Fiscal 2013 Budget Passed at Financial Town Meeting

Tuesday night's Financial Town Meeting held at had its usual share of passionate commentary and opinion from concerned Coventry residents, however order was maintained as the Town Council, School Committee and other Coventry officials made their way through the agenda. 150 registered voters turned out for the meeting according to a count by the Board of Canvassars, a much smaller quorum than last year's 370.

CHS graduate Jessi Migliozzi performed the National Anthem following the Presentation of Colors by the Coventry Air Force Jr. ROTC Color Guard. Moderator Timothy A. Williamson, Esq. introduced the members of the town committees and councils and declared the ground rules for the meeting.

During each agenda item, voters had the opportunity to ask questions that involved the particular item being discussed at that time. Williamson frequently reminded residents to be sure that their questions were germane to the topic at hand during the three-minute window that they each had to speak.

Some questions that were raised include:

• Whether or not Town Manager Tom Hoover's budget presentation posted on the town's website was in compliance with the town charter, as several mandatory columns appeared to be missing. Town Solicitor Fred Tobin explained that the presentations shown at public budget hearings were in compliance.

• What was being done with Self Insurance Fund monies, to which Town Council President Gary Cote explained that worker's compensation premiums would be paid to the Rhode Island Interlocal Trust with the $2 million set aside by the previous Council in order to keep the coverage.

"We did what we felt was needed to be done by paying the premiums with the Self Insurance Fund because our other choice was increasing taxes," said Hoover. "We decided to follow the plan that was originally established."

"I don't think the Council would ever vote to dissolve the Self Insurance Fund, we just decided to pay the premiums with the money that was set aside," said Cote. "We were tied because the finances do not exist to go back to being self-insured and to put that burden on the back of the taxpayers wouldn't be responsible of this Council."

• A resident asked why the Town of Coventry employs as many police officers as it does, believing that the community is safe and it is not necessary to have the department "overreact" by sending multiple patrol cars to an incident. She also asked inquired if there was a state or federal mandate as to how many officers a department should have.

"There is no mandate to speak of and the town goes on the recommendation of the police chief," said Town Manager Hoover. "This budget calls for 57 uniformed officers and with over 64 square miles, Coventry is the largest land area in Rhode Island. There is a lot of land to cover and we fell that we try to put on as many officers as we need to keep this community safe."

• A resident asked what the $35,000 request by the school department was for, to which Superintendent Michael Convery explained that it would be used as Capital Improvement for smoke detector upgrades at Coventry High School.

"Currently $400,000 in fire code upgrades needs to be done or the school will not open in September," he explained. "However Chief Seltzer is working with the state fire board and the $35,000 will hopefully buy us another year."

Former Finance Director Warren West made a motion to delete the $1.2 million excess pension contribution as a supplemental liability payment. His motion received no second and was dismissed.

Moderator Williamson implemented only voice votes to pass the evening's resolutions with standing and machine votes never being required. Voters passed the $89,712,866 Town Budget with no opposition as well as Resolutions G and H, which included the Capital Improvement and Tax Anticipation Notes Authorization resolutions. Resolution I, Levying Assessment and Collection of Taxes was passed with one opposed. ()

At the conclusion of the meeting, Town Councilman Ray Spear urged that in the future, residents attend the multiple public budget hearings prior to the Financial Town Meeting in order to ask questions and give officials ample opportunity to find the answers.

"I think some of the questions raised here tonight were uncalled for and should have been asked in front of the Town Council and School Committee during budget deliberations," he said. "I would like to ask you to give careful consideration to the issues that you raise here."