Many options presented themselves for my attendance, this evening. Dinesh D’Souza is speaking at Brown. A Tiverton Tea Party group is having its inaugural meeting on the north end of town. But I’m at the town hall. (I’ll have to chide Mr. D’Souza for not better coordinating his schedule with mine.)
I’ve heard rumors that there might be something interesting being said, here, tonight.
7:24 p.m.
Town Treasurer Phil DiMattia is at the witness table answering some questions from Council Member Louise Durfee. I don’t recall hearing that much from the previous town treasurer at town council meetings, but that in itself is telling. It’s interesting to watch her with Mr. DiMattia; the delight at ribbing him couldn’t be more visible on her face.
7:30 p.m.
Town Council Member Jay Lambert suggested that the council should resist the urge to micromanage and second guess the treasurer. Watching the exchanges, one might forget that the treasurer is elected directly by the residents of Tiverton, not appointed by the council.
7:33 p.m.
Mr. DiMattia suggested that Ms. Durfee should feel free to call him rather than wait for a town council meeting.
7:35 p.m.
The agenda has moved on to a “standby motion” for exceeding the tax cap at the financial town meeting. Thus far, Council President Don Bollin and Jay Lambert are questioning whether a “standby motion” is necessary. Lambert: “This standby motion is a fiction.”
7:39 p.m.
Interesting that even Louise Durfee is among the unanimous voices questioning the need for a standby motion. I’m pretty sure this was her idea.
Furthermore, the substitute for Solicitor Andrew Teitz is stating that the FTM requires a prior justification for exceeding the cap (i.e., the waiver), which is in direct conflict with Mr. Teitz’s prior suggestion.
7:43 p.m.
Budget Committee Vice Chair Rob Coulter noted that Teitz’s firm also represents Barrington and might have given different advice. The substitute isn’t familiar with the facts.
7:47 p.m.
Lambert noted that the town is now looking at more than 9% of a tax increasing according to documents that went to the state.
7:50 p.m.
Bollin restated his disagreement with the notion of having a standby motion. By the way, Council Member Cecil Leonard has a motion on the floor to disapprove the standby.
7:57 p.m.
Leonard, Lambert, and Roderick voted to disapprove the standby. Bollin and Durfee voted not to disapprove. Costa abstained. Motion to disapprove carried.
8:09 p.m.
A representative of the local Economic Development Commission gave a quick summary of what they’ll be talking about at their event tomorrow night (at the new Family Ties restaurant) featuring state Economic Development head Keith Stokes. I’d like to know why they would schedule an event on the same night as a School Committee meeting. Guess I’ll have to CC Mr. Stokes in my note to D’Souza.
8:22 p.m.
Laura Epke is now seeking guidance on how much economic feasibility should be a factor in her committee’s recommendations about what to do with various town properties.
8:36 p.m.
Town Administrator Jim Goncalo is requesting renewal of some town officers contracts with “no cost impact” until June 2011, which (Jim O’Dell asked to be clarified) means no increase in salaries or benefits, unless the town chooses to give them.
8:49 p.m.
The request was unanimously continued to the next meeting in order to make sure they get the legal stuff right.
8:58 p.m.
TCC President Dave Nelson is mentioning the proposed tax increase form that Town Administrator Goncalo changed a form to send to the state to “ask for information.” Bollin, Durfee, and Goncalo have all behaved as if it’s no big deal that the town administrator is sending official documents that are false and not noted as false or “for illustration purposes,” because it was in the context of a cover letter that explains its purpose.
I pointed out that the cover letter called the false document “the ‘Notice of Proposed Tax Rate Change.’” The Town Council had never seen that document. How can there be no outrage on the council over that?
Rob Coulter has been expanding the argument and Goncalo has promised “to find out who put that form on the Internet.” So now what? A witch hunt for the person who disclosed a secret document going to the state?
9:28 p.m.
Lambert made the excellent point that it is absolutely clear that the town council is asking for a waiver without asking for a waiver in order to avoid a 4/5 vote before the FTM.
Hannibal Costa then declared that the item wasn’t on the agenda (it was) and Bollin forthwith ended the meeting… no vote, no further opportunity to talk.
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