[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6081558,"mediaKeyId","2941888-2f2073b191078b321890218323355ed6","parentId",2941888,"title","Votes at a glance: Coventry council adopts provisional FY26 budget, backs $25M school bond and approves multiple capital purchases","audioSeconds",8022,"startMs",3288000,"endMs",11310000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941888-2f2073b191078b321890218323355ed6&start=3288&end=11310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941888-2f2073b191078b321890218323355ed6/thumbnail_3288000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081558/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Coventry-council-adopts-provisional-FY26-budget-backs-25M-school-bond-and-approves-multiple-capital-purchases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081558-bc9ae35b46999aacec28d41ea2ec0c89/orig.mp4?Expires=1770399839&Signature=mwe~7EP7AEei4pnHntjXO5aNf3TcfFd9fqDVHu7hmjT1w8p6KQhifxzYUQAN0FR0sRO6Rrm9EwueSiqcvFqiDtw7OjnGTI6ahjW3fIAMSKv4Tunp8Dz7UIrfJmpz1Hh932j34ZzV~VVUk6FSFnQocAVII2452SVXxzvfY7ZwTWpiTbgoEUAAvfdmump0gUUx2B~KT63~knMVYeeFPbeaIjcK0y7hEGbUSVaVcEDE9d8-nb6b-B5mx~Hl~cfHqdce38CKXDCSWxYx7gnWfjH62UGoDMYiErlxm00MvBeziVel7uN2YbeDqkuE8CwciKALJHiVO8diPvwQMBC2298WYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Coventry Rhode Island","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Coventry Town Council took multiple formal actions at its meeting, including adopting a provisional budget, approving a school bond application, and approving several capital and equipment purchases. Most motions were approved unanimously (5‑0) by members present.

Key votes and outcomes

- Approve minutes and meeting housekeeping: The council approved prior meeting minutes and several procedural items earlier in the meeting by voice or roll call votes (routine approvals recorded on the docket).

- Accept public‑comment materials into the record: Motion by Councilman Pasquale, second by Councilwoman Capaldi; vote 5‑0 to accept papers and submissions presented during public comment into the official record.

- JW's Pub mechanical/electronic device application: The public hearing for an application for mechanical/electronic devices at JW's Pub (433 Washington St.) was continued to the April 22 meeting on a 5‑0 vote after council members asked for more detail and public input.

- Appointment: Juvenile hearing board — Curtis Carlson was appointed to the juvenile hearing board (motion by Councilman Pasquale, second by Councilwoman Capaldi); vote 5‑0.

- Briar Point Beach parking lot paving (Resolution 2025‑35): The council approved additional paving of the Briar Point Beach parking lot; November 2024 action had set aside $75,000 in Opera funds and the council added remaining needed funds of $44,950 from Recreation impact fees as discussed; motion passed 5‑0.

- Adoption of provisional budget for FY2026 (Resolution 2025‑36): The council adopted the provisional FY2026 budget to begin required municipal finance review and public hearings. Councilors and finance staff described the proposal as projecting a net tax‑revenue increase of about 2.71% (the overall proposed budget increase was noted as larger because of non‑tax revenue changes). Motion passed 5‑0.

- School bond authorization (Resolution 2025‑37): The council authorized going out to bond for a $25,000,000 school package (approximate breakdown presented: $10M high school; $9M middle school; $4M Western Coventry; $0.5M other elementary needs) and directed staff to work with the Rhode Island Health and Education Authority (R.I. H.E.A./RIIB) on the application; motion passed 5‑0.

- Police department equipment purchases (Resolutions 2025‑38 and 2025‑39): The council approved purchases using federal project award funds — a 2025 Ford F‑250 (fully funded by grant) for $56,663.55 and virtual server hardware/software for $24,478.49 — both passed 5‑0.

- AED purchase (Resolution 2025‑40): The council approved use of opioid settlement funds ($25,334.61) to supply automatic external defibrillators to frontline police vehicles and municipal buildings (excluding schools); motion passed 5‑0.

- Communications tower equipment relocation: The council approved authorizing up to $100,000 from the radio maintenance fund to relocate communications equipment to address interference and improve radio coverage; motion passed 5‑0.

- Executive session and follow‑up: The council voted 5‑0 to enter executive session for a grievance and the town manager's annual evaluation; the body reported later that no votes were taken in executive session and sealed the executive session minutes by a separate 5‑0 vote.

Why it matters: The provisional budget adoption begins the legal timeline for public notice and hearings and frames the tax and spending choices for FY26. The school bond authorization starts the state application process that, if approved by the state authority and voters (as required), would provide capital funding for prioritized school projects. Grants and equipment purchases address operational needs for public safety and municipal services.

What’s next: The council will submit the provisional budget to the Division of Municipal Finance for review, hold public hearings on the budget, and continue the JW's Pub public hearing on April 22. The bond application will be prepared for submission to the appropriate state board this spring.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Coventry Town Council - 08 Apr 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the meeting the council adopted a provisional FY2026 budget for public notice, authorized a $25 million school bond application to the state, and approved several smaller capital and equipment purchases (paving, police vehicle and server, AEDs, communications work). Most motions passed unanimously.","taxTitle","Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island","taxId",79575,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081562,"State official: Coventry qualifies for distressed‑communities aid; town to receive about $670,000 in FY26",1075,8934000,10009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941888-2f2073b191078b321890218323355ed6&start=8934&end=10009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941888-2f2073b191078b321890218323355ed6/thumbnail_8934000.jpg","/articles/6081562/Rhode-Island/State-official-Coventry-qualifies-for-distressedcommunities-aid-town-to-receive-about-670000-in-FY26","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081562-43a30f10e414ebbfc16106c406dc58d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770399840&Signature=Vh8Zbt~oUkF7Sed4oChm~a3JQqFEZKi-dARbUsyxW8QcLfWfLDCEQhjWAQ0kX7HJ~xU2eghIQDDDFKDeL-swktZUmGXH65baQDW2-mIWyNRMimNzYnoofWnUMY0asTUMUtgBBJ7wCh3k42LK2-fQ~gJiQvYfwmZqBMI~x0qq~2V-50r-xJ~bjBb5wdRmLdQoRAZwK-oRLk-rMyaQt138L7UdwASXzk1rxu~ASs82ZQwKwN9CPbsMh4gM-UuAXJ80VgULmd0x8YexaIcV4TDWE9uZRWot7IWhfwZdL~IIsk1i~4Fpni0PnRu9UHsYElKKvBfdITPwfyT4APXCJB3Fcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Steve Coleman, chief of the Rhode Island Division of Municipal Finance, told the Coventry Town Council that the state has identified Coventry as eligible for distressed‑communities aid based on its metrics and will allocate an initial fifty percent payment in fiscal year 2026.

Coleman explained the program uses four indices calculated from 2021 assessment data, American Community Survey population and income figures, and municipal levies adjusted for fire districts and PILOTs. A municipality must rank in the bottom 20 percent on at least three of the four indices to qualify. Coventry ranked (by Coleman’s presentation) fifth on percent of tax levy to full value, 16th on per capita income, seventh on percent of personal income to full value, and seventh on per‑capita full value; on that basis it met the threshold to qualify this year.

Under the statutory appropriation for the program, Coleman said the statewide appropriation for qualifying municipalities totals $12.8 million. Because Coventry is a new entrant this year the town will initially receive roughly 50 percent of its calculated share—about $670,000 for FY26. Coleman said the full allocation for Coventry (100 percent) would be roughly $1.3 million if the town again qualifies in a future year; he cautioned that the program appropriation is fixed and new entrants reduce other participants’ shares.

Coleman also explained timing and practicalities: the distribution for FY26 would be made by Aug. 31, 2025, and the data used in the calculation (12/31/21 assessments and 2023 ACS data pulled in December 2024) means year‑to‑year qualification can change. He noted municipalities often enter and exit the program from year to year. He described additional benefits for distressed towns in state reimbursement rules for reevaluations (eligible distressed towns can receive a larger share of the cost of statistical updates or full revaluations).

Councilors asked clarifying questions about how assessment freezes and tax‑exemptions affect the full‑value calculations and about the effect of the mix of residential/commercial tax base. Coleman said the division performs a statewide equalization study, adjusts for sales and frozen assessments, and produces the indices on a consistent basis so municipalities are comparable.

Why it matters: The initial allocation is material to Coventry’s FY26 revenue planning and could reduce the net tax‑rate pressure on homeowners if the council budgets with the FY26 payment in hand. Because the appropriation is static, new entrants reduce other municipalities’ shares; Coleman warned the town that FY27 participation and the exact allocation will depend on updated data.

Next steps: Coleman identified municipal finance staff (Kim O’Donnell and Diana Mendez) as points of contact for documentation and said the town manager and finance director should work with the division to complete budget‑disclosure steps required for distribution.

Ending: Councilors said they welcomed the guidance and would incorporate the FY26 allocation into the provisional budget and upcoming public hearings.","Steve Coleman of the Rhode Island Division of Municipal Finance told the council Coventry qualified under the state's distressed‑communities metrics and is slated to receive 50% of its calculated allocation—about $670,000—for fiscal year 2026; full allocation would be roughly $1.3 million.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081566,"Residents press council over redacted law‑firm invoices and recent resignations; solicitor defends confidentiality, reports threat to police",3511,249000,3760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941888-2f2073b191078b321890218323355ed6&start=249&end=3760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941888-2f2073b191078b321890218323355ed6/thumbnail_249000.jpg","/articles/6081566/Rhode-Island/Residents-press-council-over-redacted-lawfirm-invoices-and-recent-resignations-solicitor-defends-confidentiality-reports-threat-to-police","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081566-c1d549dd5475735b9cbca34f38db0718/orig.mp4?Expires=1770399840&Signature=E3KIcACKOq6-ryRrikrOuyrfuQjowS80MIYTKu9zCpa~m7q9o~vBd1rrjNIRsTUhbjb7kqmL6kNSEUV-41ftG92H-oCjGCJsgpUot~Pp6VRgN1U0MNSRuQi5xx4ICsAiwQ8vyVPfE1M6aADUAEcNLKWvxFISYXRXlJnlKgPMMNew8eTqp3K3KVaDRdJl60VOeQoNQGwwzxOQ0-jasl2pWeFRyBTnHVUy1Pp5td8ZTv-vUyoYiNMJMowAhAHHJ0ojP9zuLera-UmAAlGv6Mf0gmMFS89XHN79V1GRkbkztJ~PTojyUbRI-BZU-tgthW7JPMY0M0jZAo6UBez6DtPPpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A large group of Coventry residents used public comment at a town council meeting to press elected officials for transparency about redacted invoices from the town solicitor and to criticize the council after two council members resigned. Speakers called for resignations, accused the council of hiding documents and of charter violations, and demanded fiscal accountability.

The town’s solicitor, Stephen Angel of Angel Law LLC, addressed those concerns later in the meeting. Angel said the engagement letter approved by the council requires certain billing detail to remain privileged and confidential under Rule 1.6 of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct. He told the council the procedure for verification of time specifications had the council president review them, and that time specifications were archived in the town email account because the town lacks a vendor management program for confidential materials.

Angel said some litigation expenses (expert fees) in the Johnson’s Pond case, totaling more than $400,000, were billed directly to the town and are available through the finance office. He said his firm’s fees over two years in that litigation totaled roughly $170,000 and that the solicitor budget for the year was not equal to the $800,000 figure circulating on social media.

Angel also said he learned of a disciplinary complaint filed by former councilman Scott Copley on March 24 and that the state chief disciplinary counsel dismissed it quickly, concluding it did not allege a violation of the rules of professional conduct. “That complaint was dismissed,” Angel said; disciplinary counsel found no professional‑conduct violation, he told the council.

Separately, Angel told the council he became aware of an alleged threat made by Mr. Copley in a telephone call reported to him by Vice President Verducci. Angel quoted the language he was told: “I’m going to go to her house and I’m going to skull **** her.” Angel said he reported the threat to the Coventry Police Department on March 21 and that a police report and a no‑trespass request were subsequently filed and forwarded to the Rhode Island attorney general’s office for investigation. President Lima later told the meeting that a police report and a request for a no‑trespass order were filed on April 1 and that she found the threat “deeply disturbing.”

Residents who spoke in public comment included Britney Boyer, Shay Scott, Scott Guthrie (a former state representative), Tom Nichols, Kayla Amaral and others who criticized the council’s handling of invoices and said the departures of two council members—named in public comment—were the result of a lack of transparency and internal conflict. Multiple speakers said they are HIPAA and security professionals and disputed that HIPAA required the redactions; others argued executive‑session rules and attorney‑client privilege can limit what information is released in public minutes.

Council members and staff said the solicitor’s engagement letter and Rhode Island case law and statutes limit the town’s ability to publish unredacted time specifications for ongoing litigation. Several councilors said they had considered routing invoice review through the town manager or the finance office to reduce controversy, and some urged patience while they gathered facts.

Council action during the meeting included a 5‑0 vote to accept the public‑comment materials submitted into the record and several motions to continue or address docket items. The council moved into executive session later in the evening; council leaders said no votes were taken in executive session and then voted to seal the minutes.

Why it matters: Residents said the dispute over redacted invoices and two resignations has eroded public trust. The solicitor’s assertion that professional‑conduct rules and case law preempt parts of the town charter means the issue will center on legal privilege versus the council’s duty of oversight, and on whether the council’s internal procedures for reviewing privileged invoices should change.

Council next steps: Councilors said they are reviewing options to change the invoice‑review process (possible involvement of the town manager or finance director) and that they will follow legal advice on what documents can be provided without waiving privilege. The solicitor said records of expert costs are available through finance; residents asked the council to place clearer rules on the public record.

Ending: The episode produced an unusually large public turnout and extended discussion. Council President Lima and other members urged residents to let the legal process and police investigation proceed and to participate in future meetings and any charter review process that might follow.","Multiple residents blamed council members for two recent resignations and pressed for unredacted legal invoices. Town solicitor Stephen Angel defended redactions as privileged under Rhode Island bar rules, said a disciplinary complaint against him was dismissed, and said he reported a threat against Council President Lima to police.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Coventry council adopts provisional FY26 budget, backs $25M school bond and approves multiple capital purchases

State official: Coventry qualifies for distressed‑communities aid; town to receive about $670,000 in FY26

Residents press council over redacted law‑firm invoices and recent resignations; solicitor defends confidentiality, reports threat to police