Coventry officials clash in tense meeting over Johnson’s Pond

COVENTRY, R.I. (WLNE) — Johnson’s Pond in Coventry is once again a point of contention in the town after a tense discussion during Tuesday’s town council meeting.

At issue, whether council members can see and review unredacted itemized charges from solicitor Stephen Angell.

Angell, however, said that only some parties of the members of the council would be privy to the information in question in its entirety.

“The council is provided every month with a flat fee scope invoice,” said Angell.

“That’s available for public inspection, as is the summary invoice for all categories of legal expenses for hourly work. What is not provided is the actual time specification that shows who was spoken with, what was done, what the conversations were, that’s privileged.”

Several other members of the board also expressed concerns about the redacted information, and reiterated requests for detailed receipts.

The omitted information led to a litany of legal demands from councilman Scott Copley.

“Going forward, am I going to get unredacted invoices from the solicitor every month, yes or no,” said Copley.

“And if not, I want it in writing. If I am denied this request I want to ask by whom and under what legal authority, I’d like that in writing.”

“I’ve never been disciplined, and I don’t intend to be,” said Angell.