Town Manager Report for the week ending September 26, 2025
On Tuesday evening there was a monthly Council meeting in which two public hearings were held and ordinances were passed for the Town to have the option to enter tax stabilization agreements with potential developers and a zone change for the Coventry Centre project located at the intersection of Arnold Rd and New London Turnpike. There were also agenda items added for a vote at the October 14th meeting regarding a review of the solicitor’s contract, a discussion on new council leadership, and a potential forensic audit of the solicitor’s invoices.
On Wednesday we had our Town wide public meeting on our Hazard Mitigation Plan which included updates on the approximate 35 action items we have identified in the approved plan that various department have a role in moving forward. The items vary from stormwater, to dam management, to road and sidewalk repair, and updated plans.
I also attended a meeting of the R.I. Town Managers and Administrators Association in North Kingstown hosted by TM Ralph Mollis which had the Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi as the guest speaker. He discussed issues around the state budget and the upcoming financial challenges the state will be facing as federal funds dry up. This will have a direct impact on our local state aid including education.
On Thursday I, along with Acting Chief Witt, Captain DeSisto, and Director Sevegny met with West Warwick TM Mark Knott and Police Chief Lavigne to address the ongoing issue with E-bikes in and around the bike path that intersects both of our communities. There are relatively new state laws that address E-bikes and place them in classes. Class 1-pedal-assist only, up to 20 mph are allowed on the bike path per state law. Class 2-throttle assisted, up to 20 mph are not allowed on the bike path and are to be used on the roadway; and Class 3- pedal assist up to 28 mph are also not permitted on the bike path and are for road use only following the appropriate traffic guidelines/regulations. We are looking to increase the signage in the area we share and put out on social media and through the SRO’s at the schools what is legal to have on the path and what is not. We want to inform and educate as opposed to ticket and tow.
On Thursday night the Coventry Redevelopment Agency held a public workshop in the auditorium of Coventry High School to update the residents on the redevelopment plan their contractor, GZA, is putting together within the scope of work that has been identified. There was an informative slide presentation and the residents, staff, and board members were broken out into 2 additional rooms of smaller groups to dive into what the future of public access on the Pond looks like. There will be more to come.