Test your knowledge of Foster town governance in our new quiz! Each Monday and Thursday a multiple choice question will be posted on the Foster Democrats Facebook page. Questions are nonpartisan, covering a wide range of topics. Spoiler alert! Answers to the questions are posted here, with the newest question at the top.
Question 15 (3/9/26): Improper recycling costs Foster (and therefore taxpayers) money. Which of the following CANNOT be put in a recycling bin?
B) Plastic bags full of cans. Never place plastic bags in your bin—they get tangled in the sorting machines, causing dangerous and costly shutdowns. Foster’s recycling gets picked up every other week and brought to the Materials Recycling Facility at the Central Landfill in Johnston. A plastic bag (or any other non-recyclable item) can cause an entire load to be rejected, resulting in costly fines. Cans do go in your recycling bin but must be loose.
Here is what goes in your blue bin:
- Paper, cardboard, and cartons. Paper and cardboard should be clean, dry, and flattened (break down those boxes!). Cartons (such as milk cartons) should be empty and rinsed (you can put the plastic lids back on).
- Metal cans, lids, and foil. Empty and rinse cans. Foil should be clean and bunched.
- Glass bottles and jars. Empty and rinse. Recycle any metal lids separately.
- Plastic containers. Empty and rinse. Reattach plastic lids attach.
The following should not be placed in your recycling bin: foam containers, shredded paper, plastic containers that held flammable or oily chemicals, plastic bags or bags of bags, wood, textiles, metal pots and pans, or glassware. You can find out how to properly dispose of these items here.
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) offers detailed information about what can be placed in recycling bins, and where to recycle other items. A handy list can be found here. You can also follow RIRRC on Facebook for fun recycling posts.
Question 14 (3/5/26): Foster is part of the Scituate Watershed. What is it?
D) All of the above.
Providence Water owns and manages approximately one third of the land in the Scituate Watershed, including more than 2,000 acres in Foster. Learn more about Providence Water and the Scituate Watershed here.
According to a report by the RI Department of Health, about 25% of land in the watershed is within 200 feet of surface waters or a tributary stream. “These naturally vegetated buffers are critical zones protecting watershed health, but most are on private land and unprotected.”
As homeowners, it is important for each of us to protect the water supply. Groundwater and surface water quality is directly related to land use: polluted runoff, fertilizers, failed septic systems, and loss of protective forests all affect groundwater. When it rains, groundwater can flow to wetlands and streams. The Foster Comprehensive Plan outlines the importance of Foster’s woodlands and wetlands in protecting our water supply. The chapter on Natural Resources, Conservation, and Recreation chapter “identifies the natural resources of Foster, describes the issues faced in protecting them, and the town’s existing planned goals and policies.” (See page 23 of the Comprehensive Plan.)
Question 13 (3/2/26): There are seven Rhode Island municipalities that are 50 or more square miles. Which of the following has the lowest population density?
C) Foster. Of the seven largest Rhode Island municipalities in terms of square land miles (South Kingstown, Exeter, West Greenwich, Coventry, Foster, Glocester, and Burrillville), Foster has the smallest population with 87 inhabitants per square mile. Exeter is next with 112 inhabitants per square, and Coventry is the largest with 604 inhabitants per square.
Population density is often used by experts to inform decisions around resource allocation, natural disaster relief, and new infrastructure projects.
Question 12 (2/26/26): In addition to the five member Town Council, Foster voters also elect other important officials. Which of the following town government positions is NOT chosen by voters?
D) Foster’s Tax Collector is appointed by the Town Council and is under the supervision of the Finance Director.
Foster voters elect a Town Moderator every two years. The Moderator’s primary responsibility is to preside over all financial Town meetings and conduct, manage, and regulate the business of each meeting as conforms to law.
The Town Clerk is elected to a four-year term and has both Town and State responsibilities including the administration of elections and overseeing the recording of deeds, mortgages, vital statistics, licenses, and permits. The Town Clerk is Clerk of the Financial Town Meeting, Clerk of the Town Council, Clerk of the Board of Canvassers, Clerk of the Probate Court, and the Recorder of Deeds, and is the custodian of the Town seal.
The Board of Tax Review has three members, elected for staggered six-year terms. The Board of Tax Review hears and considers the appeal of any property owner concerning the amount of the property owner’s assessed valuation as determined by the Tax Assessor. If it appears that the valuation of any property has been erroneously or incorrectly assessed, the board has the authority to order a correction.
The roles and responsibilities of elected and appointed officials can be found in the Town Charter.
Question 11 (2/23/26): The Foster Preservation Society (FPS) is dedicated to the preservation of Foster’s historic buildings, rural character, and colonial heritage. Which of the following is true:
D) All of the above
The Foster Preservation Society plays a critical and active role in preserving Foster’s history. In addition to its work preserving historic buildings, cemeteries, and records, the FPS:
* presents talks on preservation and historical topics
* offers demonstrations in the Winsor Blacksmith Shop
* recognizes homes and buildings of historic importance with a Foster Preservation plaque bearing the name of the original owner and date the house was built
* completed research necessary to have four historic Foster districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places: Foster Center, Hopkins Mills, Moosup Valley, and Clayville
Foster Preservation Society headquarters are in the lower level of the old Foster Town House at 180 Howard Hill Road. Membership is open to anyone interested in supporting the society’s mission. To learn more, visit fosterpreservationsociety.org.
Question 10 (2/19/26): Foster’s annual Financial Town Meeting is held in May. Which of the following is true?
B) A paper ballot can be requested for a contested line item (versus a voice or hand count)
Typically, the Town Moderator, who presides over the Financial Town Meeting (FTM), calls for a voice count or a show of hands. However, if there is a contested budget line item, a voter may request that paper ballots are used. Paper ballots keep the vote anonymous.
While all Foster residents may attend the FTM, only registered voters may approve or reject the budget. Voters can reject line items within a department’s budget, but they cannot reallocate those funds to another department. And while the Captain Isaac Paine elementary school budget is voted on at this meeting, the Foster-Glocester Regional School budget is approved at an earlier meeting—this year on March 17, 7 p.m., in the Ponaganset High School auditorium. All registered voters in Foster are encouraged to attend that meeting.
Foster residents may attend budget workshops where Town Council members consider each department’s budget requests. These meetings should be posted on the town website calendar. The proposed budget will be available on the Finance Department website prior to the FTM. You will find that, along with other valuable information, here.
Question 9 (2/16/26): Which of the community events is organized by the Recreation Committee?
D) All of the above. The Recreation Committee is run by volunteers appointed by the Town Council. Working with the Recreation Director, the committee plans multiple programs throughout the year for children, adults and senior citizens. Events like the Food Truck Nights or Community Yard Sale provide residents with an opportunity to come together in a relaxed setting—which is especially important for a town like Foster that has no Main Street or area where residents congregate.
The Recreation Committee is also responsible for organizing children’s sports programs, and managing the Woody Lowden recreation facility, the Mike Polouski Baseball Field, and the Captain Henry R. Phillips Field. You can learn more about the Recreation committee here and here.
Question 8 (2/12/26): The Foster Conservation Commission’s annual Earth Day Conservation Fair is April 25. Which of the following is NOT part of this volunteer-run event?
B) Released balloons become long-lasting litter that takes years to break down and endangers wildlife through ingestion or entanglement. To learn more about why balloons are dangerous, visit here and here.
The FCC’s Earth Day Conservation Fair is a wonderful event with multiple benefits to the town including cleaner roads, community building, and cost savings because there is no charge to the town for picking up the trash collected on Earth Day. Mark your calendar for April 25, pick up your free trash bag and help keep our town beautiful. Follow the FCC on Facebook for a wide range of useful information.
Question 7 (2/9/26): Which of these services is not available at Town Hall?
C) Cats do not get licenses. Annual dog licenses are issued from Town Hall. Other services include Notaries Public, access to public records, and voter registration. To learn more, click here.
Question 6 (2/5/26): Which of these criteria was not identified by the economic development consultants when considering new business growth in Foster?
C) It is not necessary that every resident frequent a particular business to make it a good fit for the town. In 2022, Foster hired Camoin Associates to develop a framework for future economic development in Foster that is aligned with the values and vision of the community. Over several months, Camoin conducted extensive research including interviewing residents and business owners, and examining numerous factors such as economic and demographic conditions, location, capacity and resources, rural character, perception, and sense of place. The criteria on which they based their final recommendations included:
* Will it generate more in property tax revenue than it will require in community services?
* Will the developer take steps to minimize impact on the environment and rural character of the town?
* Will the development serve both residents and nonresidents?
* Why did the developer choose Foster? Was it because of the unique features of the community, its location, or rural environment?
In March 2023, Camoin presented its findings to residents in an open town meeting. You can find Camoin’s report here.
Question 5 (2/2/26): Why is the Comprehensive Plan important?
D) All three answers are correct. The Comprehensive Plan is a highly detailed blueprint for the town, outlining the town’s vision for growth. It covers Zoning, Land Use, Economic Development, Housing, Community Services, Roads and Bridges, and Natural Hazards, among other topics. The Planning Board is responsible for updating the Comprehensive Plan every 10 years, as dictated by Rhode Island General Law. The most recent Foster plan was fully approved by the RI Division of Statewide Planning December 2023.
It is a long document, but important reading. You can find it here:
https://www.townoffoster.com/planning-department/pages/state-approved-comprehensive-plan
Question 4 (1/28/26): What is the Town Council term length?
A) Every two years registered voters choose up to five candidates for Town Council to serve a two-year term.
Question 3 (1/26/26): The Foster Town Council does NOT have the power to do which of the following?
D) The Foster Town Council has nearly absolute power over how the town is run. Exceptions are:
- the annual town budget, which is approved by registered voters at the May Financial Town meeting;
- changes to the Town Charter (the town’s constitution), which is decided by voters on a General election ballot;
- and the Town Clerk’s position, which is also decided by voters on a General election ballot.
Question 2 (1/22/26): Who has authority to update the Foster Town Charter?
C) Any proposed changes to the Town Charter are placed on the next General Election ballot. It is up to the registered voters of Foster to decide whether or not to approve any proposed changes. In this way voters maintain control over the rules of town governance and no Town Council has the power to change those rules. The Town Council appoints the five-person Charter Revision Committee. The Committee recommends any amendments, additions or deletions to the Town Council. The Council then decides which–if any–of those to put on the ballot. However, the Town Council can choose to ignore all committee recommendations and put their own amendments on the ballot. You can find the Town Charter here.
Question 1 (1/19/26): The Town Council has recently appointed a Charter Revision Committee to review the Town Charter. What is the Town Charter?
B) The Town Charter acts as our municipal constitution, defining how the town is governed, including the roles of elected officials and the limits of their authority. It is the framework within which the town operates, ensuring that government policies and actions align with state laws and the needs of the community. Every five years the Town Council appoints a five-person committee to review the charter and make any recommendations for amendments, additions or deletions. All meetings of the Charter Revision committee are open to the public. Meetings are posted on the Town website calendar. You can find the Town Charter here.
Foster Democratic Town Committee 