HANNAH PIECUCH
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COVENTRY — After a longer delay than the council would have liked, the charter review commission is ready to go, after all nine members were appointed at the Monday town council meeting.

The nine applicants display a broad range of capabilities and experience and Town Council President Raymond Spear said that he was very pleased to announce their appointment.

Joel Johnson, Harold Trafford Jr., Ann Dickson, Wayne Asselin, Robert Thibeault, James Sullivan, Gregory Laboissonniere, Joy Martin and William Wolfe were all sworn in on the spot in the town council chambers.

HANNAH PIECUCH
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WEST WARWICK — Prior to the stimulus project on Legion way and Providence Street, the sidewalks in the area were in a terrible condition, according to acting Public Works Director David Lombari.

“They were in pretty tough shape,” he said, “especially in front of Jerry’s Market, heading north towards the Prata-Murphy Funeral home.”

HANNAH PIECUCH
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COVENTRY — An ordinance banning year-round camping at Coventry campgrounds drew enough people to fill the town council chambers at their Monday night meeting.

As discussion extended into public comment, former Town Council President Justin Pomfret rose to the podium to apologize to Colwell Campground and his mother, owner of Hickory Ridge, saying that he knew the ordinance was aimed directly at hurting him.

As the last item on a slim council agenda, the ordinance would amend an ordinance approved in January 2008 that had allowed the four campgrounds in town to host year-round guests. At the time, Pomfret recused himself from discussion, but the matter was still controversial because it benefited his family.

Since year-round camping was allowed in 2008 it has been a matter of concern, Town Council President Raymond Spear told the public. Previously, campgrounds could only be inhabited from April 15 through Oct. 31.

Hoping to produce a discussion about the pros and cons of this change, the ordinance wasn’t put on the agenda specifically for passage, Spear said, but rather to encourage review of the new regulation.