Fire officials and legislators meet at the State House Monday to discuss the fate of emergency services in the Central Coventry FIre District. Photo by Steve Klamkin, WPRO News.
By Steve Klamkin and Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
In a last-minute emergency meeting, Coventry town and fire officials gathered with local legislators to discuss how to maintain fire and emergency services in Central Coventry.
The meeting comes after voters denied a tax hike to keep the financially troubled Central Coventry Fire District afloat. Already, Central Coventry has closed three fire stations and halted the operation of one ladder truck and a fire engine.
Officials spoke with Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed and House Speaker Gordon Fox, asking for help to maintain fire and emergency services.
Paiva-Weed’s concern was where the financial backing would come from.
"Obviously we don't want anybody in the state of Rhode Island to not have proper protection in terms of health and safety, we just don't want that to happen," said Fox.
