Ashleigh Klambt

Notes from Town Council Meeting

Contemporary Issues Period E
Mr. Kendall
12/21/15
Seniors speak on library expansion plan
Norman mentions goals vs notes
Letters from citizens library expansion program referendum request
Merlino vice principal of the year
Repair of engines additional tanker perhaps renovation of truck consideration
Potential federal grant for ET
Elderly tax relief policy issues for potential plan going forward
Fixing the gym wall building committee funds coming from the state
Why does something need to be approved to talk about shouldnt all issues be addressed that is
prevalent and needs discussion a lot of tension between two sides
Argument between council members about refurbishment of fire equipment
Up to date with OSHA standards
Textile recycling company 2 containers in town free of charge interest provide another
free of charge near dumpster town hall pick up as needed try it as long as it doesnt
become a problem trial basis
Written summary crumbling foundation concreate plans 500 people attendance middle
school insurance change state took no action goes back beyond current administration
recommendation let consumer protection know issue for reselling propertys
Public works projects making progress due to lack of snow
What do they do about snow plowing with no curb? (Asked by member of council)
Almost at end of summer road project
Capital improvement program looking into future six year view four more years makes
ten year view
Economic development commission
Place making copy spring 2015
Shopping opportunities
More recreation
Commercial vs residential tax income
Home businesses
Major traffic areas more business friendly surrounded by towns that have highway and sewer
that we dont have site behind dunkin donuts vacant land no response huge challenge landlords
that do not respect tenants
Expansion of sewers from Bolton to Coventry was accepted and will happen
Area on route 6 has 100 plus acre of land
We have two registered areas for airports one on bread and Milk Street... who knew..?
Walmart denied coming to Coventry as did many other places not enough people not enough
traffic were the main concerns

The Inverted Pyramid Structure One Page Report

The majority of the Town Council Meeting that took place on Dec. 21, 2015. Consisted
of an argument and misunderstanding between two board members. These two members were
Lisa Thomas and Matthew OBrien and they fought about the conflict of the fire department and
their declaration of needing new equipment and/or refurbishing old equipment. Lisa Thomas did
not understand what Matthew OBrian was trying to convey to the audience but he argued that
what Lisa Thomas was talking about was not at all on the agenda and therefore could not be
discussed at this time. Through the course of their discussion Lisa Thomas recognized the fact
that this has been a prevalent issue that has been ignored or postponed for multiple years and
even acknowledged that Matthew OBrien who claims to be a responsible up-to-date board
member needs to do some more research before making inaccurate claims against her. This
debate between the two were ineffective and showed the corruption that can occur at a small
level of government. The other board members seemed withdrawn from the subject other that the
mentioning of John Elsessers statistics from one of the articles each member was given. This
argument was enacted upon so thoroughly between the two because it is a lot to ask for from the
town and they need to well assess whether or not we need to provide the fire department with
this money to buy what they want. There was also mentioning of the OSHA standards in this
debate and whether or not they were prevalent and soon expiring but that did not transpire in to
anything significant.
Other topics that were mentioned during the course of the meeting that took place of Dec.
21. Included but were not limited to, the expansion of the library. Many members of our
community spoke or wrote the board in hopes of leaving the discussion to the people and overall
emphasizing to them the impact and importance the library has on all age groups. One women
referred to it as a jewel in our town but yet declared it needed to be revised in certain standards.
Another topic that was discussed was the Economic Development Commission who went to
great extents to explain their many successes as well as some struggles that they have been
facing. They spent most of the time repeating that no one wants to move into Coventry with their
business because we do not have enough people, there is not enough traffic, and not enough
other businesses are located within our town. They also made sure to address that we do in fact
have space. A lot of people argue, we have no space for bigger businesses such as Walmart or a
hotel. Yet, one of the men mentioned we have to registered airports and that there is plenty of
room such as the lot behind Dunkin Donuts that was contacted by a buyer but they have been
ignoring calls for an unknown reason. In fact, Walmart turned the commission down at the
chance to build here in Coventry. Other topics that were mentioned briefly were the success of
the Farmers Market and the spectacular turnout last weekend with over five hundred visitors and
the wonderful vendors that currently participate in the Farmers Market. They also talked of
Stephan Merlino, assistant principal, of the High School and the award he received this year and
how great of an accomplishment that is for our community as well as himself. Along with that
success they also focused on the public works department and that they have been able to finish
many postponed projects. John Elsesser talked of how the road project was almost complete and
will be finished with in the beginning of the summer and stated that he was very thankful that we
have not had snow yet this year. Luckily, because of that they were able to accomplish much

more. Lastly, the Town Council was also able to agree that they would approve the request for
another donation bin located on the Town Hall property, which will be on a trial basis.