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Coventry council schedules auditor review after questions over former solicitor's invoices and RDA work
Summary
Town manager and council will ask CLA auditors to review invoices tied to former solicitor Stephen Angell and consider expanding the review to the Redevelopment Agency after residents raised questions about an RDA contract and redacted bills. CLA will meet with council Friday to explain two audit options.
Coventry 'Town Council on Nov. 18 directed staff to bring invoices and questions about the town's former solicitor to a scheduled meeting with auditor CLA and to consider widening the review to include the town's Redevelopment Agency (RDA).
Resident Steve Riley told the council he learned at a prior meeting that the former town solicitor, identified in the meeting as Stephen Angell, continued to advise the RDA under a contract similar to the one he had with the town. "I'd like to suggest that the town audit the RDA's legal expenses," Riley said during public comment.
Town Manager Perillo said he received a set of invoices the morning of the meeting and that CLA would present two audit options at a Friday session to help the council decide the appropriate level of review. Council members pressed staff to deliver the invoices to council members first thing the next morning so they could prepare questions for CLA.
Several council members said they wanted clarity about whether the RDA contract was executed. Councilwoman Capaldi asked, "How can they be working for over a year without a signed contract?" Town staff said a signed copy exists but that they had not yet produced it to council; staff pledged to request the executed agreement from the former solicitor and RDA leadership.
Solicitor commentary during the discussion noted that an unsigned contract does not automatically bar payment for services rendered, pointing to quantum meruit and other contract-law concepts; the solicitor said entitlement to compensation would depend on the facts.
Council members debated the cost and scope of CLA's options, asking what the professional firm would bring to the table that staff or volunteer review would not. "If they're just going to go, 'here's the invoices and here's his contract,' anyone could do that," a council member said, asking CLA to explain the practical difference between the two price options. Town staff said CLA had performed audits and forensic reviews for the town before and that CLA would explain the distinctions at the Friday session.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting beyond requesting the invoices and scheduling the CLA presentation. Perillo and staff said they would circulate the invoices and the two CLA proposals before the Friday meeting so council members could forward questions in advance.
Next step: CLA will brief the council on Friday on audit scope and pricing; council asked staff to circulate the invoices and any relevant contracts beforehand.
