Council waives $20,000 in permit fees for high-school sprinkler project to keep funds in school bond work

The Coventry Town Council voted to waive approximately $20,000 in town permit fees for a $2.9 million high-school fire-suppression project handled by contractor Delta Mechanical.

Town Manager Dan Perillo explained the request, saying the OPM and contractor asked whether the town would waive the permit fees and that the town would recover the amount on the back end of the contract. "The entire project is about 2,900,000.0. The permits that are issued by the town are approximately $20,000...I'm just asking, the council, for that authority to waive the $20,000 in permits," Perillo said. Council members noted that waiving the fee keeps the $20,000 out of bond principal so the town avoids paying interest on it.

Councilman Houle moved to waive the permit fees and the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Council members said the change effectively allows $20,000 more in project work without increasing bond interest costs.

The council recorded no dissent; details on how the waived amount will be returned administratively were not provided at the meeting.