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Residents press Coventry council to protect infrastructure and scrutinize audits

Coventry Town Council · December 9, 2025

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Summary

Residents at the Dec. 8 meeting urged the council to treat grant funds carefully, questioned incentives for developers and asked for alternatives to paying for a private forensic audit; speakers called for transparency on agenda formats and custody of town records.

During public comment at the Dec. 8 Coventry Town Council meeting, residents raised several themes that shaped later council debate.

Britney Boyer (318 Towne Farm Road) criticized a proposed sewer-assessment reduction tied to the Coventry Crossing development, saying the town would be giving up what she described as nearly $800,000 in revenue and warning that grant funding is not "free money." She urged the council to rigorously scrutinize incentives and to avoid trading infrastructure funding for development promises.

Scott Guthrie (31 Maplewood Drive) said the council previously decided not to hire Clifford Larson Allen (CLA) and questioned a renewed proposal to hire the firm, noting price changes and urging the council to consider involving the state police if criminal allegations exist. Later in the public-comment period Guthrie accused the former town solicitor of removing town records and said he had a statutory citation; the allegation prompted council members to discuss investigative options but no formal charge or finding was recorded at the meeting.

A resident identified as Jason (first recorded as 'Jason News' and later referred to as 'Mr. Nunes') warned against setting a precedent by granting developers concessions tied to affordable housing percentages and suggested the town should explore low-cost state resources instead of contracting private auditors.

Several speakers also asked the council to restore a simpler agenda format (removing boilerplate language that confuses the public) and to ensure public comment is available at committee meetings and on all town dockets. Council members responded that staff will review agenda templates and processes for public comment and that the CLA matter was tabled pending more information.