The Tiverton Town Council voted Monday, July 20, to send more than a dozen proposed charter amendments to the November ballot, following a lengthy public hearing that touched on council terms, appointed versus elected offices, and several town boards, according to the council's published meeting recording. Before the hearing began, the council also added an item to brief residents on PFAS contamination found in private wells on a residential street in town.
Well contamination update. The town administrator told the council that the town is working with the public water utility, the state health department and the state environmental agency to test private wells for PFAS, a group of chemicals linked to health risks. Residents in the affected area were urged to call the state agency for a no-cost water test, though the administrator cautioned that results take three to four weeks. Council member Deborah Janick asked what protection exists for residents living outside the mapped area; the administrator said anyone connected to the public water system is safe, and that the state is now expanding testing further. The town has also set up a water distribution point at a local fire station and is expediting related permits, officials said.
Charter amendments headed to voters. The council then opened a public hearing on a long list of proposed charter changes recommended by the town's Charter Review Commission. Votes were taken section by section, and most passed by voice vote to be placed on the November ballot:
- A change eliminating the requirement that the town put small, oddly shaped parcels of town land up for a public vote before selling them, unless the land is designated open space, recreation or conservation.
- A move to four-year, staggered council terms, replacing the current two-year terms. A resident who testified said doubling the length of council terms would reduce voters' chances to hold members accountable; Michael Janick, chair of the Charter Review Commission, said the change was meant to align council terms with the school committee and budget committee, which already use four-year terms.
- Making the town treasurer an appointed position rather than an elected one, effective after a transition period.
- Clarifying the town council's role in hiring a town administrator, after the Personnel Board chair, Jim Camara, told the council the board wants a consistent hiring process that keeps its screening role intact.
- Eliminating the elected budget committee, with council members noting the town could create some form of financial oversight committee in the future if voters reject the change.
- Making the town clerk an appointed position, which would allow someone who does not live in Tiverton to serve in the role.
- Adding a town planner as a required position, appointed by the town administrator for renewable three-year terms.
- Reducing the Planning Board from nine to seven members and having it work with the new town planner position.
- Updating Zoning Board of Review language to match state law and clarify how alternate members serve.
- Reducing the harbor and waters management commission from nine to seven members and staggering terms so no more than four expire in the same year.
- Updating Economic Development Commission language covering business recruitment and a public database of vacant commercial and industrial properties.
- Authorizing the sale of an unimproved, town-owned parcel of land at fair market value, tied to the land-transfer charter change.
Two items did not move forward as originally proposed. A proposal to remove hiring preference for volunteer firefighters was approved, then rescinded after further council discussion. And a recommendation to eliminate the Arts Commission was set aside after Michael Janick, speaking as a resident, argued there was no harm in leaving it in the charter for now; the council agreed to take no action, meaning the commission stays as is.
A proposed change to school committee leadership rules was held back entirely. A resident asked what problem the amendment was meant to solve; council member Burk said the language should be checked against how the school committee actually elects its officers before moving forward. The council voted to bring the item back with input from the school committee.
What's next. The charter questions approved Monday are expected to appear before Tiverton voters in November; the town clerk's office can provide the final ballot language once it is certified. The school committee charter item is expected to return to the council after further discussion with school committee leadership. The council also voted to enter closed session to discuss possibly reopening contract talks with the union representing certain town employees, whose current agreement runs through June 2027; no public action was taken on that item during the open portion of the meeting.