Warwick Post Year in Review 2025: Government

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Post’s Year in Review for top government stories in 2025 includes the completion of a long-running project to modernize Apponaug, violent threats and resignations by town councilors in Coventry, and the growing price tag for new high schools in Warwick:

Year in Review: Warwick Ice Rink Caps Apponaug Facelift

Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi officially opened the new Greenwood Credit Union City Hall Plaza Ice Rink Dec. 3, the completion of a project that he officially announced in 2022 after the former City Hall annex building was demolished due to damage sustained from a burst water pipe in 2018.

The ice rink also represents a symbolic capstone to the numerous projects undertaken in the village over the last decade, with the most visible being the $71 million Apponaug Circulator Project, begun in 2014, that installed new roundabouts, removed the once-iconic Warwick water tower, and relocated part of Veteran’s Parkway.

• Apponaug Project Gets Official Kick-Off
• VIDEO: Warwick Water Tower Falls
• Apponaug Project Update, Photos, By The Numbers
• City Council to Consider Adjuster for Annex Water Damage, Teacher Contract Funding
• Picozzi Unveils $3.5M City Hall Plaza Plan
• Warwick Opens City Offices at AAA Building
• City Hall Plaza Rink Opens

Year in Review: Coventry Town Council Weathers Threats, Resignations

Former Coventry Town Councilor Scott Copley is currently awaiting trial on a felony count of threatening a public official after being recorded on video stating he was going to “skull fuck” then-Council President Hilary Lima. Copley is due in court for a pretrial hearing on Jan. 13.

Lima and Town Solicitor Stephen Angell later resigned before the town council could hold an Oct. 14 vote on their removal. In a special election held Aug. 5, Robert DeLellis won the Dist. 5 seat formerly held by Copley and Richard Houle secured the Dist. 3 seat left vacant by James LeBlanc.

DeLellis resigned from the new post less than two months later after being arrested for DUI. During an Oct 30 hearing at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, Judicial Office Mark P. Welch found DeLellis guilty of one count of refusal to submit to a breath test, and ordered that his license be suspended for 30 days, and that DeLellis install an ignition interlock system in his vehicle for six months; perform 10 hours of community service; attend an alcohol education program; and pay $929.25 in fees and court costs.

• Angell Reported Copley’s Threat to ‘Skull Fuck’ Council President
• Lima: Copley Threat Investigation Before Grand Jury
• Copley Indicted for Threatening Council President March 21
• Copley Arraigned July 25 On Threatening Public Official Charge
• Coventry Special Election Adds New Town Councilors
• Lima Resigned Council Seat, Angell Resigns Solicitor Job
• DeLellis Resigns After Sept. 24 DUI

Year in Review: New High Schools Price Tag Grows

Three years after Warwick voters approved $350 million in bonds to pay for two new high schools to replace Toll Gate and Pilgrim, Warwick officials in 2025 continued to push the project forward despite an estimated $50 million in cost overruns that a new bond is intended to cover.

In January, the school committee heard from Left Field Project Management that it had cut the expected excess costs to about $23 million, though during its deliberations on the new $50 million bond, the city council discussed needing to cover $28 million in overruns.

A proposal by City Councilman Ed Ladouceur for a special election to revoke the city’s authority to borrow more than the original $350 million was defeated 7-2 by the city council in February.

In the meantime, the school committee approved several of the project’s initial steps, including about $33 million for the seven- to eight-month first stage that includes cleaning up the site and paying for personnel services, equipment, insurance, and permitting fees.

The Warwick City Council is planning to hold a public forum on Jan. 6, 2026 to update the public on the new high schools project.

• New High Schools Cost Overruns Cut to $22.9M
• Council Rejects New High Schools Special Election 7-2
• Committee OKs $32.6M for New High Schools Work
• Council OKs $50M New High Schools Bond Ask
• New High Schools Update Forum Jan. 6

Year in Review: Warwick OKs Red Light, Traffic Cameras

Warwick in June activated a new red light camera network throughout the city intended to reduce speeding and accidents caused by drivers failing to stop. The 37 red light cameras, including 22 near schools, are active year-round and run by private company Altumint, which holds the data for 90 days even if no violation is found.

City Councilors also approved the installation of 10 traffic cameras by Flock Safety, raising concerns from civil liberties advocates that private companies are gathering and storing surveillance data on private citizens for what Prof. Marc Genest termed “a tiny, tiny bit more security.”

• Council OKs New Vehicles, Renews Flock Camera Deal
• Warwick Red Light Cameras Launch: Details
• Warwick Red Light Cameras Program Launches June 4