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Council backs state bills on expanded school background checks, approves environmental priority resolutions

Coventry Town Council · March 25, 2026

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Summary

Coventry officials voted to support state legislation expanding background checks for school employees and vendors and approved a block of state priority environmental project resolutions after staff described several stormwater and sewer items (including Lake Tioga projects).

The council voted to support two state bills (House bill 7356 and Senate bill 2216) that would expand background checks pertaining to school employees and related vendors. Council members said Coventry already performs background checks for school hires but supported the state-level change to close gaps in disclosures across municipalities; questions about funding for expanded checks were noted but the council approved the resolution by voice vote.

At the same meeting Assistant Town Manager Maria Broadbent presented the town’s project priority list for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and highlighted stormwater projects such as Lake Tioga stormwater improvements and Ty Oak near the boat ramp. Broadbent explained the list is used to determine eligibility for state loans, bonds and grants and noted one duplicate entry on the packet; the council removed the duplicate (resolution 2026-27) and approved the remainder of the block, allowing staff to submit separate applications where required.

What the council approved: a block of resolutions placing a variety of local projects on the state priority list (stormwater, sewer, pump station work) and a separate council resolution expressing support for the two state bills on enhanced background checks. Broadbent also notified residents of expected detours for high-school sewer construction starting in April and the town’s near-complete community learning center funded with a $4.7 million state grant.

Next steps: staff will submit the DEM priority applications, circulate public notices for upcoming detours and follow up on the duplicate resolution removal.