Budget news:
http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/102863/
Caruolo:
http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/102862/
Coventry comparison:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/School_Payrolls26_02-26-08_PV94CIE_v37.348c93b.html
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Engineering Dept. Debacle
Link to Projo article on eliminating Engineering:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_canned_02-12-08_7R8VP6M_v9.3718576.html
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_canned_02-12-08_7R8VP6M_v9.3718576.html
Monday, February 11, 2008
Town Council Meeting 02/11
>Just some notes from tonight’s TC meeting:
>>Agenda item G.2 resolution pertaining to Engineering Dept.
>>The town clerk read the resolution. There were references to >difficult times, being responsible to save taxpayers money and of >course the decision to eliminate the Engineering Dept., the Town >Engineer and Assist TE positions effective immediately.>>Before the vote, TC President Pomfret said this was “one step in the >right direction for the taxpayers”, that the town “will save >thousands of dollars in the long run” that this is “the first >victory for the taxpayers”. Councilman Cloutier expressed his >reservations on making this move, that he had received calls from >constituents worried about who would oversee the Centre of New >England, sewer construction and Tiogue Lake. There was no other >discussion among council members of the pros and cons of doing this. > The vote was 3-1 in favor so the resolution passed. Councilmen >Pomfret, Hyde and Colaluca were in favor, Councilman Cloutier was >opposed. Councilman Thompson was absent this evening.
>>As you know, I am opposed to doing away with the Town Engineer >position. We are a town of 35,000, there needs to be an engineer who >will represent the public interest. The largest development in our >history, CONE, has got 15 years to go. We've got major sewer >construction going on. Our Town Engineer spends at least half of >her time each week on CONE. Subbing this out to engineering >companies is not the way to go. This was a political decision.
>>When the TC went into Executive Session, I asked the town Finance >Director what would be the cost savings of eliminating the >Engineering Dept. He told me that he did not know, that he would >need to know how much time the Town Engineer spent as an engineer >and the amount of time she spent as head of DPW. I asked the >Finance Director if town leaders consulted with him on the financial >impact of doing away with Engineering and he replied no, that no >town official asked him his opinion. It would be nice to know what >type of savings are to be had, what type of data the TC had to work >with and who provided them with the information.
>>The good news is that there will soon have a public hearing on >amending our animals & fowl ordinance to add a “pooper scooper” >provision. Please don’t miss this event, tentatively scheduled for >March 10th.
>>Agenda item G.2 resolution pertaining to Engineering Dept.
>>The town clerk read the resolution. There were references to >difficult times, being responsible to save taxpayers money and of >course the decision to eliminate the Engineering Dept., the Town >Engineer and Assist TE positions effective immediately.>>Before the vote, TC President Pomfret said this was “one step in the >right direction for the taxpayers”, that the town “will save >thousands of dollars in the long run” that this is “the first >victory for the taxpayers”. Councilman Cloutier expressed his >reservations on making this move, that he had received calls from >constituents worried about who would oversee the Centre of New >England, sewer construction and Tiogue Lake. There was no other >discussion among council members of the pros and cons of doing this. > The vote was 3-1 in favor so the resolution passed. Councilmen >Pomfret, Hyde and Colaluca were in favor, Councilman Cloutier was >opposed. Councilman Thompson was absent this evening.
>>As you know, I am opposed to doing away with the Town Engineer >position. We are a town of 35,000, there needs to be an engineer who >will represent the public interest. The largest development in our >history, CONE, has got 15 years to go. We've got major sewer >construction going on. Our Town Engineer spends at least half of >her time each week on CONE. Subbing this out to engineering >companies is not the way to go. This was a political decision.
>>When the TC went into Executive Session, I asked the town Finance >Director what would be the cost savings of eliminating the >Engineering Dept. He told me that he did not know, that he would >need to know how much time the Town Engineer spent as an engineer >and the amount of time she spent as head of DPW. I asked the >Finance Director if town leaders consulted with him on the financial >impact of doing away with Engineering and he replied no, that no >town official asked him his opinion. It would be nice to know what >type of savings are to be had, what type of data the TC had to work >with and who provided them with the information.
>>The good news is that there will soon have a public hearing on >amending our animals & fowl ordinance to add a “pooper scooper” >provision. Please don’t miss this event, tentatively scheduled for >March 10th.
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