Portsmouth Historical Society requests larger budget appropriation

Group asking for $10,000 in 2017-18 budget

Posted 2/9/17

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Historical Society will ask the Town Council Monday, Feb. 13, for an annual appropriation of $10,000 next fiscal year — more than double what it was …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Portsmouth Historical Society requests larger budget appropriation

Group asking for $10,000 in 2017-18 budget

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Historical Society will ask the Town Council Monday, Feb. 13, for an annual appropriation of $10,000 next fiscal year — more than double what it was allocated by the town in the current budget.

The Society, which falls under the “civic support” category of the municipal budget, is receiving $4,000 in this year’s spending plan, although it had originally requested $6,000. In the 2014 and 2015 fiscal year budgets, the group received less than $2,000 from the town, according to budget documents on the town’s website.

In a letter to the town, Historical Society President James Garman acknowledged that the request “represents a considerable increase over previous annual appropriations,” but that additional town financial support was warranted for several reasons:

•  The Society has more than quadrupled its membership — from 110 to 466 — under a revitalized board of directors. “We intend to expand this number even more in the coming year as Portsmouth residents continue to develop an interest and enthusiasm about their rich local history,” Mr. Garman stated in his letter.

• Last year, the Society introduced a “robust” series of popular events and lectures, which Mr. Garman said the group plans to build on this year. New events will include “Portsmouth history trivia night for students of Portsmouth High School and Portsmouth Middle School,” he said. In addition, the Society will continue the “Founders Day” event that was initiated last year to recognize those responsible for the founding of Portsmouth in 1638.

• Strong financial support from the town will demonstrate the town’s commitment to the Society’s plans to increase event programming and educational programs, he said.

• Along with Town Planner Gary Crosby, The Society plans to update an inventory of local historic homes and cemeteries in support of the town’s Comprehensive Community Plan, an effort Mr. Garman described as a “major undertaking.”

• The Society’s longterm goal is to make its museum and other facilities handicap-accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “This includes our second-floor gathering space with its 200-plus seating capacity, which will provide a year-round center for town events of all types,” Mr. Garman stated. “Our efforts will initially focus on our ground-floor museum, creating an ADA-accessible entrance and restroom. A portion of the requested appropriation will directly apply as matching funds to grants that we are actively pursuing.”

Monday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Portsmouth Town Hall. To view the full agenda, click here.

Portsmouth Town Council, Portsmouth Historical Society

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.