[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6116058,"mediaKeyId","2734659-4e3971efff5ad596d9d3997fd72e914c","parentId",2734659,"title","Votes at a glance: Coventry Council approves licenses, equipment purchases and contracts; solicitor contract ratified","audioSeconds",8309,"startMs",3731000,"endMs",12040000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734659-4e3971efff5ad596d9d3997fd72e914c&start=3731&end=12040","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734659-4e3971efff5ad596d9d3997fd72e914c/thumbnail_3731000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6116058/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Coventry-Council-approves-licenses-equipment-purchases-and-contracts-solicitor-contract-ratified","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116058-5e138d13cce4e8257b46ccbaf102b8ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162949&Signature=Xi-3fTdYyBO5Y2mXrr3k5xRmSK1RfJeC~jl0asYH51aZr5gWcRJuMitsXfvc-h6VSq3afV4XfRHOGdY9kwDoAvAr33~D2ofvBVZCzo8bvYceKGXgAtU47zWGVKcLie~mlDPmv96OjZqRK6oBwHwcSqOJQHq9m0DZia8poBMt1d5K7NN2Wm6LVIkpY7DUr1M-1rXODhTyswGVHurUjbdG4PXP8tXjapoNODyLv1pOpK5OjotOsC6T7h3R2T-aXgYnrwlrANeLaijeRBBso3vCvydf~mbHnD3GOePA-iAEJo2hZyIb0WweuhV3RnyqaBbJ9m6dsHTdARFmAj3tYQnFPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Coventry Rhode Island","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Coventry Town Council approved several licenses, equipment purchases, and contracts at its February meeting and ratified the town solicitor’s engagement. The council also postponed consideration of a $35,000 ARPA allocation for invasive weed management at Flat River Reservoir to Feb. 25 for additional fiscal detail.

Votes at a glance (motions, mover/second, outcome):

- Christopher J. Rich — private detective license (packets p. 35–36). Motion to approve by Vice President Verducci; second by Councilman Brown. Roll call: Brown, Pasqua, Capaldi, LeBlanc, Copley, Verducci, Lima — all yes. Outcome: approved, 7–0.

- The Pizza Nomad — victualing/business license (packets p. 37–38). Motion by Councilman Brown; second by Councilman Pasqua. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved, 7–0.

- Ratification: Rosewood Consulting contract renewal (grant writer Lisa Andosia), one-year retainer at $5,000 per month (packets). Motion to ratify by Councilman Pasqua; second by Councilman Capaldi. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: ratified, 7–0.

- Coventry Police Department — purchase of 2025 Ford Transit T-250 animal-control van (insurance payout plus balance from impact fees). Motion to approve by Councilman Brown; second by Councilman Pasqua. Cost and funding: insurance paid $8,550; balance $50,481.81 charged to impact fees. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved, 7–0.

- Coventry Police Department — live-scan fingerprint machine (grant funded). Motion by Councilman Pasqua; second by Councilman Brown. Clerk recorded unanimous yes. Outcome: approved (grant covers cost), 7–0.

- Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School — allocation of school impact fees, $53,625.25 for a replacement telephone and intercom system (packet p.146). Motion by Councilman Brown; second by Vice President Verducci. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved, 7–0.

- Western Coventry Elementary School — allocation of school impact fees, $4,243.62 for a chlorine monitor and associated parts (packet p.155). Motion by Councilman Pasqua; second by Councilman Capaldi. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved, 7–0.

- Solicitor contract (letter of engagement) — motion to approve and authorize the council president to sign. Motion by Vice President Verducci; second by Councilman Copley. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved, 7–0.

What council recorded in roll calls: For every listed approval the clerk called the roll and recorded individual yes votes by Council members Brown, Pasqua, Capaldi, LeBlanc, Copley, Vice President Verducci and President Lima; no negative or abstaining votes were recorded on these items.

Context notes: The Rosewood Consulting renewal (grant writer Lisa Andosia) was discussed earlier in the meeting; the contractual monthly retainer remained $5,000 per month with no increase. The police fingerprint system was fully covered by an awarded grant. The animal-control van purchase used an insurance settlement plus impact fees; the council’s finance/reports packet includes the fund balances and the fiscal position that supported these votes.

Ending: The council conducted these routine votes by unanimous roll-call and directed staff to return the postponed ARPA lakes item to the Feb. 25 meeting for further information.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Coventry Town Council - 28 Jan 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the same meeting the council postponed the ARPA lakes resolution, it approved a set of routine licenses and purchases and ratified two contracts, all by unanimous votes. Key fiscal amounts and roll-call outcomes are summarized below.","taxTitle","Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island","taxId",79575,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6116062,"Council delays $35,000 ARPA payment for Flat River Reservoir, asks for townwide lake funding plan",1763,7038000,8801000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734659-4e3971efff5ad596d9d3997fd72e914c&start=7038&end=8801","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734659-4e3971efff5ad596d9d3997fd72e914c/thumbnail_7038000.jpg","/articles/6116062/Rhode-Island/Council-delays-35000-ARPA-payment-for-Flat-River-Reservoir-asks-for-townwide-lake-funding-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116062-1245189b1ab99002e8c1f30129d42838/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162949&Signature=QSgbYUEd8NtdqO9tqVa0SLvohO10mfJAa2OqV-4L0qHwN193D4b5oyU~UAIrDT0pSLv4H4he7g6MpXYZPyYF9GVch5wr~qdCLOM0LYX4hPqmuuEXq3aeKfto4hpGxEOrUtn-cP6i9hzMc8pZLdkRgI7tZcAI8S0S9h2W41mensY8B~Lu57Trr14hglsKxximEcQ7lDwQSNmxVqLqt9pqGqmVjZhtgd5kTz4oPRshbSLjrS0i~SDPE8BTS1sWvGiRy~i4TpKvo9p-CR22RV6K0nxQjxMbhge3PJRuN5OD3DyBtkzp0ty33kzaGS67L3XIqLSQkknFa7J~x4R524E74A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coventry Town Council on an evening meeting in February 2025 unanimously voted to continue discussion of a resolution that would have allocated $35,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for invasive-weed treatment at Flat River Reservoir, commonly called Johnson’s Pond. Council members said they wanted more cost details from lake associations and a townwide plan before approving one-time ARPA funding.

The resolution’s sponsors described the funding as a one-time injection to restore the reservoir to a manageable condition after several years of low water and missed treatments. Councilman Michael Pasqua introduced the item as a targeted, near-term measure tied to the town’s recent acquisition of the reservoir; the council later voted 7-0 to continue the measure to the Feb. 25 meeting to allow staff and local lake groups to supply additional detail.

Why it matters: The town acquired the reservoir by eminent-domain court order in June 2024 and has committed to creating public access. Several residents urged the council to address water quality now so future public access investments—boat ramps, beaches, and related infrastructure—will be usable and safe. Other residents and lake advocates urged an equitable approach so all town-owned water bodies receive attention and money is used consistent with federal ARPA rules.

Public comment and technical input drove the council’s decision. Speakers representing three lake associations and contractors described the scale and history of treatment: Mark Lamoy, president of the Johnson Pond Civic Association, said the civic association had not been able to treat the pond for three seasons because of legal constraints and is seeking a one-time infusion to restore control. Water-and-wetlands contractor Colin Gosselin, who has worked on Johnson’s Pond for about 10 years, told the council the plant coverage “has greatly increased” since the last treatments and said his firm \"strongly recommend[s]… that the board approves the funds\" to regain control this season.

Other commenters urged caution. Tom Pendergast of the Upper Dam Pond Conservation Association said, “The ARPA rules state that funds can be used for lake infrastructure projects,” and argued ARPA is better used for long-term stormwater and infrastructure fixes that reduce phosphorus inflow and the need for repeated herbicide treatments. Jerry Norkowitz, president of the Lake Tioga Association, and Diane Cowell (a Tioga resident) both pressed for equitable treatment across all town-owned lakes, noting Tioga and Breezy Lake also incur recurring treatment costs.

Council debate focused on two questions: (1) whether one-time ARPA money is an appropriate short-term fix for obvious infestation that developed during recent low-water years, and (2) whether the council should craft a longer-term funding approach and coordinated plan so future treatment is fair and sustainable. Vice President Verducci and others suggested coordinating lake groups to pursue economies of scale and identify infrastructure grants; Solicitor Stephen Angel advised adding a fiscal note showing where ARPA funds would come from and that a clear justification under Treasury guidance should accompany any ARPA allocation.

A proposed amendment by Councilman Brown to add $5,000 for Lake Tioga and $2,500 for Breezy (Upper Dam/Breezy Lake) was moved and seconded but later withdrawn as the council decided to ask all lake groups for their recent average annual treatment costs and preferred uses of a one-time allocation. Councilman Pasqua said the $35,000 request was intended as a one-time amount to reset Johnson’s Pond treatment to a normal cadence after three missed seasons and legal interruption, not as ongoing annual support.

The council asked the town manager’s office to collect recent cost histories from the Johnson Pond Civic Association, Lake Tioga Association and the Upper Dam Pond Conservation Association, to supply a finance fiscal note, and to return the item to the Feb. 25 agenda. No appropriation was made at this meeting.

Ending: Council leaders urged coordination among the town, the conservation commission, lake associations and grant consultants before the next vote. They emphasized the distinction between short-term weed reduction work and longer-term stormwater or infrastructure projects that would reduce nutrient inflows and the need for repeated chemical control.","After extensive public comment, the Coventry Town Council voted unanimously to postpone action on a $35,000 ARPA resolution for invasive-weed treatment at Flat River Reservoir (Johnson's Pond) and asked staff and lake groups for a townwide plan and fiscal note before reconsidering.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Coventry Council approves licenses, equipment purchases and contracts; solicitor contract ratified

Council delays $35,000 ARPA payment for Flat River Reservoir, asks for townwide lake funding plan