The co-chair of the Coventry citizen taskforce working to find an alternative to its in-liquidation fire district Monday applauded the Superior Court’s decision to hold elections for a new board of directors.
Superior Court Judge Brian Stern issued a decision Friday that calls for nominations to be filed between May 20 and June 2, and an all-day election held on Saturday, June 29.
The court’s full decision can be seen here.
“Despite our frustration with the Court’s reluctance to deal more decisively with the Fire District issue, we are pleased with this decision to put taxpayers back into the picture in Coventry," said Fred Gralinski of the Central Coventry Citizens Taskforce for Fire Protection. “Until now, every special interest has been attended to including the union, the Town, the General Assembly and creditors. Finally, the court is allowing those who pay the bills to play a role, and for this, we could not be happier.”
The Court on Friday set forth procedures for the election to fill unexpired terms of the Central Coventry Fire District (CCFD) board of directors, and detailed the responsibility-sharing between the new board, the Special Master and the Court.
“There are several matters in the decision that in our mind required clarification, specifically relating to the powers and responsibility of the board, and I expect this will come in due course," Gralinski continued. “The important thing is that there is light at the end of this tunnel, and that an election will be held. The taskforce intends to be very strongly represented in these elections, and I can promise the residents of the CCFD a professional and well-qualified slate of candidates will be put forward by the Taskforce."
The Taskforce will next meet at Club Jogues (184 Boston St.) on Wednesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. The group plans to hold a vote to endorse seven Board candidates.
“Our job is not yet done. We now have an election to win,” Gralinski concluded.