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Coventry council authorizes $3.52 million bond referendum for schools, emergency vehicles and equipment
Summary
The Coventry Town Council voted 4–2 to adopt Resolution 2026-06, placing a $3.52 million combined capital projects question on the April Annual Town Meeting agenda and a May 5 referendum; the package funds school safety improvements, an ambulance, a street sweeper and a Quint firetruck.
The Coventry Town Council voted 4–2 on March 16 to adopt Resolution 2026-06 and authorize placing a $3,520,000 combined capital projects bond on the Annual Town Meeting agenda and for voter consideration in a May 5 referendum.
Town Manager James Drumm presented the package, which he said bundles school fire alarm and intercom upgrades, an ambulance replacement, a DPW street sweeper and a Quint firetruck into a single $3.52 million authorization that, if approved by voters, will be financed with bonds. Drumm noted the Quint would take about three years to build and that bonding would not be issued until delivery, which would lock in current prices.
Council discussion focused on whether to split the projects into separate ballot questions. Council Chairwoman Lisa Thomas and Councilors Jon Hand, Robyn Gallagher and Peter Larson argued the items share a safety theme and should remain together to avoid fragmenting support. Councilor Julie Blanchard and Councilor Mark Wheaton urged separating items so voters could weigh each purchase individually. "If the school was on fire, you couldn’t put it out without the tanker," Larson said, arguing the purchases "work hand in hand." Thomas added that breaking items into separate questions could pit town priorities against one another.
Gallagher said she supported the package for public safety reasons and that explanatory text and on-site materials at the polls would help voters understand how the $3.52 million is allocated. Wheaton warned voters might see a large total and urged clear voter education about what the sum includes.
The council recorded the motion to adopt Resolution 2026-06 as moved by Councilor Robyn Gallagher and seconded by Jon Hand. The roll-call vote was For: Jon Hand, Robyn Gallagher, Lisa Thomas and Peter Larson; Against: Julie Blanchard and Mark Wheaton. The motion passed 4–2. The council then moved to place the resolution on the Annual Town Meeting agenda for April 25 at Coventry High School and to adjourn the ballot question to the May 5 referendum; that motion carried with the same 4–2 vote.
Next steps: explanatory materials will be displayed for voters and the bond question will appear on the May 5, 2026 referendum ballot; absentee ballots will be available through the Town Clerk as provided by law.
Votes at a glance: Adopt Resolution 2026-06 (motion by Gallagher, second Hand) — Vote: 4 in favor (Hand, Gallagher, Thomas, Larson); 2 opposed (Blanchard, Wheaton). Place resolution on Annual Town Meeting agenda and refer referendum to May 5 — Vote: 4 in favor; 2 opposed.
Outcome and procedural note: Council action sends the authorization to the Annual Town Meeting for consideration and advances the question to be decided by voters at referendum.
