Sunset Clause Approved for Town Ordinance; Service Contracts Passed

Monday night's Council meeting began by honoring of the Girls Volleyball team for winning the Division 1 State Championship. The team beat Ponaganset, 3-2 on Nov. 12 at URI’s Keaney Gymnasium to take home the title for the first time.

Head Coach Leo Bush announced each player individually and praised the team for their dedication and perseverance throughout the season.

"I speak for the Council when I say how proud we are of the team for their great accomplishment," said Council President Gary Cote.

Code of Ordinance Amendment

The Council revisited the issue of amending Section 217-5 of the Coventry Code of Ordinances, Chapter 217, Article III that has been discussed and tabled at recent meetings.

The ordinance refers to the eligibility and termination of tax exemption in the Town of Coventry. At the Sept. 29 meeting, Council member Ted Jendzejec suggested that the criteria be changed from requiring both spouses on a deed to be over the age of 65 or disabled, to only one having to have met the requirement. The individual will still have to have been a five-year resident of the town in order to qualify for tax exemption.

After two months of discussion, the Council voted 4-1 (with District 2 representative Carl Mattson abstaining) to place a Sunset Clause on the updated ordinance for one year (expiring on or before June 30, 2013), so that the financial affects of the changes can be recorded. This information will allow the Council to either move forward with the amendment permanently or leave it as is.

Councilman Ray Spear inquired as to how many new applications the Town should expect.

"I have no idea how many people are going to apply, but my belief is that it is going to be minimal," said Town Manager Tom Hoover. "I think being able to look at this after a year is more palatable because right now, we simply don't have any data to look at and we would just be guessing."

"At least at the end of one year we will have actual numbers from our tax department to how it has affected us," Cote said. "We won't know until we institute the program."

Beaudoin Property Documents

As part of the recently acquired Open Space grant that Coventry received, documents necessary to complete the purchase of the "Beaudoin Property" (Plat 317 Lots 71 and 74) were approved on Monday night.

The land is 175 acres adjacent to Stump Pond and can be accessed from the Coventry Greenway and Williams Crossing Rd.

The $650,000 purchase will be paid for with funds from the Land Trust as well as the $325,000 DEM Open Space Grant. The land will be home to a trail system as well as a Visitor's Center and a boat launch. Local Boy Scouts as well as Career and Technical students have agreed to construct the signage for the trails.

"I think it's a great idea and a phenomenal acquisition," said Cote. "The more open space the better."

Approved Contracts

• A contract was awarded to James J. Geremia & Associates Inc., for consulting engineering services for the design, permitting and construction of the Flat River Rd./Industrial Dr. sewer project under the EDA Disaster Relief Opportunity Grant at a total cost not to exceed $33,359.

• A contract was awarded to Atlantic Broom for the purchase of 70 snow plow blades at a total cost of $9, 302.40.

• A contract was awarded to East Coast Auto Sales for the purchase of three 2011 Chevrolet Impalas for the Coventry Police Department at a cost of $13,500 per vehicle.

"We got a very good deal," said Police Chief Bryan Volpe. "We received two proposals and East Coast Auto Sales offered a better price and better cars."

Licenses

Three separate mechanical device licenses were approved for Black Stallion LLC, located at 17 Sandy Bottom Rd. The licenses were for a mechanical bull, a dart game and a basketball toss game.