Judge Orders Liquidation for Foundering Fire District
Judge Stern has entrusted local officials and state legislators with the duty of mapping out a long-term fire and emergency service plan for Central Coventry residents.
Central Coventry Fire District
Browse By
-
Related Topics
- Ccfd
- Central Coventry Fire District Receivership Special Mastership
- Special Master Richard Land Ccfd
- Central Coventry Fire District Special Budget Meeting Hearing
- Central Coventry Fire Department
- Central Coventry Fire District Liquidation
- Representative Patricia Morgan
- Central Coventry Fire District Receivership
- Ri Superior Court Judge Brian P. Stern
- Ccfd Closes Fire Stations
Monday, April 1, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Judge Orders Liquidation for Foundering Fire District
Judge Stern has entrusted local officials and state legislators with the duty of mapping out a long-term fire and emergency service plan for Central Coventry residents.
Superior Court Judge Brian P. Stern ruled during a hearing Friday that the Central Coventry Fire District must be liquidated. District Chief Andy Baynes and Special Master Richard Land had already shut down three of the district's five stations effective at 8 a.m. Friday in an attempt to cut costs. Land estimated that the district only has enough funds to operate in a limited capacity for about 11 days. Excluding this weekend, that is the amount of time Judge Stern gave Land and officials to completely liquidate the district that has been in a Special Mastership since October. CCFD taxpayers rejected a revised budget and a tax levy on Tuesday night by an overwhelming margin of 1,357 to 484 votes. Failure to pass the budget left Land …
In this Article:
Doors Close Friday at 3 of 5 CCFD Stations
Only two Central Coventry Fire District stations remain open Friday as a result of a rejected tax levy and looming liquidation.
12:40 p.m. update – After speaking with Tim Brown of the Kent County Water Authority, police chief Bryan Volpe and CCFD chief Andy Baynes have been advised that the water authority will not be shutting off fire hydrants in Central Coventry and have no immediate plans to. As of 8 a.m. Friday, three of the five Central Coventry Fire District fire stations have been ordered closed per order of Special Master Rick Land and Chief Andy Baynes. The move is one of the first steps in an impending liquidation process. The foundering fire district has been in a court-ordered special mastership for nearly six months. The doors of Station 1 located on Hill Farm Rd., Station 3 (Washington), Station St. and Station 5 (Harris), Main St. are now locked, …
In this Article:
coventry voter-Jay
6:53 am on Monday, April 1, 2013
Al the rhetoric by the ff about run times, insurance rates, and we gave concessions have fallen on deaf ears. We may pay more for ins for a couple years. We will pay a higher tax for the same period. We all make/made choices. I can live with mine. . Good luck living with yours.. . At the meeting a ff told me my property value is going to plummet. He also said good luck selling it with no fire … more ›
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Morgan to Present Alternative Emergency Service Plan
Morgan hopes to share her findings during Friday's hearing beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Kent County Superior Court.
Representative Patricia Morgan filed a motion with Superior Court Judge Brian Stern Thursday evening requesting authorization to present an alternative emergency service plan for Central Coventry residents during Friday's hearing at Kent County Courthouse. "The plan discussed earlier involving mutual aid was one that I considered temporary - one that would take care of the safety needs of the people while the fire district is reorganizing," she said on Thursday night. Morgan explained that after doing some Internet research, she decided to contact a Connecticut-based private ambulance service with 200 employees, some Coventry residents, who provide emergency services to many towns in Eastern CT as well as Foxwoods Casino. After she …
In this Article:
"Bill" Overdeaux
6:52 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Lauren, could you please let Central Coventry Fire District Taxpayers know that a petition to rescind the vote of March 26 2013 has been started. Anyone interested can sign at "Bill's" Package store 672 main st, Coventry, RI. Thanks. more ›
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Next Steps for Fire District to be Discussed Friday
A Superior Court hearing has been scheduled for Friday, March 29.
Update: On Wednesday afternoon, Judge Stern rescheduled Friday's hearing from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. On Wednesday morning, Central Coventry Fire District Special Master Richard Land released a notice advising the public of an upcoming hearing regarding the fire district's fate following the second rejection of a proposed budget and tax levy Tuesday night. Superior Court Judge Brian P. Stern has scheduled the hearing for Friday, Mar. 29 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 4F at Kent County Superior Court, 222 Quaker Ln., Warwick, RI. Land's revised notice is attached to this story in PDF form.
In this Article:
Chris
8:04 am on Friday, March 29, 2013
The other comment I have heard a lot is this all came about because of us the taxpayers. How we the taxpayers did not go to the meetings and observe what was going on. Well this is not the 1970's anymore. The Brady bunch & Leave it to Beaver days where there the Husband goes to work and can provide for the family are gone. The work days are no longer monday thru friday 9 to 5 with weekends off. … more ›
Fire District May Disband After Tax Levy Rejected
Based on the outcome of Tuesday's vote, the Central Coventry Fire District will likely be liquidated.
At the conclusion of a 4-hour voting period - the second vote regarding the Central Coventry Fire District's proposed fiscal 2012-2013 budget and tax levy in six weeks - taxpayers decided by a 1,357 to 484 vote margin to reject the budget and the accompanying tax levy of $2.99 per thousand of assessed property value. When voting began at 6 p.m. - one hour before Special Master Rick Land's revised budget presentation - hundreds of residents waited to vote in a line that wrapped around Coventry High School and traffic turning onto Reservoir Road was backed up in both directions. Despite the throng of voters, the school auditorium did not fill quickly with residents interested in hearing the presentation before casting their vote, as many …
In this Article:
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Superior Court Judge Denies Release of Coventry Emergency Service Contingency Plan
Judge Brian Stern concluded that the plan submitted by neighboring fire districts is not relevant to Tuesday's budget vote.
Despite requests from lawmakers, Superior Court Judge Brian Stern on Monday declined to release details of an emergency service contingency plan developed by the chiefs of surrounding Coventry fire districts. Representative Patricia Morgan and Senator Nick Kettle filed an emergency motion with the court on Friday requesting that the plan be immediately released for public viewing in preparation for Tuesday's special budget meeting and vote. During Monday's hearing at the Kent County Courthouse, Judge Stern addressed several points in Morgan and Kettle's motion that he felt were inaccurate. He stressed that the contingency plan was never submitted or released to Special Master Richard Land, but only to the court on Mar. 18 for an In …
In this Article:
TONIGHT: CCFD Special Meeting, Revised Budget Hearing
Voting will officially begin at 6 p.m. and will continue until 10 p.m. Any residents who wish to leave after they vote may do so. The meeting/budget presentation will begin at 7 p.m.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Firefighters Respond to Reps. Morgan, Kettle's CCFD Budget Flyer
Central Coventry Fire Fighters respond to a flyer released by Rep. Patricia Morgan over the weekend, that they have deemed "inaccurate and irresponsible".
Central Coventry Fire Fighters Local 3372 responded today to State Rep. Patricia Morgan and State Sen. Nicholas Kettle’s flyer attacking the district’s budget and proposed tax increase, saying they issued it without regard to facts or fairness. “Rep. Morgan is doing a disservice to the voters of Coventry, a town she doesn’t even reside in,” said Dave Gorman, president of Coventry Professional Fire Fighters Local 3372. “Apparently, because she doesn’t have to worry about fire protection herself, she thinks it’s appropriate to throw political bombs and misinformation at voters who haven’t yet had an opportunity to hear all the information for themselves. “Rep. Morgan’s flyer against the district is a long list of lies: from her claim that …
Fact not Fiction
6:09 am on Saturday, March 30, 2013
Your clueless concerned taxpayer. It most definitely was the tax assessor's error for the over assessment of The Center of New England by $850,000.00. Make an appointment with her and hear it first hand. Dave Gorman had absolutely nothing to do with the error. Unfortunately, the board in Central Coventry did not pick it up but an outside unbiased accounting firm did. Find out the facts before you… more ›
CCFD Budget Meeting to Be Moderated By EG Town Councilor
Coincidentally, Jeff Cianciolo is also the person behind the ballot question last November asking voters if the EG Fire District should be abolished and replaced with a town department.
East Greenwich Town Councilor Jeff Cianciolo has been selected to moderate a meeting of the insolvent Central Coventry Fire District Tuesday night in which voters will be asked if they approve the new budget and tax levy. The CCFD has been in crisis since last fall, when it became clear it did not have enough money to continue operating. The current tax rate is $1.82 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The proposed tax rate is $2.99. A tax rate of $3.15 was rejected at a meeting on February. Cianciolo served as Town Moderator for the town of East Greenwich from 2005 to 2010, when he was elected to the Town Council. He was tapped to moderate the Coventry meeting by CCFD Special Master Richard Land, a move permitted by Superior Court …
In this Article:
Disappointed American
8:18 pm on Sunday, March 31, 2013
Mb I guess you believe everything you hear. Keep one thing in mind, the tax assessor made the mistake, but the tax collector had to report a collection rate drop and the treasurer, the guy who pays the bills, should have reported a decrease in net income and net worth. You can criticize the union and the workers all you want, but they negotiated a contract and they have not stopped providing … more ›
chainsawman
3:38 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
LOL hater it's not Dave Gorman, Your stupidity is priceless!!! I'm not him, don't work with him, not related to him, don't hang around him...God get a life!!! more ›