Coronavirus In Coventry: Public Works Services Limited

COVENTRY, RI — Coventry's trash services will be limited during the coronavirus pandemic, the town's Public Works director said Wednesday. While curbside trash pickup will continue, other services will not be offered due to changed schedules and limited staffing.

While the town hall and other public buildings are closed to the public, staff are still working in staggered shifts, which will allow departments to isolate teams of employees should someone test positive for COVID-19.

"This action is to ensure that is several Public Works employees become infected with the virus, that shift's rotation will be quarantined and the other shift will take over," Director Kevin McGee wrote. "This will allow for a continuity of government so that services will not be interrupted."

Although trash and recycle pickup services will continue, shifts will be limited to just three routes per day. All residents are asked to have their carts out by 7 a.m. to accommodate the changes.

Yard waste pickup will not be offered at this time, McGee said, because employees will not have time to do so with the new route requirements. Residents are asked to not place yard waste at the curb and instead store it for the foreseeable future or bring it directly to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Center in Johnston.

The Coventry Transfer Station is closed until further notice to reduce the face-to-face contact between employees and the public and because the worker who drives from the station to Resource Recovery is currently helping with curbside pickup.

The Roads and Bridges division, meanwhile, has been cut down to just three employees for the time being. The crew is doing essential duties only, such as road grading, street sweeping and asphalt repairs. These employees will also provide traffic control for the school and police departments handing out grab and go meals at Rice Field.

"As you can see, we are continuing to provide the essential services for the town, just on a smaller basis," McGee said. "Please stay safe during this challenging time, it will end, we will get through this and it will return to normal in the future."