Town Manager Report for the week ending July 25, 2025
On Monday Director Civetti and I completed a conference call with our bond counsel advisor, PFM, to finalize our application to go out to bond through RIHBEC for the $25m for school renovations. We were also advised by Moody’s that in anticipation of our bond request they have reviewed our status and have continued our A1 positive rating and the Town’s anticipated new growth will bolster our profile going forward.
On Tuesday and Wednesday the Coventry Police and Town Fire Districts took part in the wake and funeral of Fire Marshal and past Deputy Chief Mark Vincent who served the Hopkins Hill Department since 1974 who passed from occupational cancer. We extend our condolences and thank him and his family for his service to the community.
On Tuesday the Town Council held their July meeting which had a full agenda of a variety of items from approving all of DPW yearly RFPs, to approval of a new vehicle for the Inspections Department, the 1st reading to create a Planned District at Coventry Centre, and several Executive Session items related to the current Johnson Pond litigation.
On Wednesday I met with the Parks and Recreation Director Scott Sevegny on several initiatives surrounding capital projects at Paine Field including some preliminary discussion on the cost of new lighting for the fields, paving the parking lot, and addressing some of the equipment needs of the department. We also discussed the status of the 3 playgrounds currently being designed at Harris, Quidneck, and Giblin. The RFP’s are being drawn up to procure the equipment based on the design and we are also looking into some additional grant funds.
The water at Briar Point beach has been tested by the Department of Health and our private contractor several times over the last 10 days and the latest shows that the levels are moving in the right direction but are still at an unhealthy level of bacteria for people to swim so it will remain closed to swimming for the weekend. Also, DEM has taken some samples of the water on Lake Tiogue for signs of blue green algae which we are waiting the results of.
At Johnson Pond there is an advisory in place from DEM for no recreational activities including fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming due to blue green algae being reported. DEM will continue to monitor so please check their website for updates.