Tiverton Citizens for Change

I’ll be liveblogging from the Town Council meeting, tonight, once again, although once again, the topic in which I’m mainly interested has been slated for the end of the meeting. Hopefully, we won’t be listening to people asserting ambiguities that don’t exist for over an hour tonight.

7:20 p.m.

During discussion of community block grants, the topic of subsidized youth employment came up, along with mention of a statistic that the number of working teens is down to historical lows. I agree with the benefits of work, for young Americans, and if there’s money to be had, it should be used.

That said, I’d make two suggestions: First, that having businesses in town would be a good first step to ensuring that kids who want to work can do so, and without public subsidy. Every time a mall or a grocery store or other such project is kept out of the town it affects such intentions.

My second point is less immediately within our control. Kids today are much more sedentary, with tremendous distractions and entertaining lures that keep them in the house.

7:42 p.m.

Interesting to note that the fellow who used the podium at a recent School Committee meeting to decry the town’s retirement villages as “a cancer on our community” has been taking the Town Council microphone repeatedly. With a tone bespeaking insinuation he’s been making references to “the community, by which I don’t mean gated communities.” Council Member Louise Durfee chuckled at that.

One suspects the speaker thinks he’s jabbing at TCC (“what these [unnamed] people are doing to our town”). I suspect he’s just conveying to the average viewer — who hasn’t already chosen a side — will think he’s a slightly nutty local character.

7:50 p.m.

During a public hearing on various inspection requirements and fees, it came to light that the state of Rhode Island is requiring towns to inspect temporary tents — not only the fire marshal, but for the structure of the tent itself. That’s another $60 to put a tent on your property in Tiverton.

It’s worth noting that the state is mandating the inspection, but it’s the town coming up with the $60 fee. Such is Rhode Island.

8:34 p.m.

The budget discussion is up. Administrator Jim Goncalo presented a revised budget, but Council Member Durfee raised the Budget Committee’s vote to cut the budget. The question is what happens next. Durfee: do we just go to the FTM and argue for our proposal.

Council Member Jay Lambert is suggesting that the Council hold off on discussion until after the Budget Committee’s vote on Thursday.

Apparently, it’s a possibility that the Budget Committee and Town Council will present different budgets to the FTM.

8:39 p.m.

Durfee just mentioned the possibility that the General Assembly will allow the town to raise another million plus via the vehicle tax. Notably, she didn’t even raise the question of whether that would be worth doing to the townsfolk.

Council President Don Bollin is suggesting that it might be worth seeking a postponement by the General Assembly of the FTM until late summer so that we all have the relevant numbers to debate. I’d agree with that, although it does make open contract negotiations problematic.

9:19 p.m.

We’re still here. Long meeting. Town Administrator Jim Goncalo just presented a memo of items that might be cut should his proposed budget not be approved.

Curious: Among the possibilities is closing the office in the fire department that offers building planning services. It came to light, though, that those services might in some degree be covered by the fees that the town charges for them. Of what possible use (other than propaganda) could this list be if it includes services that might pay for themselves?

9:27 p.m.

The “cancer” guy is at it again, taking to the microphone to express dislike for every town interaction with the retirement communities. He’s reminding me of the heckler in this scene; he even looks a lot like him:

10:03 p.m.

Town Solicitor Andy Teitz is introducing various language items that he’s put together for the council. Right now, they’re talking about a “standby motion” that would put the language to exceed the tax cap in the FTM docket. On the one hand, it makes sense to have the language in there for consideration. On the other hand, providing it beforehand gives the impression that it’s intended for use.

10:07 p.m.

Budget Committee Chairman Jeff Caron made the point that his committee seems likely to come in under the cap and that printing this language with town resources “greases the skids” to exceed the cap.

10:10 p.m.

Louise Durfee is railing against the cuts of the Budget Committee, suggesting that the townspeople are going to incite people to turn out and raise taxes above the cap.

10:29 p.m.

Putting the language for exceeding the cap in the docket has been tabled until the next regularly scheduled council meeting, in the hopes that other matters will resolve the necessity of it.

10:35 p.m.

Council President Don Bollin is going on and on about the problems of state laws and policies. We all get it. Can we move on. It’s nearly 11:00.

10:36 p.m.

And finally to the proposed policy for exceeding the cap. Teitz says he’s giving up trying to hone the policy into legal language and leaving it up to the council.

10:39 p.m.

Lambert has put together a different resolution.

I picked the wrong day to cut back on my coffee intake.

10:44 p.m.

We’re back to the debate about whether the law really means “also” when it says the council must vote and the town meeting must “also” do so. It’s really unbelievable. What good is the law if it doesn’t mean what it says.

10:52 p.m.

We’re right back to the council arguing that the FTM can do whatever it wants. Clearly false. This body is just bringing this up every two weeks until it manages to get the vote that certain members (and the solicitor) desire.

Just my opinion, of course, but it’s definitely a firm one.

11:15 p.m.

Durfee made a motion to table the policy. It passes, with Lambert and Bollin objecting. The temper appears to be that the whole thing should just go to court (with the Coulters’ lawsuit) and be resolved there.