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Coventry council adopts ordinance naming planning director as zoning enforcement officer
Summary
After a public hearing, the town council voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 2025-22, which clarifies who holds zoning enforcement authority and allows delegation of enforcement duties to other staff.
The Coventry Town Council voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 2025-22 on the designation and delegation of the town zoning enforcement officer.
The ordinance clarifies which municipal position holds the authority to determine and enforce zoning violations and explicitly allows that authority to be delegated to other staff. Planning Director Doug McLean told the council the change is largely a legal clean-up: past practice had staff performing enforcement duties but the code did not specify which position carried formal authority. McLean said the amendment memorializes long-standing practice so the town can demonstrate legal standing in enforcement actions.
The measure drew public comment from residents concerned about enforcement and staffing. Cheryl Kane of 185 East Schoolhouse Road urged the council to ensure the change would restore day-to-day accountability and enforcement, saying she had repeatedly raised complaints about property maintenance. Anthony Natalillo, who identified himself as handling minimum housing matters, said his role still relies on a supervising code enforcement officer and told the council he has responded to Kane's emails.
Council members framed the ordinance as fixing a procedural gap. Councilman Frank Brown said the change will give “teeth” to enforcement by tying the authority to a position the town can hold accountable. Others said the amendment reduces the risk that enforcement actions will be overturned on procedural grounds if a defendant challenges the town's legal authority.
The council opened the public hearing on the ordinance and invited interested residents and staff to speak before closing the hearing and taking the vote. After discussion the council approved the ordinance by roll call: Brown, Pasquale, Capaldi, Houle and President Verducci voted yes; 5 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative.
Council discussion also included a request to convene a follow-up agenda item so residents, the planning director and other staff could review recent enforcement history and outstanding neighborhood complaints. Councilwoman Capaldi said she would like a future agenda item that brings affected neighbors and staff together to discuss recurring issues and the process for appeals and enforcement.
