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 28 (4/23/26): The Foster Conservation Commission’s annual Earth Day Conservation Fair is this Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. What makes this volunteer-run event so great?
D) All of the above
The Foster Conservation Commission’s Earth Day Conservation Fair is a wonderful event with multiple benefits to the town including cleaner roads, community building, and cost savings because the town isn’t charged for trash collected as part of this Earth Day event.
Pick up your blue trash bag today at Town Hall or the Foster Public Library. Free Earth Day 2026 t-shirts given to anyone dropping an official clean-up bag on Saturday at the DPW yard, 86 Foster Center Road.
Car tires can be dropped off for a $5 fee, truck tires for $10. E-waste can be dropped off for free. Trade in your damaged recycling bin for a new one! (No hazardous waste disposal, and no shredding this year.)
Need to declutter? Junk in the Trunk will be back at the Foster Fairgrounds, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. All Foster residents can participate, and everyone is welcome to browse the trunks and take home a few treasures.
The Foster Conservation Commission will be giving away Butterfly Milkweed, perennials and annuals, while supplies last.
Follow the FCC on Facebook for updates and useful information.
Question 27 (4/20/26): Today is the last day of International Dark Sky week. On 4/24/25, the Town Council passed a Dark Sky Lighting ordinance. Why does this matter?
D) All of the above
In the most recent Foster Town Survey conducted by the Planning Board, residents overwhelming listed natural darkness as one of the town characteristics important to them, along with clean water, clean air, woodlands, and wildlife habitat. As stated in our Comprehensive Plan (page 23), “Foster’s quality environment is largely free of light pollution. Foster has one of the best dark sky environments in the northeastern United States.”
Foster is also home to abundant wildlife. (A 2022 trail camera set up by RI Department of Environmental Management on Foster Land Trust properties captured some of the mammals found in Foster). Light pollution can disrupt natural behaviors with a potentially catastrophic effect on birds, insects, prey animals, and amphibians in our wetland habitats, which in turn upsets the balance of our fragile ecosystem. Dark Sky International has information on light pollution’s impact on wildlife, found here.
The Foster Dark Sky Lighting ordinance (18.33-39) is designed to prevent light trespass and promote energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. It directs business owners on fixture design, illumination level, and lighting control. Using low level, warm-colored lighting that is targeted and controlled should reduce energy consumption and save money. Dark Sky International offers a helpful guide to responsible outdoor lighting found here.
Find information on International Dark Sky week here. And finally, an interesting story on how some countries are addressing lighting can be found here.
Question 26 (4/16/26): April is National Volunteer month. Volunteers play an essential role in how our town functions. Which of the following is not a volunteer position in Foster?
C) The Social Services Director is a part-time, paid position. However, this important department does rely on volunteers and community support.
Foster has three volunteer fire companies whose members selflessly come to the aid of their neighbors, day or night. These emergency responders not only provide a critical service to residents, but they also save taxpayer dollars by volunteering their time. We owe an enormous debt to the men and women of South Foster Volunteer Fire Company (Station #1), Moosup Valley Volunteer Fire Company (Station #2), and Foster Center Volunteer Fire Company (Station #3).
Volunteers on our town’s many boards and commissions share their expertise to fill critical roles, such as:
- Ensuring that land use aligns with the town’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances (Planning and Zoning Boards)
- Maintaining the integrity and administration of local elections in accordance with RI state laws (Board of Canvassers)
- Engaging residents in protecting our town’s natural resources (Conservation Commission)
- Building community through year-round events and activities (Recreation Committee)
- Protecting open space for the personal and economic benefit of all residents (Land Trust)
Volunteers also play a vital role in improving the quality of life for Foster residents, providing recreational and educational opportunities, preserving our history, fostering creativity, and supplying needed goods. Just a few examples include:
Borders Farm, a volunteer-run nonprofit historic working farm which provides free educational and recreational events, walking trails, a farmhouse museum, and a community donation garden.
Foster Preservation Society volunteers preserve Foster’s historic buildings, cemeteries, and records, and provide educational resources.
Swamp Meadow Community Theater builds community and provides a creative outlet both on stage and behind the scenes.
Foster Old Home Days is an annual, volunteer-run event taking place the last full weekend in July, celebrating country life with, 4-H shows, contests, and entertainment.
The Foster Library Board of Trustees ensure that the library fulfills its mission in serving the community while complying with local, state, and federal laws.
Volunteers at numerous places of worship provide much-needed resources to community members, such as free personal items and clothing at the North Foster Baptist Church, and the food panty at North Scituate’s Trinity Episcopal Church.
Finally, take a look at this excellent news story about how volunteering is a defining part of our nation’s identity.
Question 25 (4/13/26): Foster is preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Originally part of Scituate, our town is named for Theodore Foster. What is he noted for?
D) All of the above
A) Theodore Foster served as Town Clerk of Providence 1775-1787. B) In 1781 Theodore Foster, along with Dr. Caleb Fiske of Scituate and Henry Marchant of South Kingstown, co-authored a bill incorporating a new town that was formed by dividing Scituate into eastern and western portions. C) He also played an instrumental role in the founding of the Rhode Island Historical Society in 1822.
A graduate of Rhode Island College (now Brown University), and a lawyer, Theodore Foster was a leading advocate for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. After it was ratified in 1788, Theodore Foster and Joseph Stanton Jr. were elected as the first two U.S. Senators from Rhode Island. Theodore Foster served in the Senate from 1790 to 1803. After retiring, he moved to his estate in Foster, the town named in his honor. There, he devoted much of his time to the history of Rhode Island, along with his neighbor and former classmate, Dr. Solomon Drowne, a botanist and physician who “dubbed his estate ‘Mt. Hygeia’ after the Greek goddess of health.” You can find more on Theodore Foster here and here.
For a fascinating history, beginning long before the first Europeans arrived in what would become Foster, read the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission report of June 1982.
Finally, you can learn more about Rhode Island’s 250th anniversary celebrations here.
Question 24 (4/9/26): Since the Spring of 2003, Foster’s own Swamp Meadow Community Theater has performed a wide variety of shows. Which of the following have they not (yet) performed?
C) The Swamp Meadow Community Theater has not (so far) performed Hamilton. Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was the theater’s debut show, in 2003. A Christmas Story was performed in 2014, and Into the Woods was performed in 2022.
Established in the Fall of 2002, the Swamp Meadow Community Theater continues to welcome people of all ages and abilities to participate in every aspect of theatre production. This volunteer-run company builds community and provides a creative outlet both on stage and behind the scenes. They raise funds to help purchase performance rights to shows, rent space, build sets, assemble costumes, and more. Their long-term goal is to build a performance space in Foster.
You can see performances of The Shark is Broken May 8-10 at AS220 Blackbox, 95 Empire Street in Providence. Find more information here. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed August 7-9 at the Kent Pavillion, 1111 Putnam Pike in Chepachet. More on that can be found here.
If you are interested in volunteering with Swamp Meadow Community Theater, email director@swampmeadow.org or call the Box Office at (888) 493-7110.
Question 23 (4/6/26): Foster’s seven-member Planning Board has many important responsibilities. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
D) The Planning Board is responsible for reviewing annual Capital Budget requests, not the Operating Budget. The Planning Board receives capital requests from each department and makes a recommendation to the Town Council on what to include in the budget presented to voters each May. The Town Council is not obligated to follow these recommendations (and frequently does not). Operating Budget requests are reviewed directly by the Town Council, in a series of budget meetings open to the public. The final town budget is submitted to registered voters for their approval at the annual Town Financial meeting in May.
The Planning Board is responsible for preparing the Comprehensive Plan, which is updated (per RI General Law) every 10 years. 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. You can read it here.
The Planning Board also conducts various studies and prepares plans and reports “on the needs and resources of the town with reference to its physical, economic, and social growth and development as affecting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the people.” See Foster ordinance Sec. 24-32 (Planning Board Powers and Duties). The Planning Board has conducted resident surveys about living in Foster (the results of which help guide other work); reviewed bids and interviewed economic development consultant firms; studied blight issues on Route 6; discussed affordable housing concerns; and participated in the town’s hazard mitigation plan.
One of the most frequent responsibilities of the planning board is reviewing, and approving (with or without conditions) or denying requests for variances and special use permits submitted as part of land development and subdivision applications. Applicants can also request a “pre-application conference” to obtain initial feedback from the Planning Board before proceeding with a detailed application process.
Question 22 (4/2/26): Thanks primarily to the efforts of a group of dedicated volunteers, the construction of Foster’s new Police Station is now well underway. In what year was the Foster Police Department Building Committee formed?
A) 2016
Formed in 2016 and comprised of volunteers from relevant sectors (e.g., building, engineering, public safety), the Foster Police Department Building Committee accomplished its original mission within months but has continued to work on behalf of the Town to see this project to completion. This work included review of several proposed locations, all of which ultimately proved to be cost prohibitive and/or logistically unfeasible.
The Town Council separately explored merging with the Town of Scituate’s Police Department in 2016 and again in 2019, and in 2018 the Town Council approached the R.I. State Police about taking over services to the Town.
The South Foster Volunteer Fire Company offered to donate land for the police station on Route 6, an advantageous location. At the June 2021 Town Financial Meeting, Foster voters overwhelmingly approved a $3 million bond to construct a new building at that site. Additional funding has been secured through grants and other sources.
You can find the committee’s original report here.
Question 21 (3/30/26): With record-breaking snowfall and a spring thaw, the danger of a fire spreading might seem low. However, other environmental factors make this time of year peak fire season. Which of these can elevate the risk of fire?
D) All of the above
Warm temperatures, low humidity, and wind—especially in combination—heighten the risk of fire danger. Spring in Rhode Island is typically a high-risk time of year: with no leaf canopy the sun quickly dries out grasses, fallen leaves, dead twigs and branches, and dormant brush.
According to the RI Division of Forest Environment, improper wood ash disposal is one of the leading causes of wildfires in the spring. Always place wood ashes in a metal bin mixed with water; when cool to the touch, dispose of them in an area that will not ignite vegetation.
Planning to burn a brush pile? A permit is required for any open burning. Permits are issued depending on that day’s fire classification as determined by the RI Division of Forest Environment. To obtain a burning permit, call the fire department in your district. Contact numbers can be found here. And remember, never leave a burning brush pile unattended. Drown with water, stir with a shovel, and feel for hotspots. If it is too hot to touch, don’t leave it alone.
Foster residents are served by three volunteer fire companies: South Foster Fire Department (Station #1), Moosup Valley Fire Department (Station #2), and Foster Center Fire Department (Station #3). The men and women in these companies answer calls day and night, heroically coming to the aid of their neighbors. If you are interested in volunteering, contact your local fire station.
You can follow the RI Division of Forest Environment, Wildland Fire Control on Facebook for the daily classification and fire safety tips.
Question 20 (3/26/26): Which of these neighboring towns has the largest percentage of open space?
C) Of the three towns bordering Foster, Scituate has the largest percentage of open space—33% of Scituate’s 35,073 total area in acres is open space. Foster has the smallest percentage: only 13.5% of our 33,261 total area in acres is open space. Coventry and Glocester both have 19%. (West Greenwich has 52% open space acres.)
What is open space, and why do we need it?
Open space generally refers to land that is not developed. This can include forests and woodlands, wetlands, streams and ponds, farms, and historic properties. Open space land can be publicly or privately owned.
Forested land and wetlands are critical to protecting our water supply. As Foster’s Comprehensive Plan (FCP) states: “Foster’s continued efforts to preserve the community’s natural resources are necessary for the long-term sustainability of a potable water supply both in the community and for the 60% of the state’s residents supplied with water from the Scituate Reservoir; the natural systems within the town, as might be expected, are all related and connected.”
Outdoor recreation is another important benefit of open space. “Foster residents and visitors enjoy nature through hunting and fishing, boating, swimming, bird watching, hiking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. …these forms of recreation enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors.” (FCP)
Clean air and low levels of light and sound pollution also enhance residents’ quality of life—a priority identified in both the 2012 and 2022 town surveys conducted by the Planning Board.
Much of Foster’s open space is privately owned. Additionally, the Providence Water Supply Board owns extensive acreage as watershed protection. Conservation groups, including the Audubon Society of RI and The Nature Conservancy, own and manage other important parcels of land. The Foster Land Trust owns less than a quarter of Foster’s open space acres. The Land Trust properties provide access to the public for a variety of outdoor activities. You can find trail maps and other helpful information here.
Foster Land Trust volunteers do much of the work maintaining and improving its properties. Recent grants allowed for improvements such as better parking areas at the sites. The Land Trust contracts for some of the maintenance work and improvements, and pays for insurance, equipment/maintenance, legal fees, among other expenses. They are funded through donations (of land and money), grants and, per town charter, the Land Trust receives a percentage of the tax on local real estate transactions collected by the state. This amount can fluctuate dramatically.
You will find a great deal of information about our open space and natural resources in the Foster Comprehensive Plan, starting on page 23.
Question 19 (3/23/26): Which of the following statements is NOT true about The Foster Land Trust?
B) Access to Land Trust properties is free. There is no need to purchase a pass!
The Foster Land Trust works within the guidelines of the Foster Comprehensive Plan (see the Natural Resources, Conservation, and Recreation section, beginning on page 23), with the goal of adding economic and lifestyle value to the entire community while helping retain the town’s rural character prized by residents.
The Foster Land Trust is made up of volunteers who do much of the work maintaining public access to trails. Trails are open from dawn to dusk, offering opportunities to hike, ski, snowshoe, mountain bike, trail run, horseback ride, picnic, bird watch, fish, canoe, and kayak. Archery is permitted in season, with certain regulations. (Note: Check the trail notes for each property, as not all activities might be appropriate/allowed.) You will find trail maps, regulations, and additional information here.
The consultants hired by the Town Council in 2022 to develop a framework for future economic development in Foster offered several strategies for diversifying the town’s economy. One of these was the expansion of outdoor recreation uses, stating “Foster’s natural beauty and environmental assets are one of its biggest strengths” and citing the Foster Land Trust as one of those assets. See page 19 of their report here.
Question 18 (3/19/26): Another landmark Foster is famous for is Jerimoth Hill—the highest point in Rhode Island. Which of the following is true?
D) All of the above
Jerimoth Hill is the 46th lowest highpoint in all 50 states. A full list of elevations by state can be found here.
Highpointers—hikers who try to reach the highest point in all 50 states—considered Jerimoth Hill to be one of the most inaccessible because the only access was across private property. According to Wikipedia, the landowner’s “belligerence toward hikers made him something of a legend in the community.” After his death, the property was sold to a family who did permit access to hikers. In 2008, the State purchased the property containing legal access. The land around Jerimoth Hill itself had been donated to Brown University, whose astronomy students and faculty used it as a dark sky site due to low light pollution. In 2014, Brown transferred the highpoint to the State, retaining the right to continue using the site for astronomical research for a 50-year period. Read more here.
Anyone up to the challenge of scaling Rhode Island’s highest natural point can now do so most days from dawn to dusk. Additional information, as well as t-shirts and a book, can be found on the Foster Preservation site here.
Question 17 (3/16/26): Foster’s beloved Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge on Central Pike is the only covered bridge in RI on a public road. When was it built?
D) 1994. The current bridge is the second Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge and was dedicated November 1994. The first bridge was burned down by vandals just four months after its May 1993 dedication.
The concept for a covered bridge was proposed by Robert Salisbury in 1986 in honor of Rhode Island’s 350th anniversary. The Town Council gave approval, and a committee chaired by Charles Borders was formed. Master builder Jed Dixon designed the bridge following the lattice truss design patented in 1820 by Ithiel Town, an architect from Thompson, CT.
Foster’s Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge was built by volunteers with locally milled oak and pine and handmade wooden pegs. After the first bridge was destroyed, the town immediately rallied together to rebuild it, and materials, labor, and funds were donated for a second time. The covered bridge structure (not the steel bridge beneath it) is maintained by Borders Farm Preservation Inc.
Question 16 (3/12/26): Foster, like 38 other RI municipalities, pays for solid waste disposal at the Johnston Landfill. This fee is subsidized (currently at $63 per ton) up to a municipal solid waste cap. If we go over that cap, we pay an over-the-cap municipal disposal fee of $115 per ton. Between fiscal years 2020 and 2024, how much did Foster’s tipping fees increase? (Note: 2024 is the latest “actual” budget currently available on the Foster Town website)
A) 51%
The Actual FY 2020 tipping fee expenditure was $97,404. In 2024 it was $146,774. Rates have gone up—for example, in FY 2020, the municipal solid waste disposal fee was $47 per ton, and the “over-the-cap” rate was $80 per ton. However, looking at the most recent comparison between Foster and 14 other municipalities under 10,000 households, Foster ranked third in highest amount of trash landfilled per household (1.21 tons, compared to the average of .96 tons). Foster also ranked six in highest number of pounds of rejected recycling. You can see the full comparison here.
Our tax dollars can be reduced with a few easy practices!
1) Avoid contaminated recycling loads. RI Resource Recovery has a handy list of what goes in your recycling bin.
2) Only household trash should be set out for pickup. As of January 2026, Foster began implementing a bulk residential waste ordinance. Residents wishing to dispose of items such as furniture, bathroom sinks and toilets, carpets, etc. must obtain a sticker from Town Hall (for a small fee) and affix it to the item for pickup at the next collection. Mattresses, electronics, appliances (no Freon), waste oil, scrap metal, clothing/textiles can be disposed of, free of charge, at Foster’s Department of Public Works. Appliances with Freon may be dropped off at DPW after obtaining a sticker and paying a fee. You will find the full list of items and fees here.
You can find out where to recycle just about any item here.
3) Compost your food scraps! One of the most beneficial ways to save taxpayer dollars is to compost most of your household food waste. Aside from saving the town (and all of us) money, composting has added benefits: it produces a nutrient-rich soil amendment—for free; and it reduces the amount methane produced in the landfill (according to the EPA, wasted food is responsible for 58% of landfill methane emissions). For information on how (and what) to compost, start here.
Finally, find more information on how our waste disposal process works here.
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 