Following the filing of a complaint with the office of Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, the Coventry Town Council on Monday chose to confirm its April 9 vote authorizing the Town to loan Central Coventry Fire District Special Master Richard Land up to $300,000 to keep the district operational for several more weeks.
According to Town Solicitor Fred Tobin, the complaint was in regards to an Emergency Meeting for April 9, called by Council President Gary Cote during a routine Council session on April 8. The complainant claimed the Town had violated the RI Open Meetings Act (OMA) which requires a minimum notice of 48 hours prior to a municipal meeting. Tobin went on to explain that the Coventry Town Charter only requires a 12-hour notice prior to holding a Special Meeting, which conflicts with the OMA mandate.
The emergency meeting called by Cote addressed the fact that without the loan, CCFD would cease fire and emergency operations and enter into a court-ordered liquidation process as of 11:59 p.m. on April 11. Due to the critical nature of the matter, the meeting and its public notice were scheduled less than 24 hours before it began - essentially acting in violation of the Open Meetings Act, while simultaneously complying with the Town Charter.
Tobin suggested that the Council reaffirm its vote at Monday's meeting - which was scheduled and publicized three days before it was held - to ensure that the Council's 4-1 vote in favor of the loan was valid, while also avoiding costly litigation that may have stemmed from the complaint.