Adventures in Town Government
Some small-government types in Tiverton support an all-day referendum, instead of the financial town meeting, to handle the town’s budget on the grounds that it would give the average working citizen more opportunity to vote and would diminish the out-in-the-open pressure power of such vested interests as public-sector unions. While both of those points are…
According to a Matt Jerzyk post over at RI Future, apparently based on a statement coming from the Councilwoman herself, Paula McFarland is out as a potential Democratic candidate for Mayor of Cranston. Mr. Jerzyk speculates that this clears the way for state Representative Charlene Lima to seek the Democratic Mayoral endorsement. The Projo‘s weekly…
Perchance this is the news for which I’d been told to watch: At least three of Tiverton’s seven Town Council members won’t be seeking re-election in the fall, and one of them, John Edwards, is “seriously considering” running for the state representative seat that is expected to be vacated by District 70 Rep. Joseph N.…
A letter from locally known Tivertonian Richard Joslin in last Wednesday’s Sakonnet Times let’s slip a mild frame of mind that, when metastasized, generates oppression and tyranny. The implication of positing a “Real Tiverton” (i.e., citizens who would naturally support the town’s original budget proposal) is that everybody else can and must be overruled by…
A handful of items that are blogworthy, but not extensive, have been building up on my desk, so herewith, some quick hit thoughts: An objection was made, last week, to my mention of the exceedingly sparse Projo Jobs section that it was a holiday weekend and thus hardly representative. Well today’s Jobs section may (or…
The Newport Daily News has the most thorough explanation of the outcome of Tiverton’s Financial Town Meeting that I’ve seen: More than 800 voters packed Tiverton’s reconvened financial town meeting Wednesday night and approved a slightly amended budget of $41.7 million for fiscal 2009. Voters also approved a tax-levy override of $1.6 million, which will…
* An older woman was passing jibes to a group of teacher unionists across the aisle from her, and a guidance counselor whose name I’d have to look up, but who is very active and vocal with union matters, brought over one of the policemen on duty to chastise her. I didn’t hear any of…
Monique’s conversation with Matt Allen last night can be streamed by clicking here (or download). They mainly discussed financial town meetings, and Monique teased a very interesting post on state-level nepotism.
First off: if I am incorrect in any of the particulars that follow, please correct me. I’ve been playing catch-up, and I’m tired. Last week, a body of 437 Tiverton residents rejected a tax levy of $30,200,000, which exceeded the budget cap by about $2,000,000. Specifically, “by a vote of 255 in favor and 151…
Well, my first financial town meeting is about to begin. As if knowingly, the woman at the rapidly moving G-L registration line stamped my admittance arrow to the right. (Or perhaps it was a sly political statement from her perspective.) If you’re coming, wear your walking shoes: Of course, you get to go right by…