State Rep Calls On Coventry Councilors To Resign

From RI State Legislator: State Senator Lou Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) is calling for the resignation of three Coventry Town Council members who are pushing an effort to re-open the June 12th Financial Town Meeting and try to get a “do-over” on issues that the voters rejected, including a controversial sewer assessment.

Raptakis said the council called a meeting last night that degenerated into chaos before McGee could join his two colleagues in voting on the plan to re-open the Financial Town Meeting. Now, to fix this mistake, they have hastily arranged another council meeting, but scheduled it for Fridayafternoon when they hope no one will attend and voice objections.

“There is a complete breakdown of public trust in Coventry town government and these three council members have proven to be incapable of governing in an honest way that respects the will of the people,” said Raptakis. “They have provided little or no oversight, for a town government that has become a laughingstock throughout the state and a source of frustration for the people of Coventry.”

“If we are going to get Coventry back on track, we need leaders who listen to their constituents and don’t try to do end-runs around them. People voted down measures at the Financial Town Meeting because they don’t trust the people in charge. Now these councilmen are confirming that citizens are right to be suspicious of them, by seeking to quietly undo the votes those citizens took. Councilmen Shibley, Laboisonniere, and McGee are making a mockery of town government and we need to send these Keystone Kops packing.”

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