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Coventry council votes: appointments, minutes, vehicles, sewer extensions and other actions
Summary
The Coventry Town Council approved multiple procedural and substantive items, including board appointments, vehicle and equipment purchases, a sewer extension, a bond release and additional funding for the community septic loan program; votes were recorded by roll call.
The Coventry Town Council took a series of votes on minutes, appointments, equipment purchases, sewer work, bonds and program funding during its meeting.
Key actions and outcomes (votes recorded at meeting):
- Meeting minutes: Council approved the July 16, July 22 and August 26 open-session minutes (votes recorded with abstentions on earlier dates; July 16 passed 4-0-1, July 22 passed 4-0-1, Aug. 26 passed 5-0).
- Appointments: The council reappointed Ronald (Ron) Pelletier and Russell Lockley to the Zoning Board of Review (vote 5-0) and appointed Ronald Xavier to the Conservation Commission (5-0). Councilman Houle was appointed to the School Building Committee (4-0-1, Houle abstained). Additional board appointments were approved by roll call.
- Vehicles and equipment: The council approved a resolution to purchase two 6-8 cubic yard dump truck bodies to replace failing units (funded via capital lease program and fair share development fees) and a 2024 Ford medium-roof Transit van for Parks & Rec at $51,005.34 (resolutions passed 5-0). The public works director told the council one truck body experienced a catastrophic failure and rapid replacement was needed.
- Sewer extension: The council approved the Sienna Condominiums sewer extension, a proposed 8-inch gravity main through the development tying to an existing 12-inch line on Main Street; the town engineer recommended approval and the council voted to authorize the connection (vote 5-0).
- Bonds and grants: Council approved final release of the performance bond for Highwoods Subdivision Phase 5 following town engineer inspection and planning commission recommendation (vote 5-0). The council also approved an additional allocation for the community septic loan program to replenish state-held funds so more residents can apply (vote 5-0).
- Other business: The council approved a pole/utility permit requested by Narragansett Electric and Verizon for two locations (Red Brook/Bridal Look Lane and Beech Street) and granted an easement to allow a private landowner access across a town-owned property serving Washington Oak Elementary (resolution recorded and approved 5-0). The council elected Councilman Frank Brown as vice president by 4 yes, 1 abstention.
- Procedural: Council rules proposed amendments were tabled to the next meeting (motion to table passed 5-0). Councilors also asked staff to prepare options for auditing invoices from the former solicitor; unredacted invoices were retrieved and an executive session review was requested.
Votes at a glance (selected items): - Ordinance 2025-22 (zoning enforcement) — approved 5-0. - Resolution 2025-103 (GZA change order, $5,200) — approved 5-0. - Resolution 2025-104 (Giblin playground equip. $49,584) — approved 5-0. - Resolution 2025-105 (two dump truck bodies) — approved 5-0. - Resolution 2025-106 (Sienna Condominiums sewer extension) — approved 5-0. - Resolution 2025-107 (Parks van, $51,005.34) — approved 5-0. - Resolution 2025-109 (final bond release, Highwoods Phase 5) — approved 5-0. - Resolution 2025-110 (additional community septic loan funding) — approved 5-0. - Appointments and reappointments (Zoning Board, Conservation Commission, School Building Committee) — approved by roll call as noted above.
Councilors said they intend to continue oversight of capital purchases, planning approvals and consultant contracts and requested staff follow-ups where procurement or timelines need closer attention.
