General Assembly Requests, CDBG Grant Application Approved by Council

At Monday's meeting, the Town Council approved several resolutions involving the RI General Assembly:

• Requesting the General Assembly to oppose and reject House Bill 5791 that mandates a town to provide fire protection services previously provided by a fire district that has been liquidated. The bill would have the municipality impose a special assessment on the property located within the district previously served by the liquidated fire district in order to pay for the services.

• Requesting the General Assembly to support the passage of Senate Bill S 0283, regulating the location and use of asphalt batching or continuous mixing facilities in the Town of Coventry. The bill, introduced by Senators Lou Raptakis and Nick Kettle, would ban any future asphalt facility in Coventry from existing within 4,000 feet of any hospital, school, nursing home, area of critical environmental concern, watercourse or area occupied by residential housing. The 4,000 foot buffer would be measured from the outermost perimeter of the facility's property line to the outermost point of any of the areas previously listed.

Although the resolution was approved by Council unanimously, President Gary Cote and Vice President Kerry McGee, both said they feel a 4,000 foot buffer is excessive in this situation. 

"4,000 feet is a ridiculous distance and I thought it was going to be changed in this bill, but it was already in committee so there wasn't an opportunity," said Cote. "Nearly three quarters of a mile, that's a long distance."

Councilman Ted Jendzejec commented that the Senate Judiciary Committee could change the distance if necessary.

"My concern and the residents' concern is that we don't want to see a third, fourth or fifth asphalt plant coming into the community," said Sen. Raptakis.

Bill S 0283 would also allow for the continued operation of any asphalt facility in existence prior to its enactment. 

Council members also approved the following resolutions.

• Authorizing Town Manager Thomas Hoover to file an application for the amount of $300,000 to execute an agreement and to implement the activities set forth in the proposed fiscal 2013 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program with the State Office of Housing and Community Development.

Coventry has been the recipient of CDBG funding since 1999 and if awarded, this year's grant would provide services to low and moderate income residents of Coventry, including Housing Rehabilitation/On-site Wastewater ($195,760), the purchase of two 12-passenger handicap vans for the Coventry Dept. of Human Services ($71,250), Coventry Housing Associates First Time Buyer Assistance ($25,000) and Cornerstone Adult Daycare ($5,000). Administrative funding of $3,000 would also be included within the $300,000 grant request to cover program inspection fees and advertising expenses. (See attached images for details of each service.) 

• Authorizing Town Manager Hoover to execute Amendment #3 of the Washington Secondary Bikepath/Coventry Greenway Project Agreement for improvement to the Greenway as required by the RI Dept. of Transportation. 

Amendment #3 states that the Town of Coventry is responsible for the Bikepath Project design and costs associated with it (to be reimbursed by the State), and upon completion of the project, will also be responsible for the maintenance of open drainage systems within the Town's right-of-way along the Greenway, as well as any fencing, railings, signage, parking lots, trimming of vegetation, shade structure, equestrian trail and canoe launch.

Within the amendment, the Town also agrees to reimburse the State for all costs associated with relocating Cardi Corporation's staging area used for the Bikepath Project from the East End Parking Lot to a different location. The move will allow the Town to commence construction of the pump station, which is part of the ongoing Town Sewer Project. This cost is an estimated $7,500. 

Ordinance Amendment Advertisement

• Council members approved the advertisement of a proposed amendment to sub-section 97-8 of the Coventry Code of Ordinances regarding animal and chicken nuisance due to animal trespassing, howling, yelping, barking or causing nuisance noise. The amendment will be discussed during a public hearing at an upcoming Town Council meeting.