[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6116078,"mediaKeyId","2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b","parentId",2734650,"title","At-a-glance: Coventry council votes and appointments from March 11 meeting","audioSeconds",8078,"startMs",888000,"endMs",8966000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b&start=888&end=8966","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b/thumbnail_888000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6116078/Rhode-Island/At-a-glance-Coventry-council-votes-and-appointments-from-March-11-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116078-5f493007342db7dd98a707223ececbd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148722&Signature=SFb6ZreYBzRJb58wM63ghCwV-naxCpYbqdLjjc1fDvBo2ivzc0qBqHlB2ghLxvBCIFrQwM99FqkWi8GEWkyAyODEMwwD1FjZTMpb6sfIqRgYlSbtM8AIIpzAuvZoTKtynKWh5HKzv7Sqh~qPH8EHsfhb~ARu4aCiS~4aBmmCXOOBAYJJFt0KJbpJPpmsiNtEKtGNPUyf2maf1LtusPq8m3I5lUSBXTHTGFNB-GTQDH1BtSGWkbGZUyp81l~evx6pw6-SFJxJXGzI-y9ixLtCtNpofOQRtVlHZb99StT2iz0eayH6i-6u9a8Jc5XOdForaM4i4yhBsNpCtp0dJVkrxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Coventry Rhode Island","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Coventry Town Council adopted a series of routine and substantive items during its March 11 meeting. Below are the formal actions recorded in the meeting and short notes on each outcome.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to take the agenda out of order — Passed, 7–0 (motion by Councilman Blank; second by Councilman Capaldi). The council approved moving speakers up in the agenda.

- Resolution 2025‑18 (Traffic control devices): Approved, 7–0. The resolution updates municipal authority for traffic control devices and legitimizes devices currently in place so enforcement and traffic safety actions can continue.

- Purchase of Ford F‑350 pickup truck with plow and sander (public works): Approved, 7–0. The truck will replace one out of service; the purchase is funded from impact/ development fees as noted in the staff memo.

- School impact‑fee allocation ($8,490) for two Armstrong pumps at Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School: Approved, 7–0.

- Resolution supporting House Bill H‑5193 (state first‑responder safety stickers for electric/hybrid vehicle enclosures): Approved, 7–0.

- Resolution urging the Rhode Island General Assembly to enact legislation strengthening school district fiscal accountability to councils: Approved, 7–0. The council asked the solicitor to draft enabling language for local legislation and to work with the town’s state delegation.

- Appointment to Coventry Land Trust: Chenoa (Shaina) Cahoon confirmed as a member, 7–0.

Notable pending item: Resolution 2025‑08 (ARPA allocation for invasive weed treatment across four lakes) — the council amended the Tioga Lake allocation upward by $4,600 and then unanimously voted to continue the amended resolution to the council’s next meeting so staff can confirm ARPA eligibility or present an alternative funding source. No final appropriation was made that night.

How votes were recorded: for roll‑call votes the clerk recorded individual council votes (Council members Brown, Pasqua, Capaldi, LeBlanc, Copley, Vice President Verducci, and President Lima) and all recorded affirmative votes were 7–0 across the actions that passed.

Ending: Several routine infrastructure and finance items passed by unanimous vote; the council deferred final action on the ARPA lake‑treatment resolution pending written funding confirmation to avoid potential federal compliance issues.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Coventry Town Council - 25 Feb 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors voted unanimously on traffic control authority, a pickup truck purchase, school impact‑fee spending, a bill supporting first‑responder stickers, a school‑accountability resolution and a Land Trust appointment; an ARPA weed‑treatment allocation was amended and continued for funding verification.","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},6116088,"Council presses for clarity on Flat River reservoir operating plan; amends, then continues vote on $55,575 ARPA weed‑abatement resolution",5886,3720000,9606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b&start=3720&end=9606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b/thumbnail_3720000.jpg","/articles/6116088/Rhode-Island/Council-presses-for-clarity-on-Flat-River-reservoir-operating-plan-amends-then-continues-vote-on-55575-ARPA-weedabatement-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116088-38de0cfaa85f330f4cef4175a8a53b18/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148722&Signature=U4DAwRmiiJI6uy9sFwlyPruun1LhUTOEjtT8vtmS~xkv4KP-TsiNql0S9TsBa0BS4i7j30tiJ3xtS4ay9M7RvraWZX1i3RoMB7o-GD7ksXMfkdaYevaUeBYmjeKFBgcBMclNJto9Mh7K7rtidA-MhbhE3~tjieLmtP90O8hSm-1WBnG~QRZWXw73luOde99sCn3vXHpEH0rhe0ryTMh6VyI8N0s0KLvRDkEAD5fWMPsf062YAtUIe4Guvg5HM2bt-GLO3Oos-YxR8OONijnsgXMG-MVTmwQDGn-qY4Ou0LkgWy4p6VekSbN3VjBfMxPyvazc9m2eQGsZOS-FFLY0Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Coventry Town Council spent substantial time on March 11 on operations at Flat River Reservoir (also called Johnson’s Pond) and on town funding for invasive‑weed treatment across four lakes. The meeting combined technical testimony from engineers and state officials, questions from councilors and residents, and a contentious vote on a proposed ARPA allocation for herbicide treatments.

Permit and water‑level dispute: Council members, engineers and residents debated the reservoir’s operating plan and whether the town should follow historical filling patterns or the water‑level schedule in a 1994–95 lease and subsequent DEM guidance. Bill Ladd, an engineer from GZA who joined by Zoom, summarized the permit’s seasonal water‑level bands and tied those levels to minimum downstream flow rates: an April operating band between 12 and 24 inches below the spillway crest depends on roughly 215 cubic feet per second (CFS) at the downstream gauge; May operations are tied to 150 CFS and June allow raising to crest with a 40 CFS minimum, subject to drought or low flows.

Residents and some council members urged the town to restore earlier, higher spring drawup practice. “We would start to raise this water in late March. It would be close to full in April, and it undoubtedly would be full for May 1. We would not begin rising at May 1,” Councilman Pasqua said, reflecting data assembled by local lake advocates. Pasqua and residents argued DEM’s cited flow floors and the lease language did not match historical practice and that the town should press DEM for a schedule aligned with historical filling to protect public use and local ecosystems.

DEM, lease and data: Town staff and the GZA engineer said the draft operating permit he had reviewed generally carried forward the historic levels established by a 1994–95 consent agreement and lease, as interpreted by DEM’s review of historic USGS gauging and Quinneck Reservoir records from the 1980s–1990s. Town officials agreed to seek a meeting with DEM staff to reconcile the town and residents’ datasets and the draft permit language: the council directed staff and the engineers to request a follow‑up meeting with DEM and to bring historical data to ensure all parties are reviewing the same records.

Weed‑management funding and ARPA resolution: Councilors discussed resolution 2025‑08, a one‑time plan to spend federal ARPA funds on aquatic invasive‑weed treatment for Flat River Reservoir and three other public water bodies: Upper Dam Pond, Bridal Dam and Tioga Lake. Sponsors originally proposed allocating $35,000 for Flat River Reservoir, $8,925 for Upper Dam Pond, $6,650 for Bridal Dam and $5,000 for Tioga Lake (total $55,575). Tom Pendergast, speaking for the Upper Dam Pond Conservation Association, told the council his group recommended supporting the resolution and would set aside matching funds for stormwater work tied to lake health. Jerry Norkowitz cited treatment estimates from contractors and told the council his analysis suggested more than $44,000 would be needed to adequately treat the four water bodies.

Amendment and outcome: Councilman Brown proposed amending the Tioga Lake allocation upward by $4,600 to match association requests; the council approved the amendment unanimously. Council members debated whether use of ARPA funds was allowable; Solicitor Angel said the town could use ARPA to cover an identified deficit so long as the specific MOU/open‑space ARPA line item permitted that use, but he recommended the council confirm the eligibility in writing. Rather than vote final appropriation that night, the council voted unanimously to continue the amended resolution to the March 11 agenda so staff could confirm an acceptable ARPA line item or alternative funding pathway. Officials said the follow‑up would include a fiscal note and, if necessary, an alternative funding resolution to avoid delays to permitting and treatment.

Why this matters: Residents said weed growth has already affected public beaches, boating and dissolved oxygen in some ponds; local associations stressed year‑to‑year treatment is expensive and that delayed spring application can raise costs and limit effectiveness. Council members said they wanted to be careful to follow federal ARPA rules and to preserve municipal fiscal controls while also supporting lake health.

Ending: The council directed staff to confirm ARPA eligibility and to meet with DEM and engineers to reconcile historical data and the draft permit. The amended, $60,001 total (after the $4,600 Tioga increase) resolution will return to the council’s March 11 agenda for final action.","Councilors pressed state and engineer testimony on how and when to restore Flat River Reservoir’s water level and unanimously amended, then continued action on a proposed ARPA allocation to treat invasive weeds across four town lakes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6116093,"Engineers warn Coventry Reservoir dam needs $5.9 million in repairs, council told",1371,2473000,3844000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b&start=2473&end=3844","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b/thumbnail_2473000.jpg","/articles/6116093/Rhode-Island/Engineers-warn-Coventry-Reservoir-dam-needs-59-million-in-repairs-council-told","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116093-9925a6a0b3b35857612f9e430938da1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148722&Signature=M3hbThyjMnXKUbDhXn8H1Ib9GkSYfcrO4fmViNriQKMiw1zQr3Vb97qyfd2eYX2JQTJbWCJNHSBApEPzY~jweOkI6RhcRPLPlYYEnTgH9TYruAz8Meo90FyYCqy8luYcVpVjhFNdWDe4xc9K0nWjMm9KYwlvHYZL6cyOXSPOzKqP0xaU-eXUKCj4bg3b-NIb-P89RnWA4-tD-Gz1JiMgyRDMsZIrPPjJVedcGFIitz05aRTM-~UPyebEgPFd2kqbmqmWdfXQ5k~ap7vNPlolOvzCbpAhgzGujjy9vQtCFDliFYLJMJEfgEyPqHY~DuhKkWBbyEP~Uepu9jAQ5I1p2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Engineers from Fuss & O’Neill told the Coventry Town Council on March 11 that Coventry Reservoir Dam (Dam 176) is in poor condition, may overtop in moderate flood events and will require millions of dollars in repairs to avoid catastrophic failure.

The town’s contracted engineers presented dive-inspection findings and hydrology modeling showing the masonry embankment and spillway cannot safely pass a 10- to 50-year storm without risk of overtopping. “Between the 10 year storm and the 50 year storm, the spillway is not able to pass that amount of water, which means that the dam is going to overtop on one of its embankments,” Justin Deschen, project manager at Fuss & O’Neill, said. He said the modeling shows overtopping begins at roughly the 25-year event.

Why it matters: the spillway and embankment back a larger downstream impoundment (Johnson’s Pond). Engineers and town officials warned that a breach could send a sudden release of water and accumulated sediments and contaminants into Johnson’s Pond and downstream neighborhoods, exposing homes and public infrastructure to flood damage and environmental risk.

What the engineers recommended: Fuss & O’Neill proposed a conceptual repair that would armor the embankment so it can overtop safely without failing. The package includes embankment armoring, spillway improvements and repairs to the low‑level outlet. The consultant’s current opinion of probable cost for full repairs is roughly $5,900,000 (present-day dollars), with a substantial contingency.

“We found missing stones, depressions and voids behind the masonry wall, and the data show the spillway is not sized to pass design storms,” Dean Odette, senior resource for the project, said during the presentation. Divers reported that voids behind the stonework are enlarging — a sign of ongoing internal erosion — and geotechnical work confirmed concerns.

Short‑term actions and risks: engineers and the solicitor told the council there are interim measures the town must consider to reduce near‑term risk. Those include removing trees growing in the dam face, installing temporary sandbag armoring (large, tonnage‑scale sandbag protection at the masonry face), and restoring a functioning low‑level outlet so operators can draw down the impoundment when flows are predicted. Solicitor Steven Angel said an administrative order from the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) already requires the town to supply plans and timelines.

On timing and probability: the consultant said the dam’s spillway would overtop between the 10‑ and 50‑year events; the consultants described a 10‑year rainfall as having a 10 percent chance of occurring in any given year and a 50‑year event as having a 2 percent chance. “An inch of water over the top of the dam is not a big deal,” Fuss & O’Neill said. “Three feet of water is really bad.” The engineers said the structure shows signs of previous overtopping and that failure could occur during an intense storm.

Funding outlook: the consultants and town staff said the most likely funding sources are competitive federal programs such as FEMA’s BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grants and other state or federal dam mitigation programs, and that these are competitive. The town will seek phased work and pursue grant opportunities while planning short‑term stabilization. The town manager and engineers said they will coordinate with DEM on an acceptable phasing plan and apply for grants, but emphasized that DEM is likely to require immediate mitigation steps before long‑term work.

Council next steps: Fuss & O’Neill will complete a 30% design package and deliver a draft 30% design report (including dive and geotechnical reports) to the town and to Bridal (a referenced stakeholder) by the end of next month. Town staff said they will meet with DEM and the consultants to develop a prioritized schedule and a funding strategy. No council vote was taken on funding at the March 11 meeting.

Ending: The presentation made clear the town faces a complex decision that combines public‑safety urgency, environmental permitting and highly competitive grant timelines. The council asked that staff return with clearer budget options and a proposed phasing plan after meeting with DEM and completing the 30% design deliverable.

","Engineers told the Coventry Town Council that Coventry Reservoir Dam (Dam 176) is in poor condition and classified high-hazard; short-term steps and a multi‑million dollar repair plan were presented, and officials said state and federal grants will be needed.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6116083,"Audit firm gives Coventry a clean preliminary opinion but flags internal control weaknesses and delayed reporting",2676,6118000,8794000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b&start=6118&end=8794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2734650-7e1dc1ce65ccd44f4242f89de902ed8b/thumbnail_6118000.jpg","/articles/6116083/Rhode-Island/Audit-firm-gives-Coventry-a-clean-preliminary-opinion-but-flags-internal-control-weaknesses-and-delayed-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116083-5a712891bc55f2dd7154bc797ccbbed3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148722&Signature=GbnbdB5XS4TAGcBoIQoYkDGLL9CnVmBgoqj2bm1SpmRB0gjzP~i6ws5PZF2Y6FQMg2jB~uZ8a3zljfXjdvsg6Wf2aew6Ad2990CXQYTSjoU5w2omL--CTqaJqB5JUee5MAb3nTsfaE4AoBYZRwkN-h3ndFU1ixjlzTEWKk2P4Hxsl6c~fH4S0fQ2g6N2-k3eXpK5TydZbwVvBs2lqtgYqBFKG-aPYyhRSh8NfWTlGmZ1MeFR4JLH21u~BhPUTYi~rZbvB5nYjj0yvPo6O1pASawSIw-Uw1lwOuihrVExJgkrh0jDKbW~htejRSaOhIjrGwU7jUUCLfXWp6LKAMAmDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council heard a draft fiscal‑year‑2023 audit presentation from CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) during the March 11 meeting. Auditor Leslie Zoll explained the audit scope, high‑level findings and several repeated internal‑control recommendations.

Headline finding: CLA said it expected to issue an unmodified (clean) opinion on the FY2023 basic financial statements and delivered the draft financial statements that evening for council review. CLA noted additional work remained on the federal single audit but said the financial‑statement opinion itself was complete pending final sign‑offs.

Key concerns and internal control notes: auditors reported two material weaknesses in the financial statements and two significant deficiencies over federal programs. Repeated management letter items included the need for better year‑end closing procedures, improved capital‑asset records (particularly for sewer fund assets), timely reconciliation and reporting, more robust procurement policies for federal grants and centralizing pension trust accounting. CLA also recommended an accounting procedures manual and suggested a fraud risk assessment, tip line and cybersecurity review as best practices.

What changed from prior years: CLA said some issues have improved — the prior year had six material weaknesses — but stressed the town is behind on timely reporting. The audit covered the town’s net position, with a large long‑term liability driven by pension and OPEB obligations. CLA noted municipal pension plans ranged from roughly 29%–48% funded and that other post‑employment benefit (OPEB) obligations totaled about $15.9 million as of June 30, 2023.

Budgetary highlights: CLA reported the general fund’s unassigned fund balance was about $15.5 million (13.6% of budget), property‑tax collections at 99.5% and that the school unrestricted fund had a negative fund balance (about $2.8 million at 6/30/23). The auditors emphasized that the school side’s structural deficit would require continued attention.

Council response and next steps: councilors pressed for faster on‑time reporting going forward and asked staff to pursue model policies and templates for year‑end close and controls; the town manager and finance director said they would implement a more formal year‑end checklist and work with CLA on GASB standard implementations (GASB 96 and others). CLA also listed upcoming GASB changes that will affect future reporting and offered resources and webinars for local officials.

Ending: CLA said the final, signed financial statements and the single‑audit report would be issued in the coming days after receipt of final representation letters; the council requested the management letter and was urged to consider creating a citizen advisory or finance committee to assist oversight between annual audits.

","CLA presented a draft fiscal‑year‑2023 audit with an expected unmodified opinion; auditors listed two material weaknesses and other management recommendations and urged improvements to year‑end close and procurement controls.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

At-a-glance: Coventry council votes and appointments from March 11 meeting

Council presses for clarity on Flat River reservoir operating plan; amends, then continues vote on $55,575 ARPA weed‑abatement resolution

Engineers warn Coventry Reservoir dam needs $5.9 million in repairs, council told

Audit firm gives Coventry a clean preliminary opinion but flags internal control weaknesses and delayed reporting