TOWN MANAGER'S MESSAGE: According to the calendar, spring is around the corner, but I can’t just see it yet. Our Town Public Works Crews have been much busier this winter preparing our roads with salt and plowing snow. We currently have 20 people in the Public Works Department, and 18 of the employees are licensed and are on the call-in list to plow for every snow event that we have. Some of our staff members have been plowing snow in Coventry for many years. Some are new and are just getting the hang of it, but they all are a part of this important team that keeps our streets clear and safe in winter. I thank them all for their great work! This month Town staff will be working with the Town Council to make adjustments to the Town Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget. The Town has seen some cost increases in utilities, fuel, supplies, and building materials over the last 12 months with inflation in the northeast region increasing by 3.7%. We are again experiencing increases in payroll with the continued increase in minimum wage. Though the Town wishes to keep program fees affordable for residents, this will make it harder to fund Recreation programs, Coventry Lake beach operations, and staffing at the Library. In some cases, we will have to look at rate increases to cover our costs. Entry-level high school students are receiving nearly the same pay as full-time staff members that have served the Town for several years. This has caused the Town to reconsider and amend its compensation plan to retain some of our staff in service and program positions. Again this year, it is not an employer’s job market, and we are struggling to fill staff positions that once had 40-50 applicants. We are also seeing cost increases due to scheduled salary increases in our negotiated collective bargaining agreements. On the other hand, there is good news to share with our residents regarding our budgeting. In reviewing our projects, we are pleased to announce we have around $31 million in grant projects lined up for design and/or construction over the next year. Last year we constructed the Hop River Bridge with a grant in the amount of $3.6 million. Some of these projects are progressing from engineering to construction and are rolling over in the budget from last year, and others are new. The projects are Bunker Hill Road Bridge Replacement, Brigham Road Bridge Replacement, Depot Road Bridge Replacement, Flanders Road Bridge Replacement, South and Swamp Road Safety Improvements, Daly Road Safety Improvements (including sidewalks), flashing crosswalks on Main Street/Cross Street in the Village, and a Village Water Tower (to provide water volume and pressure for fire suppression systems). Also funded will be the second year of the prescribed three-year fluoridone treatment of Coventry Lake to combat hydrilla. This is being partially funded with a matching State grant of $75,000 from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The Town will also continue its traditional annual funding of $290,000 toward road paving. We match this to the Town Aid Roads (TAR) Funding distributed to us each year by the State. Since that level of funding does not go far, in 2023 voters approved a road bond to improve our roads, drainage and two bridges. We have seen much of this funding being used in the last two years all over town. This next year we will use our remaining 2023 Road Bond dollars to continue street paving and bridge repairs. This year the 2023 Road Bond payment will begin, so, we will see a jump in in the cost of the Town’s debt service in the proposed budget, to cover the cost of having nice new paved roads. Though FY2025-26 may see a spike in Town debt, I am pleased to report that debt service after the FY2025-26 budget year will begin to significantly drop off as the Town is scheduled to satisfy old debt service over the next couple of years. As we discuss our FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget, we welcome you to our Budget Hearing at 7:00 PM on March 4th at Coventry High School to learn more about our budget challenges and how we plan to meet the Town’s goals and service objectives. Other Budget meetings will be held throughout March. If you are interested in attending them, you can check our website for the Town Council agendas. Should you wish to contact me, please email JDrumm@coventry-ct.gov or call the office at 860-742-6324. Frequent updates are also posted to the Town Manager’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CoventryCTTownManager. Sincerely, James Drumm
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UPCOMING TOWN MEETINGS:- Mon, 3/3: Town Council Meeting, 7:00 PM. Town Hall Annex.
- Tues, 3/4: Town Manager's Budget Hearing, 7:00 PM, High School Lecture Hall
- Mon, 3/10: Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, 7:00 PM, Town Hall Conf. Room B.
- Mon, 3/10: Town Council Budget Meeting, 7:30 PM, Town Hall Annex
- Thurs, 3/13: Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM, School Admin. Building
- Tues, 3/17: Town Council Meeting, 7:00 PM , Town Hall Annex.
- Mon, 3/24: Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, 7:00 PM, Town Hall Conf. Room B.
- Mon, 3/24: Town Council Budget Meeting, 7:30 PM, Town Hall Annex
- Weds, 3/26: Inland Wetlands Agency Meeting, 7:00 PM, Town Hall Annex.
- Thurs 3/27: Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM, School Admin Building.
- Thurs 3/31: Town Council Special Budget Meeting, 7:00 PM, Town Hall Annex.
For a monthly calendar of other Board & Commission events, click here.
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 The Winter Farmers' Market wraps up on March 9th. |
COMING EVENTS:Sun 3/2: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, indoors at Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. Celebrating its 10th year, the CWFM offers everything from locally-grown produce, hand-crafted soaps, and freshly-baked bread. Check out their website for more information. Tues 3/4: 50% Off Everything in the Shop Sale, 9 AM - 11 AM, Noah's Closet, 1746 Boston Turnpike. Noah's Closet sells gently-used children's clothing, toys, shoes, and baby equipment. Donations of gently-used children's items are welcome on Tuesdays 9 AM - 11 AM and Saturdays 9 AM - 1 PM. Info: 860-742-1616 or visit website.
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