[1:57] good evening welcome to this meeting of

[1:59] the town council this meeting will come

[2:01] to order at 601 pm

[2:03] roll call

[2:05] vice president ludwig here

[2:11] please stand for the pledge of

[2:12] allegiance um mr chocolate please leave

[2:15] us in the pledge of allegiance

[2:27] thank you

[2:28] please provide the emergency evacuation

[2:30] this is

[2:31] the door

[2:33] thank you

[2:35] agenda b2 approval of town council

[2:37] meeting minutes for july 25th 2022

[2:40] reference pages 4-26 madam clerk did you

[2:43] receive any corrections

[2:45] yes i did have the corrections been made

[2:48] uh all but

[2:49] three

[2:50] i just received tonight okay are there

[2:53] any other corrections

[2:55] all right may i have a motion and a

[2:56] second to approve the amended minutes

[2:58] for july 25th 2022

[3:01] i'll make a motion may i have a second

[3:02] i'll second it thank you roll call vote

[3:05] vice president ludwig yes mr leblanc yes

[3:07] this is shockley yes this is lima yes

[3:10] this

[3:16] is emotion is approved i have a motion

[3:20] and a second to adjourn into executive

[3:22] section

[3:23] session at 602 pm

[3:27] i'll make a motion

[3:28] a second thank you uh for the following

[3:31] purposes closed pursuant to rhode island

[3:33] general law 4246 5a1 discussions of job

[3:36] performance character physical and

[3:38] mental health of a person or persons

[3:40] specifically for the council to discuss

[3:42] evaluation the child managers

[3:44] evaluation and goal setting and close

[3:46] pursuant to rhode island general law

[3:48] 4246 5a1 discussion of job performance

[3:51] character physical and mental health of

[3:53] a person or persons specifically for the

[3:55] council to discuss candidates for the

[3:57] school building design committee

[4:00] roll call

[4:02] miss vice president ludwig yes uh mr

[4:05] leblanc yes mrs shockley yes this is

[4:07] lima yes this is 16 years five years no

[4:10] needs the motion is approved we will now

[4:12] adjourn into executive session

[2:01:07] are they left

[2:01:08] hold it for really

[2:01:26] good evening everyone

[2:01:28] i'm sorry that we were uh late um we had

[2:01:31] a lot to discuss and we were trying to

[2:01:33] be as efficient

[2:01:35] as as possible but we ran over

[2:01:38] but i appreciate your waiting and um we

[2:01:40] hope the rest of the meeting will be

[2:01:42] very interesting we're planning it to be

[2:01:44] a very interesting meeting so thank you

[2:01:46] for staying

[2:01:50] members of the public the council met

[2:01:52] executive session for the following

[2:01:54] close pursuant to rhode island general

[2:01:56] law 4246 5a1 discussion of job

[2:01:59] performance character physical and

[2:02:00] mental health of a person or person

[2:02:02] specifically for the council to discuss

[2:02:04] evaluation of the town manager's

[2:02:07] uh evaluation and goal setting no votes

[2:02:10] were taken and close pursuant to rhode

[2:02:12] island general law 4246 581 discussion

[2:02:15] of job performance carriage or physical

[2:02:16] or mental health of a person or persons

[2:02:18] specifically for the council to discuss

[2:02:20] candidates for the school building

[2:02:22] design committee no votes were taken may

[2:02:24] have a motion to adjourn from executive

[2:02:26] session at 801 please i'll make a motion

[2:02:29] thank you may i have a second a second

[2:02:32] thank you we'll call vice president

[2:02:34] ludwig yes mr leblanc yes mrs shockley

[2:02:38] yes mrs lima yes this is six and yes

[2:02:40] five years no nays the motion is

[2:02:41] approved may i have a motion to seal the

[2:02:44] minutes of the executive session

[2:02:46] i'll make a motion i think you may have

[2:02:48] a second we'll call vice president

[2:02:51] ludwig yes

[2:02:53] istilla blank yes mrs shockley yes mrs

[2:02:56] lima yes mrs dixon yes five years no

[2:02:58] nays the motion is approved

[2:03:01] agenda d licenses for discussion and or

[2:03:03] action agenda d1 renewable mobile food

[2:03:07] like establishment license casa tia rose

[2:03:10] llc manuel leander 14 jennifer lane

[2:03:14] coventry yearly license reference pages

[2:03:16] 27-28

[2:03:18] may have a motion to approve the license

[2:03:22] i'll make a motion may i have a second thank you discussion is there

[2:03:28] someone here from casa tiarosa

[2:03:37] okay mr marchant any comments about this

[2:03:40] application for renewal of the license

[2:03:43] nothing no not tonight

[2:03:45] chief i see you have any comments about

[2:03:47] this license

[2:03:49] okay thank you

[2:03:50] members of the council do you have any

[2:03:52] questions

[2:03:52] [Music]

[2:03:54] okay roll call vote vice president

[2:03:56] ludwig yes mr leblanc yes mrs shockley

[2:03:58] yes this is lima yes this is six and yes

[2:04:01] five years no needs the motion is

[2:04:02] approved

[2:04:04] agenda e resolution by the town council

[2:04:07] of the town of coventry designating the

[2:04:08] week of september 18-24

[2:04:11] as coventry community wellness week with

[2:04:13] a culminating community activity or

[2:04:16] event on saturday september 24th at the

[2:04:18] coventry high school reference pages 29

[2:04:21] to 30 may have a motion to approve the

[2:04:25] resolution

[2:04:27] i'll make motion

[2:04:28] thank you may i have a second i'll

[2:04:30] second it thank you

[2:04:33] ms ludwig this is on page 29 would you

[2:04:35] like to read the resolution please

[2:04:44] it's not prepared

[2:04:45] okay you want me to read it certainly

[2:04:50] a resolution by the town council of the

[2:04:52] town of coventry resolved that the

[2:04:53] coventry town council hereby designates

[2:04:56] september 24th as coventry community

[2:04:58] wellness day

[2:05:00] whereas the town of coventry is a duly

[2:05:02] organized municipal corporation in the

[2:05:04] county of kent and state of rhode island

[2:05:06] whereas the town council is the

[2:05:08] governing body of the town and is

[2:05:09] responsible for all aspects of

[2:05:11] governance

[2:05:12] whereas the towns focus on building

[2:05:13] resiliency and celebrating connections

[2:05:15] in our community with an overarching

[2:05:17] focus on trauma-informed care and

[2:05:19] whereas the recent coveted pandemic led

[2:05:21] to an increase in isolation and need for

[2:05:23] our community to re-connect

[2:05:25] whereas the town of coventry department

[2:05:27] of human services and the coventry

[2:05:29] public school district have worked in

[2:05:30] collaboration with the ocean state

[2:05:32] trauma informed community coalition to

[2:05:34] grow a more resilient coventry and work

[2:05:36] towards a more resilient rhode island

[2:05:39] wellness activities including

[2:05:40] performances by local musicians a health

[2:05:42] fair and games for children will take

[2:05:44] place throughout the day

[2:05:46] the first coventry community wellness

[2:05:47] day which will take place at the

[2:05:49] coventry high school on saturday

[2:05:50] september 24th from 10 a.m to 4 p.m

[2:05:53] our coventry community is invited to

[2:05:55] participate in a free family day with a

[2:05:57] focus on fun wellness and celebrating

[2:05:59] our resilient community

[2:06:01] now therefore be it resolved that we the

[2:06:04] town council of the town of coventry

[2:06:05] rhode island respectfully designate

[2:06:08] september 24th as coventry community

[2:06:10] wellness day and be it further resolved

[2:06:12] that the town clerk is hereby instructed

[2:06:14] to submit a copy of this resolution to

[2:06:16] the town of coventry state senator and

[2:06:18] state representative as well as the

[2:06:20] executive director of the rhode island

[2:06:22] league of cities and towns

[2:06:24] this resolution shall take effect

[2:06:25] immediately upon the date hereof

[2:06:28] i hereby certify that the foregoing

[2:06:30] resolution was adopted by the honorable

[2:06:32] town council of the town of coventry at

[2:06:34] a regular meeting held on the 29th day

[2:06:36] of august 2022.

[2:06:39] thank you very much um mr robelot was

[2:06:41] one unable to attend due to a family

[2:06:44] matter um any members of the council

[2:06:46] have any questions

[2:06:48] about this resolution

[2:06:50] okay roll call vote vice president

[2:06:53] ludwig yes mr leblanc yes mrs shockley

[2:06:56] yes mrs lima yes mrs dixon yes five

[2:06:59] years no needs the resolution is

[2:07:01] approved

[2:07:02] agenda e2 affirming award of purchase

[2:07:04] for a 2022 ford

[2:07:07] policy interceptor utility awd suv and

[2:07:11] the respective vehicle accessories

[2:07:13] reference pages 31-37

[2:07:17] may i have a motion

[2:07:19] i'll make a motion may i have a second

[2:07:22] thank you

[2:07:24] chief heist

[2:07:26] tell us tell us what these vehicles are

[2:07:29] so these are uh two police vehicles um

[2:07:32] suvs for us

[2:07:33] um

[2:07:36] they're um

[2:07:38] the crosstalk is 125 998 10 cents to

[2:07:42] outfit them and purchase the vehicles

[2:07:45] uh that's including the radios

[2:07:47] in full outfit

[2:07:51] now is this in your budget already it's

[2:07:53] in the capital budget it's the workplace

[2:07:55] it's in the capital budget and the

[2:07:56] capital budget okay

[2:07:58] any other questions by

[2:08:00] members of the council

[2:08:02] mrs lima

[2:08:06] um i just wanted to ask what um

[2:08:11] financial data do we have to support

[2:08:13] that this money is available to make

[2:08:15] this purchase

[2:08:18] this is covered by current year revenues

[2:08:20] in the budget

[2:08:23] when you say current your revenues do

[2:08:24] you mean fy23

[2:08:26] yes

[2:08:31] i just want to i want to i will suffice

[2:08:35] is are these vehicles something you need

[2:08:37] immediately

[2:08:39] so part of the issue we run into is

[2:08:41] these quotes will be only good for 30

[2:08:43] days in addition that even the radios to

[2:08:46] order the radios there's a 26 week delay

[2:08:48] to even get them so if you push it off

[2:08:51] i'm not sure when they would come in

[2:08:52] yeah but we do need them i i i totally i

[2:08:57] want to support you so bad but my issue

[2:08:59] is like you've heard other meetings

[2:09:01] we haven't seen a budget's actual report

[2:09:03] since last year so i i don't know what

[2:09:06] our financial situation is and i just

[2:09:08] it's a huge chunk of cash to to commit

[2:09:12] and it's not because i don't i don't

[2:09:13] want to support you or i don't think you

[2:09:15] need it it's just

[2:09:16] i'm kind of making a blindfold decision

[2:09:18] so it's nothing against this quote or or

[2:09:20] the department it's that's really where

[2:09:23] it's at so there was an opportunity to

[2:09:26] um you know i'd like to hear what the

[2:09:27] rest of the council members are saying

[2:09:29] but i if there's an opportunity to at

[2:09:30] least

[2:09:31] table to this one of the september

[2:09:33] meetings where we could get more

[2:09:35] financial information um to help us feel better about this and and

[2:09:40] provide evidence that we have the funds

[2:09:43] to be able to to pay for this i would

[2:09:45] appreciate it

[2:09:47] any other questions

[2:09:53] we have a motion in a second to table

[2:09:55] this agenda item a roll call

[2:10:00] miss ledwick yes

[2:10:02] mr leblanc yes

[2:10:03] mrs shockley yes mrs lima yes mrs dixon

[2:10:08] no

[2:10:14] okay

[2:10:15] all right mrs shockley i would like to

[2:10:16] be prepared to vote on this

[2:10:19] at the next meeting if at all possible

[2:10:21] um

[2:10:23] manager marshawn when he says the

[2:10:25] capital budget can can you be more

[2:10:26] specific for me please is this the 500

[2:10:29] 000 in capital that we have set aside

[2:10:31] yes and was this something that we

[2:10:32] intended on putting that money towards

[2:10:34] when we put aside the 500 000

[2:10:36] yes

[2:10:39] and can i ask also about the radio

[2:10:40] equipment you said it's how many weeks

[2:10:42] before we get the radio equipment

[2:10:43] 26-week delay on

[2:10:45] are the cars safe

[2:10:47] like is it safe to be a police officer

[2:10:48] what do you use for radios i guess i

[2:10:50] want to ask like what what do you do we

[2:10:52] have a radio in the cars and then we

[2:10:53] also have portables on our sides these

[2:10:56] are the in-car radios

[2:10:58] like i said is that a

[2:11:01] safe way of driving

[2:11:03] a police car without that radio attached

[2:11:06] no we need that communication

[2:11:10] know i think she's asking sure i was

[2:11:11] questioning if it was safe now like i

[2:11:13] definitely have them in our current cars

[2:11:17] no i understood that that's why i was

[2:11:19] just concerned about the idea of you

[2:11:20] guys using these two vehicles without

[2:11:22] the radios but because you have your

[2:11:24] side radio it would well no they'd

[2:11:26] probably be sidelined until we could

[2:11:27] actually get the radios installed okay

[2:11:28] when do you expect so you're buying

[2:11:31] these cars but you wouldn't be using

[2:11:32] them for we'd be ordering them now and

[2:11:35] i'm not sure if it's an exact way on

[2:11:36] getting them here and outfitted there's

[2:11:38] a time delay uh to actually get them

[2:11:40] usable

[2:11:41] okay to go to the company towel fit them

[2:11:43] which takes several weeks depending on

[2:11:45] how many

[2:11:46] vehicles they're working on

[2:11:48] okay and when did you get the original

[2:11:51] quote because you said it's a 30-day

[2:11:52] quote i'm just looking at the so this is

[2:11:54] from 8 18. eight four there's a date on

[2:11:57] this quote on the top top one

[2:12:01] so what i'm looking at it says 817 i

[2:12:03] think well each one's

[2:12:12] the car itself

[2:12:31] the radio quote was on august 9th

[2:12:47] the um

[2:12:50] the global for the outfitting that

[2:12:52] expires on september 17th

[2:13:04] mr marshawn a question for you

[2:13:08] um

[2:13:09] there's a motion and a second to table

[2:13:11] this

[2:13:12] now till september 12th

[2:13:15] will we have information by september

[2:13:17] 12th that would allow a different

[2:13:19] decision or a decision to be made that

[2:13:21] would be any different than what could

[2:13:23] be made this evening

[2:13:27] uh we hope to have the fy21 audit

[2:13:32] finished by then and have at least draft

[2:13:33] statements available that would be more

[2:13:35] information than we have today

[2:13:38] however i don't know that we'll have

[2:13:42] a budget to actual year-to-date monthly

[2:13:44] reports for july or august by that point

[2:13:47] um we are behind on our financial

[2:13:51] reporting

[2:13:52] and reports as we're finishing the 21

[2:13:54] audit

[2:13:56] so i'm just

[2:13:58] not table to the 12th it was a general

[2:14:00] table

[2:14:02] we don't have to discuss the and it was

[2:14:03] seconded

[2:14:04] so we don't have to discuss it

[2:14:08] mr leblanc

[2:14:09] um

[2:14:10] i just wanted some clarification uh mr

[2:14:12] marshall you had mentioned that this was

[2:14:14] in the capital budget and it was

[2:14:16] something that was budgeted i think i i

[2:14:18] specifically had asked uh i knew we had

[2:14:22] a certain amount of money in capital and

[2:14:23] i had asked for what projects were in

[2:14:25] there and the answer i had received i

[2:14:27] think it was

[2:14:28] i don't know two months now um

[2:14:31] that it was just there for

[2:14:34] miscellaneous that we we as a council

[2:14:36] would be able to decide what we're going

[2:14:37] to use that capital for um so but you

[2:14:40] just answered that it's in the capital

[2:14:42] and it was intentionally budgeted for so

[2:14:44] i just wanted to clarify that comment so

[2:14:46] do you have a list of of projects now

[2:14:49] for capital and if you do i would love

[2:14:51] to know what yes i'll ask lisa to help

[2:14:53] answer that because she compiled the

[2:14:55] budget and managed it between the

[2:14:56] departments so

[2:14:59] his two police cars are in the budget um

[2:15:02] and if you look in the actual budget

[2:15:04] that was passed on the cip page it lists

[2:15:07] all the

[2:15:08] potential cip that everyone wanted and

[2:15:10] then at the last minute change when

[2:15:12] we all reduced the cip by 400 000

[2:15:16] that 400 000 reduction didn't get

[2:15:18] allocated to which one is going to leave

[2:15:20] but original vehicles are in there

[2:15:22] and

[2:15:23] so there's a listing so so it was in

[2:15:26] there but then it was taken out

[2:15:28] no there's a there's a listing of about

[2:15:29] 12 assets

[2:15:31] okay in the cost and the estimates

[2:15:33] included in that were two police

[2:15:34] vehicles

[2:15:36] and then

[2:15:37] the last town council meeting

[2:15:39] you all reduced the cip by 400 000. we

[2:15:42] sure did we didn't take that 400 000 and

[2:15:44] allocate it to which passes are going to

[2:15:46] be um

[2:15:47] going to be done or not right

[2:15:49] that's my but that's the original

[2:15:51] they're in there whether the 400 000 is

[2:15:53] a

[2:15:54] most of it was relating to dpw equipment

[2:15:57] and then there's a couple police

[2:15:58] vehicles and one recreation asset got it

[2:16:01] um okay

[2:16:03] um i'm

[2:16:04] not sure that exactly it's my question

[2:16:06] but okay thanks

[2:16:08] are there any other questions

[2:16:10] okay

[2:16:11] we had a motion and a second to table

[2:16:14] and we were going through the the voting

[2:16:17] and it was four years and one day uh and

[2:16:20] then we ended up with more questions

[2:16:22] which is fine

[2:16:23] so we've taken the vote for tabling so

[2:16:26] the motion is tabled

[2:16:27] thank you

[2:16:30] we'll let you know chief when it will

[2:16:31] become back up on the agenda

[2:16:36] item f1 time council updates um we have

[2:16:39] openings on the following boards and

[2:16:41] commissions

[2:16:42] uh tax assessment board of review and

[2:16:45] all of these are listed on the web and

[2:16:47] we also have applications

[2:16:49] these are very interesting positions and

[2:16:51] we hope that the public will take note

[2:16:53] of the boards and commissions that are

[2:16:56] actively recruiting members some of them

[2:16:58] need enough members so that they will

[2:17:00] have a quorum others do have quorums but

[2:17:03] we want to have a full complement of

[2:17:04] these members on all of the boards and

[2:17:06] commissions we also have an opening on

[2:17:09] the patuxent river authority

[2:17:11] an opening on the sewer assessment board

[2:17:13] of review

[2:17:15] openings on the sewer subcommittee

[2:17:18] openings on the economic development

[2:17:20] commission

[2:17:21] and we also are looking actively for

[2:17:23] three members for the school building

[2:17:25] committee we specifically are looking

[2:17:27] for three electors from the community

[2:17:30] one of whom may have architectural and

[2:17:32] engineering or construction experience

[2:17:35] the others too um do not need that kind

[2:17:38] of expertise but we welcome anyone who

[2:17:40] would like to apply to please

[2:17:42] complete an application and submit it to

[2:17:44] the town clerk as quickly as possible

[2:17:49] hopefully if we get applications we will

[2:17:51] begin interviewing these three

[2:17:53] candidates or

[2:17:55] more than that for these three positions

[2:17:57] by september 12th

[2:18:00] tom manager update mr marshawn

[2:18:02] [Music]

[2:18:04] yes thank you uh just to give an update

[2:18:06] on the uh progress of the current audit

[2:18:09] i spoke with one of the partners at uh

[2:18:12] clifton larson anderson and uh

[2:18:15] this morning and they said they are

[2:18:17] getting close

[2:18:18] they're hoping to have draft financials

[2:18:20] prepared before the next council meeting

[2:18:22] and i'm looking forward to having those

[2:18:24] out

[2:18:25] [Music]

[2:18:27] and the that will allow staff to

[2:18:29] progress proceed with the

[2:18:32] fy 22 financial statements and we're

[2:18:36] hoping to

[2:18:37] get those the fy 22 audit done by the

[2:18:40] state deadline of december 31st this

[2:18:42] year

[2:18:43] thank you questions by any members of

[2:18:45] the council

[2:18:48] thank you

[2:18:55] miss ludwig

[2:19:02] so my my understanding for the 2021

[2:19:05] audit is that there was a number agreed

[2:19:08] uh for the due 2d from the final amount

[2:19:11] approximately a week ago

[2:19:13] um

[2:19:14] [Music]

[2:19:15] do we what are what are next steps on

[2:19:19] bringing that into

[2:19:21] possibly the next session for

[2:19:23] some type of resolution or what what is

[2:19:25] the next step on on that account

[2:19:27] yeah i think

[2:19:30] i i think with the

[2:19:32] draft financial statements and the

[2:19:33] resolution of the audit

[2:19:36] we'll be prepared to bring that as an

[2:19:37] item before the council for a resolution

[2:19:39] to further resolve the due to do from

[2:19:41] with the school

[2:19:44] i have um i have mentioned this to

[2:19:49] happy patent node the school committee

[2:19:50] member or chairperson

[2:19:53] to craig levis a superintendent

[2:19:57] in an email but i'll just share with the

[2:19:59] council

[2:20:00] i do have some concerns about

[2:20:03] approving another resolution with the

[2:20:05] date of october third on it like we did

[2:20:07] the first one just because the second

[2:20:09] amount is so much larger

[2:20:11] and we've already approved the first

[2:20:12] amount so i have i have no problem with

[2:20:14] the amount i just want to make sure that

[2:20:16] we have a little more information before

[2:20:18] we agree on the timing

[2:20:20] so i just want to be transparent with

[2:20:21] the audience and and the public that

[2:20:24] um

[2:20:25] i do think a little bit of discussion is

[2:20:26] needed on the date of the transfer not

[2:20:29] the amount itself that that has already

[2:20:30] been agreed

[2:20:31] so thank you

[2:20:34] mr marchand could you provide us with

[2:20:35] that information

[2:20:40] we will prepare that information at the

[2:20:42] time we present it to the council for

[2:20:44] consideration excellent thank you

[2:20:47] all right next agenda item

[2:20:50] um discussion interaction on the

[2:20:52] coventry public school building design

[2:20:55] uh just want to mention that a small

[2:20:57] group of people have been meeting this

[2:21:00] included superintendent craig levis town

[2:21:03] manager ben marchand school committee

[2:21:05] member kathy patnow and when she has not

[2:21:08] been able to be present

[2:21:10] council member or school committee

[2:21:12] member james pearson

[2:21:14] um i've been present and mario carino

[2:21:17] who is our consultant or who works for

[2:21:19] rhode island has department of education

[2:21:21] has been a consultant to us and we've

[2:21:24] met in order to

[2:21:25] try to think about

[2:21:27] do we want to have another school

[2:21:29] construction bond discussion do we want

[2:21:32] to form another committee do we want to

[2:21:34] entertain the possibility of applying

[2:21:37] for a bond through the rhode island

[2:21:39] department of education which is

[2:21:41] offering very attractive incentives of

[2:21:43] up to 70

[2:21:45] depending upon the type of

[2:21:47] school design that we present

[2:21:49] so the group got together to discuss

[2:21:51] roles and responsibilities who would

[2:21:53] need to be on this committee the school

[2:21:55] building design committee

[2:21:57] and we looked at what does a coventry

[2:21:59] charter recommend what does ride require

[2:22:02] and we came up with a list of

[2:22:04] members that would meet the requirements

[2:22:06] for both ride and the charter and that's

[2:22:09] why

[2:22:10] most of the requirements require us to

[2:22:12] have people either from the school

[2:22:14] department or from the town so we are

[2:22:16] looking for three more electors

[2:22:19] from the

[2:22:20] town to be on this committee so we are

[2:22:22] looking actively for three more members

[2:22:25] um we've also talked about

[2:22:28] the fact that

[2:22:30] financing in order to submit a stage two

[2:22:33] application first of all you have to

[2:22:34] submit a stage one application

[2:22:37] and

[2:22:38] superintendent levis was able to submit

[2:22:40] on a timely basis the stage one

[2:22:42] application using information that had

[2:22:44] been developed for the last stage one

[2:22:47] application that basically says that we

[2:22:49] have an intent doesn't mean we're

[2:22:51] committed to anything but we wanted to

[2:22:53] let the

[2:22:55] rhode island department of education

[2:22:56] know that they're that we're interested

[2:22:58] in pursuing the possibility of a bond

[2:23:01] the financing for stage two requires a

[2:23:03] consultant so in the small group we

[2:23:06] discussed what would be the requirements

[2:23:08] for the type of consultant and last

[2:23:10] meeting we also authorized the town

[2:23:13] manager to

[2:23:15] we authorized him to put out an rfp for

[2:23:17] a consultant so we're looking for what

[2:23:20] are the possibilities for a consultant

[2:23:22] who could work with us on a stage two

[2:23:24] application this does not commit us to

[2:23:26] hiring anyone it simply says this is

[2:23:29] what we're looking for who's out there

[2:23:31] who might be interested who has the

[2:23:33] expertise that could provide the kind of

[2:23:35] information that a school building

[2:23:37] design committee would need

[2:23:39] so we talked about that we talked about

[2:23:41] where the funding would come from

[2:23:43] basically

[2:23:44] the town does not have any money in its

[2:23:46] budget nor does the school

[2:23:48] but there are creative ways to find some

[2:23:52] funding which would allow us to stop the

[2:23:54] process and then get reimbursed through

[2:23:56] the bond if we should get one and we

[2:23:58] also talked about the estimation of what

[2:24:01] would be our bonding capacity and we

[2:24:03] talked about different numbers

[2:24:05] so what we're going to do

[2:24:07] next week or the next meeting will be to

[2:24:09] appoint members to this committee and

[2:24:12] just jump start the process at any time

[2:24:15] we can stop the process if we feel that

[2:24:17] the timing is not appropriate or we

[2:24:20] don't have the appropriate number of

[2:24:21] electors we cannot get started until we

[2:24:24] have a full complement of people we're

[2:24:27] seeking um i think it's um

[2:24:30] we have a membership

[2:24:34] on the team of 15 nine would be voting

[2:24:36] and we're looking for three more uh non

[2:24:40] uh three more voting members so that's

[2:24:42] what we're looking for at this point in

[2:24:43] time so this

[2:24:45] small group will be meeting this week

[2:24:47] again to continue the process um once we

[2:24:50] receive applications from consultants uh

[2:24:54] superintendent levis and our town

[2:24:55] manager will be reviewing these uh

[2:24:58] applications and then submitting them to

[2:25:00] um a school building design committee

[2:25:02] once it is formed so we're working and

[2:25:05] basically following the same process

[2:25:07] that was followed for the last building

[2:25:09] design committee that was formed

[2:25:12] but we have a very aggressive time

[2:25:13] schedule so that group will have to

[2:25:15] decide whether it's going to be able to

[2:25:18] uh submit a proposal by to the state by

[2:25:22] february or whether they'll have to

[2:25:23] delay until a few months later every delay might represent a change in

[2:25:29] the

[2:25:30] amount that can be reimbursed by the

[2:25:32] state right now it looks good for 70

[2:25:35] reimbursement should we

[2:25:38] have a design

[2:25:40] according to what the state says is

[2:25:43] fewer and newer that means that

[2:25:46] proposes consolidation

[2:25:48] don't want to say what the consolidation

[2:25:51] would be we have no idea the building

[2:25:53] committee has not met but some type of

[2:25:55] consolidation and some type of new

[2:25:57] construction is required in order to get

[2:26:00] the full 70

[2:26:01] if we don't

[2:26:03] meet that requirement of fewer and newer

[2:26:05] then the amount of reimbursement could

[2:26:07] be reduced we're not sure by what so

[2:26:10] just to give you a fill in

[2:26:12] on item g2

[2:26:14] we were going to appoint members but

[2:26:16] since we don't have a full compliment

[2:26:18] we're going to delay the appointment of

[2:26:20] any members to this committee hopefully

[2:26:22] we'll be able to do that by september

[2:26:24] 12th

[2:26:25] any questions that people would like to

[2:26:27] ask right now i'll make a motion to

[2:26:29] table item g2 thank you may i have a

[2:26:32] second a second thank you

[2:26:35] any discussion on tabling

[2:26:40] a roll call vote vice president ludwig

[2:26:42] yes mr leblanc yes this is shockley yes

[2:26:45] this is lima yes

[2:26:47] and yes five years no nays the motion is

[2:26:49] tabled

[2:26:52] h second reading for discussion

[2:26:54] interaction new ordinance titled chapter

[2:26:57] two two three tobacco and non-tobacco

[2:26:59] products and their prohibited use do i

[2:27:02] have a motion

[2:27:04] make a motion i think you may have a

[2:27:06] second i'll second it okay this is

[2:27:08] reference pages 38 to 40.

[2:27:11] are there any questions that members of

[2:27:13] the council would like to ask about this

[2:27:15] ordinance

[2:27:21] mrs lima

[2:27:23] we just checked uh zoom to see if mr

[2:27:25] verna has has tuned in she might have

[2:27:28] been able to but she had nomination at

[2:27:29] the middle school tonight

[2:27:35] is there anyone on zoom who would like

[2:27:37] to speak about this ordinance i just

[2:27:39] want to see if dana daverno was present

[2:27:41] this was kind of her project

[2:27:50] mr gorham any comments about the

[2:27:52] ordinance please

[2:27:55] i've read it i think it's very thorough

[2:27:57] and um

[2:27:59] it's well written

[2:28:00] whoever wrote it

[2:28:03] nice job excellent idea too i think

[2:28:06] excellent thank you

[2:28:08] um i know that mrs lima

[2:28:11] was very actively involved in moving

[2:28:14] this

[2:28:15] ordinance through the council uh would

[2:28:17] you like to give us a summary we did

[2:28:18] discuss this at the last meeting but we

[2:28:20] have a number of new people on the

[2:28:23] zoom so just give us a summary of what

[2:28:24] this requires

[2:28:28] so this uh just as a refresh this um

[2:28:32] ordinance revision

[2:28:33] was proposed by a member of our

[2:28:35] community who's involved with the

[2:28:37] cranston substance abuse task force and

[2:28:40] the coventry substance abuse task force

[2:28:43] they're looking to update our current

[2:28:45] ordinance as it relates to tobacco and

[2:28:47] non-tobacco products and their

[2:28:48] prohibited use

[2:28:50] to include electronic smoking devices

[2:28:53] and that's outlined in the ordinance

[2:28:56] to

[2:28:58] make this current with 2022 in terms of

[2:29:01] what tobacco products are on the market

[2:29:03] and could potentially be used at

[2:29:06] town facilities um this also outlines

[2:29:09] penalties um

[2:29:11] and for for those who violate or or you

[2:29:14] know as an offense

[2:29:16] um to this ordinance

[2:29:18] um and the there's grant funding given

[2:29:21] with the coventry substance abuse task

[2:29:23] force to

[2:29:24] produce the signage that would be

[2:29:26] revised in

[2:29:28] the uh town facilities at no cost to the

[2:29:30] town so

[2:29:32] um this is something that's uh paid for

[2:29:34] with grant money and it's just updating

[2:29:36] an ordinance to be current with today's

[2:29:39] times

[2:29:40] thank you

[2:29:42] any other comments by members of the

[2:29:43] council

[2:29:46] hey chief heist you have any comments

[2:29:47] about this audience we did ask you the

[2:29:49] last time when we had the first reading

[2:29:55] okay excellent thank you

[2:29:56] any other questions all right roll call

[2:29:58] vote vice president ludwig yes mr

[2:30:00] leblanc yes this is shockley yes this is

[2:30:03] lima yes this is dixon yes five years

[2:30:05] old

[2:30:06] the motion passes

[2:30:08] agenda i public comment is there any

[2:30:10] member of the public who wishes to speak

[2:30:12] please raise your hand i'll recognize

[2:30:13] you and you may come to the podium state

[2:30:15] your name and address and make your

[2:30:17] comment if you're on zoom please raise

[2:30:19] your hand in the chat and our i.t

[2:30:21] administrator will

[2:30:23] let you into the meeting yes sir please

[2:30:25] come forward

[2:30:39] [Music]

[2:30:43] so sorry of the time at the moment

[2:30:46] i am here because of there was a

[2:30:49] internet posting i read on sunday

[2:30:53] and i'd like to discuss

[2:30:55] some of the issues that

[2:30:57] have delayed the audit

[2:30:59] one of the issues is that there was no

[2:31:02] evidence ever of a formal cash

[2:31:05] reconciliation whereby the reconciled

[2:31:08] amounts per the bank statements in the

[2:31:10] prior

[2:31:11] people running the treasurer's office or

[2:31:13] i guess it's a financial minister office

[2:31:17] uh that these uh reconciliations were

[2:31:20] ever done now if you don't do a

[2:31:22] financial uh reconciliation with the

[2:31:24] bank statements versus the ledger you

[2:31:26] will find that your uh postings of

[2:31:29] revenues expenses so on so forth will be

[2:31:31] missed

[2:31:32] once they miss the

[2:31:34] uh corrupt the financial statements if

[2:31:37] they they have never found

[2:31:39] now i have looked at the

[2:31:41] reconciliations and i assume that

[2:31:44] um

[2:31:45] look at the cash

[2:31:46] history that

[2:31:48] this practice probably is going on for

[2:31:51] years

[2:31:52] there's been no formal

[2:31:55] reconciliation as to my background in

[2:31:58] this manner i worked for 32 and a half

[2:32:00] years with the commonwealth of

[2:32:01] massachusetts department of revenue

[2:32:04] one of those agencies i work for was

[2:32:05] called the bureau of accounts

[2:32:07] real accounts primary responsible at the

[2:32:09] moment at the time i worked there

[2:32:12] for uh audits of municipalities and i

[2:32:15] conducted audits of municipalities

[2:32:18] during my time there they all spent two

[2:32:20] years with a cpa firm down born and

[2:32:23] their major responsibility was to

[2:32:25] conduct orders

[2:32:27] and as i stated that the most important

[2:32:30] thing

[2:32:32] order

[2:32:33] has to do

[2:32:34] is to

[2:32:35] reconcile cash then you can go on to

[2:32:37] other things that's the most thing and

[2:32:40] as i said there was

[2:32:42] no formal record uh conciliation that

[2:32:45] compared the cash accounts

[2:32:48] to the um

[2:32:50] ledgers

[2:32:51] and as i said that has uh that

[2:32:56] existence

[2:32:57] existed for years and in my opinion

[2:33:00] because because i wasn't there in fact

[2:33:02] during the most of this audit period the

[2:33:04] present staff of the shreds office was

[2:33:06] not

[2:33:07] uh during uh

[2:33:11] during the audit period so we all have

[2:33:13] we're all new people

[2:33:15] and uh and we are that

[2:33:19] document that was posted on the internet

[2:33:21] pertain to the fiscal 21 audit

[2:33:25] i wasn't there

[2:33:27] lisa was here for a short period

[2:33:29] and

[2:33:30] most of the problems that we fixed in

[2:33:33] order to get the audit to this point

[2:33:36] uh were created under a prior

[2:33:39] personnel

[2:33:41] and that's all i have to say thank you

[2:33:43] for your comments i appreciate it

[2:33:46] are there any other members of the

[2:33:47] public who would like to make a

[2:33:48] statement or ask make a comment

[2:33:53] i don't see anyone um on zoom i don't

[2:33:56] see any hands but please raise your hand

[2:33:58] if you would like to make a comment you

[2:34:00] go to the

[2:34:01] chat box

[2:34:09] okay seeing none

[2:34:12] may have a motion to adjourn

[2:34:15] uh 8 34. so moved

[2:34:19] second thank you

[2:34:21] roll call vote vice president ludwig yes

[2:34:23] mr leblanc

[2:34:24] yes mrs shockley yes this is lima yes

[2:34:27] this is dixon yes five years no nays the

[2:34:29] motion is approved

[2:34:32] a meeting is adjourned at 8 34.

Town Council - 29 Aug 2022

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