Tensions rise in Coventry after 2 town councilors resign, threat allegedly made toward council president

COVENTRY, R.I. (WLNE) — Months of tension spilled over into public view Tuesday night in Coventry.

What started as a dispute over the town charter and legal bills has gotten so ugly, the police and attorney general’s office are now involved.

After former Coventry town councilors James LeBlanc and Scott Copley abruptly resigned Monday, residents sounded off at Tuesday’s town council meeting.

Before the meeting, ABC6 spoke with Copley, who said he and LeBlanc were upset with how legal fees were being assessed and paid out.

The former councilor said, while the town racked up legal fees related to Johnson’s Pond, residents were asking him where money was being allocated.

The town seized the pond by eminent domain last year, leading to a protracted legal battle.

Copley and LeBlanc were upset they could not access specifics about what the town solicitor was charging for.

“Why would you not show your client the un-redacted, itemized invoices,” Copley said. “If you’re showing me only redacted invoices with just a total amount, it’s just the optics of corruption.”

Town Council President Hillary Lima reviews the unredacted invoices as part of an agreement with Town Solicitor Stephen Angell.

Copley and LeBlanc said this violates the town charter, but Lima said keeping the information in a tight circle is for the benefit of the residents, and in line with an approved agreement between the town and Angell.

“That information in the public sphere is damaging to the town’s ability to defend itself or to go on offense in litigation,” Lima said.

Disagreement over the matter became so intense last month, Angell called the police after a heated phone call between Copley and another member of the council.

The town solicitor shared a graphic, violent threat Copley allegedly made toward Lima, and the council president said she is now in contact with police and filing charges.

“This is a time when I should take a stand,” Lima said. “Not just for myself, but for anyone else who is a public official or a woman in leadership who would receive such a threat of sexually violent nature like that.”

Copley said the accusation is a “total twist of words” and denied threatening anyone.

Lima said the matter is now being handled by the attorney general’s office.

ABC6 asked police for that report, and were told the records request was being processed as of Tuesday night.

Former councilman LeBlanc, who resigned alongside Copley, was also contacted by ABC6 and did not respond.