There’s a theme to Mayor Frank Picozzi’s list of 2022 highlights – movement.

It’s movement in the sense of projects that have long been talked about, and planned for – such as finding a home for the City Hall Annex and starting the Bayside sewer project. Picozzi’s list also includes new projects and puts the spotlight on events during the year that brought the community together and put the city in the headlines.

As this year comes to a close, the Beacon asked Picozzi to name five top events of 2022 as well as what he foresees as five major issues going forward into 2023.

Here’s his list for 2022 with some background and additional information on our part:

The opening of the new annex in the Sawtooth Building.

Finding a permanent home for city offices, other than the few housed in City Hall, has been a quest ever since a second story pipe burst in the annex behind City Hall during a January 2018 freeze. By the time the ruptured pipe was discovered on a Monday morning, a portion of the building was flooded and steam had permeated most of the building providing perfect conditions for mold. Some offices were immediately squeezed into City Hall while, in a matter of days, others relocated to vacant classrooms in the Greene School. Late Mayor Joseph Solomon later moved them again to a refurbished Buttonwoods Community Center that former Mayor Scott Avedisian closed. Mayor Picozzi wanted to consolidate municipal offices in Apponaug and as fate would have it, the pandemic provided an opportunity for that to happen. AAA Northeast bought the Sawtooth Building, once part of the Apponaug Mill at auction from the state with the intention of using it as a call center. As work to restore the building was ongoing, the Covid shutdown occurred forcing AAA to rethink its call center plans. The Picozzi administration and AAA entered talks resulting in a 15-year lease that provided custom built city offices at less cost than had the city rebuilt the former annex. Meanwhile, the former annex was razed and Picozzi using a federal earmark grant and American Rescue Plan funds plans to convert the space into Warwick Plaza with an outdoor skating rink.

The Bayside sewer project

Like the annex, the Bayside sewer project has been talked about for years, only in this case it’s been decades since sewers for Riverview, Long Meadow, Highland Beach and Bayside has been on the drawing boards. Money earmarked to make sewers accessible to more than 900 property owners, which was part of a $180 million sewer bond issue, ended up being used to complete other projects. Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur made installation of the sewers a priority and after plans were drafted to use direction drilling so as to avoid disturbing Native American burials, the project was advertised for bids. Funding became available through a revenue bond approved by the council, however, the projected assessments to property owners became a sticking issue. Picozzi stood fast on the need for the sewers and was able to provide relief on assessments, which are capped at $16,900 by pledging ARPA funds to cover a portion of the $17.5 million project.  As Picozzi said in an email, “The Bayside sewer project begins after decades of delays and uncertainty.”

The Great Race

It’s understandable why the mayor would pick the Great Race sponsored by Hemmings Motor News as a highlight of 2022. First, the mayor loves cars; second he’s a fan of Rocky Point and third the event put Warwick on the map. A week of activities led up to the race that started on June 18 and concluded eight days later in Fargo, ND. A total of 150 cars 1971 and older were entered in the competition. It was a big score for the city to be selected for the start and on the day the cars left Rocky Point in intervals an estimated 5,000 spectators cheered them on. “After a great deal of lobbying, Warwick was chosen as the host city and Rocky Point was selected as the starting line. It was one of the biggest and most successful events in the city’s history. Thousands of residents attended not only the start of the race, but the events leading up to it,” Picozzi wrote.

Voter approval of a $350 million bond to build two new high schools

While hesitant to endorse what is the largest Warwick bond issue, saying he had concerns whether taxpayers could afford it, Picozzi voted for the bond to build new Toll and Pilgrim High Schools. The bond gained voter approval and faced with the impact of inflation and disruption of supply chains, architects have sought a third party review of cWosts before the School Committee seeks City Council approval for release of the funds.

All the successful communityevents

“We started the year with food trucks and fireworks on New Year’s Eve which was attended and enjoyed by thousands. It was the first time in decades that fireworks lit up the sky over Rocky Point. National Night Out was moved to Rocky Point this year and was I incredibly successful, the largest in the state. And the Gaspee parade and events never disappoint,” Picozzi writes.

Looking ahead to the New Year, Picozzi listed the items on the top of the agenda:

• Developments with High School Bond
• The start of construction of City Hall Plaza
• Retail cannabis sales and how much tax revenue it will create for the city.
• Continuing to attract commercial development in the city. Vacant buildings are either coming down and being replaced or repurposed. Hundreds of new apartment units are in the planning stage. Housing developments are planned for the vacant school properties that the city sold.
• Continued investment in the city’s infrastructure (paving, water, sewer, vehicles and equipment, even the Conimicut Shoals Lighthouse) whether it’s paid for by ARPA funds, lease purchase, or federal grants (we’ve been very successful in obtaining and utilizing over $10 million already).