Town Manager Report for the week ending October 10, 2025
On Tuesday I, along with Director McGee, Town Engineer Levesque, and our Tiogue Lake gatekeeper Gerry Narkiewicz had a call with Bill Ladd from GZA on the status of the design and engineering for the new gatehouse at the Lake to replace what is currently there along with some spillway upgrades and underground pipe retrofitting. Bill advised the design-build is 90% complete and is currently being reviewed by the contractor MAS/Narragansett Dock Works for any amendments. It will then be forwarded to the Town and DEM for review and approval. On the call we also discussed a problem we are having closing the gate and how much water we are losing. We have identified a plan which entails the owner of Warwick Tree-who owns the dam itself- to assist in installing a steel plate up against the gatehouse with a crane to slow the flow. The construction is scheduled for late November/early December with completion by March 1. All of the funding is coming from federal ARPA funds.
On Tuesday night the School Building Committee met to discuss several items pertinent to the School Bond including the introduction of the Project Manager that went out for bid and was voted on by the Council in August. The Committee also took a tour of the new gymnasium which looks incredible and the 14 new science labs. The official Ribbon cutting for the gym will be Friday 10/17 at 530pm. We also discussed all of the Bond projects that will be happening over the next 2.5 years with the larger ones being a new high school sewer, a new fire suppression system for the high school, and a new roof for ASFMS. We are currently submitting our plans on the fire suppression to RIDE for approval and that project must be completed by December 2026.
On Wednesday I, along with Director McLean and Town Engineer Levesque, had a call with Interim Solicitor Igliozzi to discuss all of the moving parts of the Centre of NE projects, including the wetlands crossover and traffic light, and what the process will be going forward to get some of these issues wrapped up as expediently as possible including the Starr Capital projects. There is a lot to do, but a strong desire by the Town Council to get it done.
On Thursday Director Civetti, Director Robillard, and I took part in the charitable 10th Annual Coventry Housing Christmas Classic at Valley Country Club that raises funds and toys for children. It was a great time with many generous organizations taking part.
On Friday myself and Director Civetti had a call with our auditors, CLA, to discuss the status of our audit, how some upcoming financial decisions may affect us over time, and what are our options related to past financial commitments.