Coventry Dist. 2 Council Race: Kane Q&A

COVENTRY, RI — Cheryl Kane, Coventry resident since 1964, a clerk in various positions with the Town Clerk and Finance offices for 33 years, is in the Coventry Dist. 2 Council race to use that experience to continue serving the town.

Kane, retired in 2022, has witnessed the growth and development of the town first-hand. As a younger adult, she held leadership positions in Girl Scouts and Explorers, a division of the Boy Scouts. While working for the town, Kane was voted to be the Union Steward for Town Hall employees.

Kane was a special duties clerk in the Town Clerk’s office for 14 years, then a finance clerk in the Finance Department, then transferred to the Tax Assessor’s office as a finance clerk her last six years.

Shortly before she retired, a new neighbor moved in next door to her home, in a residential area, with a noisy business. She and her  neighbors have also complained to Town officials, and Kane began researching ordinances, Zoning and Planning Regulations that have been established but, she said, appear not to have been enforced. She said she’s since begun Town Council, Zoning Board and Planning Board meetings more regularly.

Kane, an independent candidate, said she is 85 percent self-funded.

“I didn’t have a fundraiser because I understand people are having a hard time now with inflation. I have asked them to talk to taxpayers that they know about my campaign.”

 Coventry Dist. 2 Council race Q&A -1) The state auditor’s assessment of the Coventry Schools to-date $5M deficit lays partial blame on turnover of poor performing prior executive leadership,  and prior finance directors on the school and town side, coinciding with ill-timed Financial Town Meeting votes for level funding. The result was inadequate budgets that didn’t catch deficits early. 

KANE: I believe level funding may be the beginning of financial  disaster.  Rather than level fund the budget I would suggest to increase the tax rate by at least 1% for a cushion for unexpected expenses.

KANE: Demand open communication with finances. Listen to employees concerns. Do not consider level funding. Level funding a budget may get a council person renominated but it is detrimental to town finances.

Kane did not elaborate on this topic.

KANE:  I believe a Municipal or Regional Fire Department/District would be cost effective over time.

KANE: I believe these two groups meet often during budget season.  It appears additional meetings are required. It is unacceptable to have such a deficit.

KANE: Town residents can make a difference by attending meetings. Hear it straight from the source rather than other individuals interpretation. Council Members need your input to make a conscientious decision.