[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.