).

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