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Council approves $36,254.91 in impact‑fee reimbursements for high‑school lab and plumbing work
Summary
After debate about procurement timing and bond‑reimbursement rules, the Coventry Town Council approved use of $36,254.91 from education‑designated impact fees to reimburse work on science labs and plumbing that school staff had completed after bond counsel warned the items might not qualify for bond reimbursement.
The council voted to approve resolution 2025‑129 allowing the use of $36,254.91 from the town’s education‑designated impact‑fee account to reimburse school purchases and supplies for Coventry High School’s science‑lab renovations and related plumbing work.
What council heard: Director Savetti said the work had been completed by the school department and that bond counsel advised staff not to submit those specific reimbursements to bond proceeds because some work had been performed by in‑house staff rather than independent contractors. Savetti told the council that the impact‑fee education account had a balance of roughly $153,739.66 (as amended during the meeting) and that by using impact fees the town would preserve bond reimbursement capacity for other bond‑qualified items.
Public concerns and council discussion: A public commenter had questioned why purchases were being approved after deliveries and installations, asking whether vendors were incurring late fees and whether this practice risked relationships with vendors. Several council members pressed for clearer up‑front coordination between the school and town on how bond‑eligible work should be procured to avoid similar situations. Council members were told the requests were one‑time capital reimbursements and that impact‑fee ordinance rules limit how those funds may be used (education, parks, roads, etc.).
Outcome: The council amended the draft resolution to reflect a current impact‑fee balance (dated 12/16/2025) and approved the amended resolution by voice vote.
