Letter: Town of Coventry 2013 Financial Town Meeting

Dear Coventry Taxpayers:

I would like to clarify something that was printed in the Thursday, June 13, issue of the Kent County Times and also state my position on the recent Financial Town Meeting:

There was an erroneous statement in the article on the 2013 Coventry Financial Town Meeting. The article intimates that I concurred with all of Councilman Jendzejec's statements. I most certainly do not agree that Tuesday evening's FTM was any type of "plan on the Republican's part to disrupt a time-honored tradition". (As far as I am concerned the moderator, Tim Williamson, managed that all by himself.)

May I remind the Councilman that both of the Republicans on the Town Council voted against moving the budget forward at the last Council meeting? Therefore, what was the plan supposed to be?  

The budget was railroaded through that evening and I think it is fair to say that there were many voters present who did not even realize what was happening considering the poor quality of the sound system, how loud the mikes were from the dais and the rain pounding on the roof of the gym not to mention that it appeared the moderator had his own agenda. Also, the moderator (a staunch Democrat from West Warwick) was chosen by the Democrats on the Council. When the resolution to approve Mr. Williamson was presented to the Council for vote, there were no alternates offered. It was a done deal which is what I was told when I asked who would be doing the job this year.

Voting was just a mere formality. Also, the voting apparatus was in place to vote by paper ballot if the moderator would have acceded to it but he made the decision to use only a voice vote despite the will of the taxpaying voters of Coventry. He would not even consider a stand-up vote. This is why the meeting became chaotic. A moderator should be unbiased and should conduct the meeting as such.

This is not about partisan politics even if some want to make it so. The travesty of the Financial Town Meeting comes down to whether or not the voice vote taken at the end of the meeting on the tax levy resolution was a true and accurate vote. In my humble opinion as a taxpayer in Coventry, I do not think it was. I also know from comments, phone calls and emails received since Tuesday (not only from my district) that many voters feel the same way.

Perhaps it is time to look into another method of voting to approve/disapprove the town budget and all it entails. It may well be time for the Town to present its budget at a public forum with public comment followed on a day or so later by an all-day referendum with a paper ballot vote overseen by the Board of Canvassers.

Therefore, if there are other taxpayers who feel the same as I do and are tired of not having your vote counted, please come the to next Town Council meeting, Monday, June 17th, at 7 p.m., in Council chambers at Town Hall.

Karen Carlson

Councilwoman District 1

Coventry Town Council