Proposed New Statewide Formula for Aid to Schools

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/109352/

Nice Article on "Western"

Below is a link to a nice news article in today's Projo West Bay section on Western. The article states "Western Coventry is suited to people who like nature, open space, and animals". That could all change if the designated use of land on Route 102 south of Harkney Hill Rd. is amended as proposed on the town's comprehensive community plan from rural residential to business park.

http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/HO_greene041308_04-13-08_8F9L22N_v14.28b0f69.html

Proposes Changes to Our Comprehensive Community Plan

Notes from Planning Commission Meeting of 04/09/08, 6:00 pm
Held at Town Council Chambers

Subject: Proposed update to our Comprehensive Community Plan.

Overview given by consultant Tony Lacawicz (not sure of last name spelling).

State law requires an update to a town’s comp plan every 5 years. Coventry initially approved its first comp plan 03/22/1999. There have been minor adjustments to the plan since then but this is the first major update. I glanced through the proposed revised comp plan book and there many, many changes in the text and maps so these notes only touch on the changes envisioned.

Mr. Lacawicz stated that his presentation would only touch on the major recommendations being made to the comp plan. He and his partner were hired by the town to work with the Planning Dept. on the update. It has taken two years to complete the project.

As a part of his work, the consultant interviewed the Town Manager, all dept. heads, local school officials, local boards & commissions, the various fire district leaders, Kent County Water, West Warwick Regional Sewer District, RI Economic Development, DEM and DOT.

The updated plan uses year 2000 census data and other federal and state data bases. There are 27 updated maps.

Proposed Significant Changes:
If you live in “Western” please note item 1:

1. Change the land use designation of the area on Route 102 from Harkney Hill Road south the West Greenwich border from rural residential to BUSINESS PARK. There was some discussion among Planning Commission members about why this change is being proposed. State officials told the consultant and Planning that they see the Route 102 corridor as a future growth area. Looking ahead 20 to 30 years in the future it is thought this part of town may be a good spot for business development. Questions arose about whether the recommendation should be for a Village Business District instead of a BP designation.
2. The town needs to devise a policy that integrates water supply management with land use and economic development so growth doesn’t outstrip the availability of water.
3. Add inclusionary zones – giving a density bonus to developers who add an affordable housing component to residential projects.
4. Recommend change in land use at businesses abutting CONE on Arnold Rd. and Hopkins Hill Road from general business to BUSINESS PARK.
5. South Main Street – Village Business District along the entire area.
6. Mill Conversion Zones – change the zoning to all of the old mills in town.

The process of amending our comp plan:
1) Agreement on changes to be made and recommendations by the Planning Commission to the Town Council.
2) Hopefully, some work sessions by Town Council, but a public hearing must be held on proposed changes to the comp plan.
3) Once the town approves the update, it gets sent to the state for review. This review process may take up to a year. This state review procedure does not preclude the town from implementing the revised comp plan.
4) What could also happen is that the town could change the zoning in areas that the comp plan calls for changing. State law requires the town to change zoning to match its comp plan within 18 months of adopting the comp plan. No penalty for not following the law, but the town exposes itself to litigation by not making the appropriate changes.

The public hearing was continued to Tuesday, June 3rd, 7:00 pm at Town Council chambers. If you live in Western and are concerned about the proposed land use changes along Route 102 you should contact your Town Council member immediately and also plan on attending the 06/03/08 PC public hearing. If you voice your comments, questions and concerns now the proposed changes might not happen. If you do nothing, these changes could definitely be made.

News Article - Budget

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/107716/

News Article - Town Budget

Projo article on yesterday's work session - Town Council and Dept. Heads. I wish the meeting had been held in the evening when most of the public could have attended if they wanted to:

http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_cov-budget_04-08-08_MR9M5JU_v10.373e2f9.html

Meetings This Week

Town Council 4/7 at 12 Noon!
http://www.state.ri.us/eTownCrier/index.php?page=meeting&id=55600

School Committee 4/8 7 pm:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/5472/2008/55582.pdf

Planning 4/9 6:00 pm Public review of update to comprehensive community plan:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4233/2008/55615.pdf

Student Research for Tiogue Lake

Nice article about CHS student environmental project:

http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_aquatics_robotics_04-02-08_119JTPM_v12.34b13c2.html

Public Hearings on School, Town Budgets

KC Times of 04/01/08 on page B-7 there is a legal notice of the pending budget hearings:

Proposed 2008-2009 Budget

Public Hearing Dates:

Municipal Budget -- April 15th, 6:00 pm, Town Council Chambers

School Budget -- April 17th, 6:00 pm, Town Council Chambers

Copies of the proposed budget can be viewed at the Town Library during its usual hours of operation.

Suggestion -- Could the budget be posted on the town web site, as it has done int past?

These are public hearings. Any person attending will be allowed to speak and question the TC, Town Manager and a representative of the School Committee.

Please attend the meeting of your choice.

Route 3 Upgrade Diminished

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/106767/

We're Number 6

RI has the 6th highest tax burden according to this survey:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/Advice/TheBestAndWorstStatesForTaxes.aspx?page=2

Nice post, Duck

http://twopartysystem.blogspot.com/

See the post of 03/28/08.

Notes from CONE Master Plan Public Hearing

MY NOTES FROM PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Master Plan: Centre Of New England Phases 7B and 7C
Commerce Park Realty, LLC
Major Land Development Project Proposing 52 Residential Condominiums
AP 5, Lots 14.1 and 14.2; Zone BP
Centre of New England Boulevard

4.5 acre site on the west side of CONE across from Hertz Rental and near Mack Truck and Champion Windows. Adjacent to Amgen property, wetlands, existing detention basin.
Proposed 52 units, 26 duplexes. Not age-restricted, needs relief from age-restriction requirement. Needs relief from buffer zone requirement.
3 different models: 900 Square Feet $179,000; 1200 SF $189,000; 1500 SF $199,000. This site was originally planned as self-storage units, 90% impervious surfaces, now will be 42% impervious.
Intends to apply for Kent County Water, will be sewered. Well water for irrigation.
All units two bedroom or less.
DEM wants easement to wetlands to the south of the property.
Fiscal impact to be assessed a the preliminary hearing.
Master Plan voted on and approved 6-0 (3 members absent) with conditions. Age restriction and buffer variances granted.

Projo Article on H-7950

Here is the projo link to last night's hearing on the Massive Tax Increase Bill:
http://www.projo.com/news/content/BUDGET_PROTESTS_03-27-08_CB9H9AB_v17.774f00.html

Here is KC Times article on the same subject:
http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/106045/

I was screaming at the TV when the sponsors were answering questions on the "fairness" of the bill. Over 100 people signed up to testify on this bill. There was a lot of opposition there as well some folks who were in favor of passage. In the end the bill was "held for further study" which means its chances of being enacted are slim. It also means that we need to watch this very closely, as a different version of the massive tax increase bill may re-submitted.

News Articles - Public Payroll Info, Solar Wind Farm

The top ten salaried people - municipal and school:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_cov_top_ten_03-25-08_R09CV54_v36.358da09.html

Possible solar wind farm at Picillo:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/bz_solar_farm25_03-25-08_K19G9RN_v11.38e5188.html

Good luck Chief DaSilva:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_police_03-25-08_BU9GA1D_v12.3587b04.html

Upcoming Meetings

Town Council 03/24:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4232/2008/55050.pdf

School Committee 03/25:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4248/2008/54894.pdf

Planning Commission 03/26:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4233/2008/54982.pdf

Land Trust 04/01:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4244/2008/55011.pdf

Stop H-7950, Stop Our Taxes from Being Increased!

Here is a link to the wording of House bill H-7950:

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText08/HouseText08/H7950.pdf

This bill would raise taxes by an estimated $300 MILLION PER YEAR by expanding the scope of what is subject to the sales tax and increasing several other taxes.

Bill Sponsors:

Rep. David A. Segal rep-segal@rilin.state.ri.us (401)432-7049
Rep. Anastasia Williams rep-williams@rilin.state.ri.us (401)272-8135
Rep. Grace Diaz rep-diaz@rilin.state.ri.us (401)467-8413
Rep. Joseph S. Almeida rep-almeida@rilin.state.ri.us (401)467-7033
Rep. Arthur Handy rep-handy@rilin.state.ri.us (401)785-8996

Here are our local elected officials in the House of Representatives:

Ray Sullivan rep-sullivan@rilin.state.ri.us
Victor Moffit rep-moffitt@rilin.state.ri.us
Nicholas Gorham rep-gorham@rilin.state.ri.us
Patricia Serpa rep-serpa@rilin.state.ri.us

If you agree that we are over-taxed as it is and are opposed to increasing taxes further, then please contact the sponsors and our local reps and let them that you are against passage of this bill. The hearing for this bill is scheduled for March 26th so please contact these officials immediately.

Legislative Alert

I received this info a couple of days ago. RI is the 5th highest taxed state in the USA. We're taxed out! Please read below and if you agree contact your state representative or senator and tell them no more additional or increased taxes!


Bill # H-7950 TAXES, TAXES AND MORE TAXES!
March 18, 2008 The House Finance Committee has rescheduled a hearing on anti-business and job development legislation to be heard on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at approximately 4:30 P.M. in Room 35. The bill includes the following:
* Sales tax on virtually all services, including appliance repairs, landscaping, movie tickets, laundry, temp agencies, club membership, real estate services and so on except physicians and lawyers
* Reduction in sales tax from 7% to 4.5% over a number of years
* 2% gross revenue tax on lawyers and accountants
* Tax on clothing valued over $250
* Tax on the trade-in of motor vehicles
* Reinstate the capital gains tax back to 5%
* Tax non-resident S-Corporation owners at the corporate rate of 9%
* Repeal virtually all business tax credits
* Tax on the press and newspapers
* Impose a cap on historic tax credits with eligibility requirements
* Sales tax on all fuels including home heating oil
* Tax precious metal bullion
* Increase state income tax 2.5% in 2008
* Decrease many other tax credits
* Eliminate the research and development tax credit for employers of 30 or fewer employees
* Eliminate the alternative flat tax after 2008
* Tax on dietary supplements sold on prescriptions
* Institute a sales tax on bus/van/truck rentals
* Eliminate the capital investment in small business credit
* Repeal the Job Development Act
* Repeal the mill building and economic privatization act
* Repeal the exception from sales tax by writers, composers and artists

Increasing taxes are not the way to go to correct a serious budget problem. This legislation will surely stop economic development, job creation, and is just plain BAD LEGISLATION! Taxing services have been an abysmal failure in other states and falls heavily on small business and on those who cannot up and relocate. For your information, it is estimated this bill alone will increase taxes by over $300 million.

Address your letter to The Honorable (Representative's name), c/o Speaker of the House, 323 State House, Providence, RI 02903 and to the Honorable (Senator's name) c/o Senate President's Office, 318 State House, Providence, RI 02903. Also please send a copy of your letter to the address below. For Representative and/or Senator in your district refer to the links below.

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/hofrep.html

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/senate.html

School Article

Here is a link to projo article about the school budget:

http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_blunder_03-19-08_TU9E4IB_v11.372d0c9.html

The School Committee last week mistakenly adopted the original, uncut version of its 2009 spending request. It was just a glitch, said school officials. There is a rumor I've heard that the town wants to eliminate the Town Finance Director's position and have the School Business Administrator take over the books for both town and school. I have a better idea -- eliminate the school business adminstrator position and have our town finance director take over the books for both town and school -- and then have a forensic audit done of School Dept. finances.

‘Irregularities’ found at Resource Recovery Corp.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/Resource_Recovery_03-14-08_9E9C8E4_v17.3730064.html

Finalists for Town Engineering Work

http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_folo_firing_03-12-08_9E9BCF4_v11.2ae2.html

News Articles

Coventry's animal control ordinance updated:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_cov_council_03-11-08_PN9B48K_v14.3730435.html

State Open Government Forum held last night at CCRI:
http://www.projo.com/news/content/open_records_03-11-08_DT9B4DJ_v30.38e9d45.html

Town Council 03/10/07 Meeting Agenda

Thank you Council members for bringing Public Comment back!

http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4232/2008/54346.pdf

News Articles, Meetings

Articles --

CONE - Wells
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_wells_03-07-08_SU98F61_v18.ad282d.html

Voter Disaffiliation
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_vote7_03-07-08_CU99GTI_v8.ad329b.html


Upcoming Meetings --

School Committee 03/11/08:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4248/2008/54236.pdf

Conservation 03/11/08, includes proposed new condos for CONE:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4239/2008/54129.pdf

Planning 03/12/08, includes proposed new condos for CONE:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4233/2008/54116.pdf

What a Concept

Could this be done in RI?

http://www.sacbee.com/1098/story/738462.html

News Articles - Town & School Payrolls, CONE

http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_coventrypay_03-04-08_JA981RL_v12.372ed7b.html

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/103347/

News Articles - Schools

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

Fracas at Town Council Meeting 02/25/08

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/102714/

Article on New Bond Issue Proposal

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/102437/

News Article on TIF/Budget

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/102319/

News Article - West Greeniwch at I-95 Exit 7

http://www.coventrycourier.com/content/view/69004/

Corruption Costs Us All

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june05/obrien062005.htm

Engineering Debacle - Another Article

This one from the KC Times:

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/101063/

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

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.

Zoning Meeting Feb. 6

http://www.kentcountytimes.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,156/

Under Construction