Town Manager's Message:

Summer is officially here, but we need to continue to address some unfinished business. On Tuesday, June 28 between 6 AM - 8 PM at both Main Street fire houses, eligible Coventry voters can vote on the revised proposed FY 23 budget. The budget has been adjusted so the mil rate will not increase. Budget documents are available online to review, including a Budget in Brief.

The Town Council set the mil rate at 31.15 (same as the current rate), so tax bills could be prepared and mailed out. A reminder that payments can be accepted  starting July 1 and can be paid through August 1 without penalty. If you don't want to wait for your bill to arrive in the mail, you can go online and pay your bill(s) with a free electronic check or use a credit card (with a processing fee). You can also come in to the Tax Office and pay in person during Town Hall hours, or use the drop box in the back foyer of Town Hall (checks only - no cash). You can still pay by mail, but remember the due date to pay without interest is August 1 and an official postmark is required. The drop box will be checked at 4:30 PM on August 1, and any payment received after that time will be subject to late fees.

A lot of projects are underway.

• The Rt. 44/Swamp Road project is on hold awaiting signal poles which are expected in October. Northfields at Rt. 44 has been permanently closed and a temporary access is off of Swamp Road until the signals are installed and the new section of Swamp Road is open.
• The LOTCIP-funded South Street road and sidewalk project from Daly to the Homestead has started, and should be completed this summer. The landfill methane venting project is almost complete and grass is being seeded. 
• Final road work on Woodbridge is scheduled, and we are finishing prep work on Carver and Loomis for major resurfacing work.
• Hop River Road Bridge will be bid out this fall and utility work will start and parts ordered to allow a full construction season starting in early spring.
• We also just received a major LOTCIP grant to rebuild Daly Road from Main Street to approximately Lakeview Avenue, which will include significant road profile improvements and sidewalks. Construction is likely three years away.
• South Street (Swamp toward Rt. 6) will be entering design phase and is targeted for construction next year.
• Coventry High School and GH Robertson roofs were just approved by the State to bid and will now take two construction seasons.
• Transfer station bids are in, and we hope to be able to start building a new facility real soon, but the bids came in very high.
• The first girls' softball field plans and bids are scheduled for committee review, and then will be bid for construction.
• The Library renovation and improvement project will have a groundbreaking ceremony at 9 AM on June 30, with completion anticipated in late spring of 2023.

UPCOMING TOWN MEETINGS:

• Tues, 7/5: Town Council, 7:30 PM
• Mon, 7/11:  Planning & Zoning Commission, 7 PM
• Mon, 7/18: Town Council, 7:30 PM
• Mon, 7/25:  Planning & Zoning Commission, 7 PM 
• Thurs, 7/28: Board of Education, 7:30 PM

For a complete monthly calendar of other Board & Commission events, click here.

COMING EVENTS: 

Sat 7/2: Opening Ceremony, 5th Annual Flag Field for Heroes, 11 AM - 12 PM, Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street. CT Landmarks, in partnership with the Coventry Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Coventry American Legion, will place flags honoring a military service member, veteran, or hero. The cost to purchase a flag is $10. See link to order. The ceremony will include a reading of the poem, "Nathan Hale," and music by the Nathan Hale Ancient Fife and Drums. More info.

Sun 7/3: Coventry Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 1 PM, 2299 South Street. The 19th season continues the tradition of carrying the best of CT-grown and CT-made products on the scenic grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead. Website.

Weds 7/6: Mobile Foodshare, 10-10:30 AM, First Congregational Church @ St. Mary's, 1600 Main Street. An outdoor food distribution service for persons of low income. Text FOODSHARE to 85511 to receive the mobile schedule and cancellations directly on your phone. More info.

Sun 7/10: Coventry Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 1 PM, 2299 South Street. The 19th season continues the tradition of carrying the best of CT-grown and CT-made products on the scenic grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead. Website.

Sat 7/16: All books and toys half price, 9 AM - 11 AM, Noah's Closet, 1746 Boston Turnpike. Donations of clean, gently-used items for children are welcome Tuesday and Saturday mornings. Closed first two weeks in July - reopening 7/16. Info: 860-742-1616 or see website.

Sun 7/17: Coventry Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 1 PM, 2299 South Street. The 19th season continues the tradition of carrying the best of CT-grown and CT-made products on the scenic grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead. Website.

Weds 7/20: Mobile Foodshare, 10-10:30 AM, First Congregational Church @ St. Mary's, 1600 Main Street. An outdoor food distribution service for persons of low income. Text FOODSHARE to 85511 to receive the mobile schedule and cancellations directly on your phone. More info.

Fri 7/22 Food Truck event, 4-8 PM, Capt. Nathan Hale Middle School. Sponsored by Coventry CT Cares, Inc. More info on website.

Sun 7/24: Coventry Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 1 PM, 2299 South Street. The 19th season continues the tradition of carrying the best of CT-grown and CT-made products on the scenic grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead. Website.

Mon 7/25: Public Hearing, Adoption of Housing Affordability Plan, 7 PM, Town Hall Annex, 1712 Main Street. The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold this hearing to consider and adopt a Housing Affordability Plan for the Town of Coventry. The public is encouraged to attend this important meeting. Project information and a copy of the Plan is available here. Please contact Eric M. Trott by email or call 860-742-4062 if you have questions.

Weds 7/27: Council Chair's office hours, 5-6 PM, Booth & Dimock Memorial Library, 1134 Main Street. Share your concerns or provide input to Lisa Thomas, Town Council Chairwoman. 

KEEPING IT GREEN - GENTLE HINTS FOR RECYCLING

Want to know about what’s IN and what’s OUT for recycling in Coventry? take a look at recyclect.com or www.scrrra.org.  These websites will let you ask about a specific item or material.  Or, download the free SCRRA app to your smart device, or contact Coventry Public Works at 860-742-6588.  Recycling saves our Town money and is good for the environment.  In general, all recycled items should be empty, rinsed out, clean, and open.  Do not shred, box, bag or bundle items.
 
July's Recycling Focus – Paper (part #1): Cardboard, boxboard, juice boxes without the straw, food and beverage cartons, and clean pizza boxes (but not the liner) are all recyclable. Plastic handles, straws, and liners are NOT recyclable. Take-out food containers, frozen food boxes, hot and cold paper cups, ice cream containers, and pizza box liners are NOT recyclable. Recycled boxes and containers should be empty and clean. Flatten boxes before placing in the tipper cart. 

This message is a public outreach effort by the Town of Coventry's Energy Conservation/Alternative Energy Advisory Committee. For more information about the committee, see this link.