Town Manager Report for the week ending June 27, 2025
On Saturday June 21 from 400-930, the 1st sunny Saturday in weeks, we held our 3rd Annual Summer Festival at Coventry High School and it was a tremendous success. I want to especially thank Kim from Parks and Recreation for her dedication and commitment to making this celebration special for all of us every year along with Patrick and Dennis and all of the maintenance staff that helped set up the high school. Thanks to Director Scott Sevegny for his leadership. I also want to thank Ch. 12 Chief Meteorologist Tony Petrarca for kicking off the festivities along with a reading of a Proclamation on the beginning of the Semiquincentennial (250th) Anniversary of the American Revolution by a representative from the Nathanael Greene Homestead, and topped off by a cannon volley by the Pawtuxet Rangers. Those who attended enjoyed live music performed by Those Guys, ate lots of good food from our truck vendors including steak sandwiches, tacos, wieners, and seafood. The crowds enjoyed ice cream, drank lemonade, and visited our kids’ zone, stopped by to shop at our 30+ vendors on sight, and were awed by the spectacular fireworks display. Most importantly thanks to the residents of Coventry who attended and brought family and friends from other communities to share the experience.
On Tuesday we had our monthly Council meeting in which we presented DPW Director Kevin McGee an award from the New England Public Works Association as their Public Official of the Year due to his long-time dedication to the organization, to the Town, and for his work at the State House testifying to eventually save all of the cities and towns in RI money by having the state maintain their sidewalks. The fight continues as the bill was no voted for last week. Kevin goes above and beyond daily for the Town and his recognition is well deserved.
At the meeting the Council also appointed Coventry resident and attorney, Thomas Cronin, as the new Municipal Court Judge filling the role of long time Judge Arthur Capaldi who passed away last year. We want to thank Probate Judge Boulanger for his service temporarily filling the role of Municipal Court, he did a tremendous job.
On Thursday evening we had another meeting of the Municipal Fire Commission where we discussed the personnel budget for a municipal department, the feedback from the Treasurer’s office on a study of a MERS blended rate, and had all of our legal questions of a potential municipal department by the Solicitor.