[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6518594,"mediaKeyId","5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8","parentId",5387742,"title","Tiverton council approves a range of personnel and capital items, and advertises cemetery ordinance amendment","audioSeconds",8217,"startMs",1007000,"endMs",9224000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8&start=1007&end=9224","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8/thumbnail_1007000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518594/Tiverton/Newport-County/Rhode-Island/Tiverton-council-approves-a-range-of-personnel-and-capital-items-and-advertises-cemetery-ordinance-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518594-d6383d87865fd3e9d4820e5ca16ff2c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149176&Signature=RVw7Cbllyik8xEbDv0r1r7YsnY2MTuOYCouoj6622MHBobhlYhA9ENySpnUJ-xqNxq0ORZUgWwZBOsvcSUubnPni-E9KQo2grWlz2PXWIF5YZwWMZiLIImk1T-AjUC0~r8gTE0MH1DPvToIAAZDWFHwxCOh9S5oI-NgDNzcxrR~H-jgd4U4PU22azzxI0~6~W8dJGT5BlrDmrbge4yXlnc-SdPWOuFjwd93JBtXokhyyqOe4~bV6tg6wnBVJloJ6p9eDWcFqJBLVrGnx3WZaRxLU~Bt-I9VwOZ1HOpKeFkCQhBJ~kqBhHN86cGH7CLLQaaqu81JwpZKG5zRzXqelFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tiverton","date","2025-07-15T14:17:58Z","article","At its meeting, the Tiverton Town Council approved a series of consent and action items covering community events, personnel ratifications and capital expenditures.

Community events and administrative ratifications
- The council approved two sound-variance requests for the group Singing Out Against Hunger: 2335 Main Road (Aug. 22 and Sept. 5, 2025, rain date Sept. 11) and for Coastal Roasters at 1791 Main Road (Aug. 17, 2025). Both variances were granted after brief public hearings and passed by voice vote.
- Administrator Jones asked the council to ratify a three-year contract renewal for Executive Assistant Mary Lou Sullivan and approve the related fiscal impact statement; the council approved the motion unanimously.
- The council approved the fiscal-impact item for Building Official Thomas (Tom) Verrata after confirming he had completed a probationary period.

Grants and equipment
- The council accepted a 2025 EMS Support grant of $9,550 to purchase three video GlideScope devices for emergency airway management; the acceptance was approved unanimously.

Town-hall renovation and capital purchases
- The council awarded a contract to Majestic for replacement and installation of flooring and carpeting in town offices, amending the previously approved amount to a not-to-exceed $65,000 of which $50,000 had been previously allocated from gaming revenue and the remainder proposed from capital account 640.
- The council authorized continued town hall exterior and interior improvements not to exceed $125,000 from capital account 640, including converting the existing planning-office space into a public conference room with updated technology.
- The council approved up to $30,000 from the capital account to purchase furniture tied to the town-hall renovation project.
- The council approved the purchase of a zero-turn lawnmower for DPW not to exceed $15,000 from capital account 640.

Other administrative items
- The council accepted the resignation of Planning Board and Harbor Commission member Steven Clark with regret.
- The council voted to advertise a proposed amendment to Chapter 26 (Cemeteries) regarding parking, as drafted by the town solicitor, so the proposal can be publicly noticed and received by the public ahead of a future hearing.

Each of the above votes was taken on the record at the meeting; most measures passed by voice vote and were described as unopposed or unanimous in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tiverton Town Council Meeting - July 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Tiverton Town Council approved sound variances for community events, ratified personnel items, accepted an EMS grant and authorized multiple town-hall renovation and capital purchases at its meeting, and instructed staff to advertise a cemetery ordinance amendment.","taxTitle","Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island","taxId",79581,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518600,"Tiverton ratifies new police chief and DPW director; both sworn in at council meeting",532,261000,793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8&start=261&end=793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8/thumbnail_261000.jpg","/articles/6518600/Tiverton/Newport-County/Rhode-Island/Tiverton-ratifies-new-police-chief-and-DPW-director-both-sworn-in-at-council-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518600-ded8f56808d7fb4cd418f42592f23186/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149176&Signature=ldbwecJ~qMivSeQkLLCms7yKM5cGheEdCAgv5gXssKbNfKDBpCl38LJ8c7pi92PCQB83GhXutZd8rPoqNoIkUx2esaxgHkVQIKxn003DOKvtISqPIxRpEcPcWjF2jMOHTXcpEJ5WenDAKB3bBVpX0LUq1Z1VSMEEvLw4Zhu6nfV4kCsr6Cy3UeDlWo1LqnoyrHl2nVHcXB4fT4jsYEWE5an3YtpdHNx1tJn-obDoyXoJKpR-QbEQTLKQzmJCCYhtIQuEF~c8CjElwwsL0eqsaMtGedYp5oEcIaOtjbMUwaIYMWTTJbuvO7cu9kqUhLGxjtlAluySJSWRFjUFy0p4Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tiverton Town Council unanimously ratified employment contracts and administered oaths of office Wednesday for James Costa as Tiverton police chief and David M. Sylvia Jr. as director of public works.

Town Administrator Jones recommended both appointments during the council meeting. Jones told the council Chief Costa has served the town for more than 32 years and “will serve the Tiverton Police Department with distinction.” The council moved to ratify that contract and, shortly afterward, administered the oath of office.

Jones introduced David M. Sylvia Jr. as the council’s choice to lead public works; Sylvia was described as a Tiverton resident with about 18 years’ experience with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and current engineering work with GZA. The council ratified his employment contract and administered the oath; Sylvia was introduced to the room and acknowledged by the administrator and councilors.

Both ratifications passed by voice vote with no members recorded as opposed. The meeting included brief ceremonial remarks and presentation of the chief’s badge following the oath.

","The Town Council unanimously ratified employment contracts and administered oaths of office for James Costa as police chief and David M. Sylvia Jr. as director of public works.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518603,"Tiverton council continues hearing on zoning change to allow construction-and-demolition processing facility after hours of public comment",4828,1432000,6260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8&start=1432&end=6260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8/thumbnail_1432000.jpg","/articles/6518603/Tiverton/Newport-County/Rhode-Island/Tiverton-council-continues-hearing-on-zoning-change-to-allow-construction-and-demolition-processing-facility-after-hours-of-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518603-dc18a519f1a4ba64a7513285c2e54cf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149176&Signature=Xi0znLM3OqpkyzrcgUhEfX-F-WPhikbZHx19BPIElieCSYoWL7ys1Ddg9MtHZq8mS1OH0EjwgE6ha8jA8GdSGV-pivWRUH6kXxwQJOzLW0FHtY6nqK9PN4e2wKhfqPmJSoVLmCtlWYlWV5sBzoRD03dJ2i8GXMH9gU4t0scBH-PTgOlXBI-pfQujt0uh5Qr48YNh3bPazji39d4Mzqi4xkAZkp4S8rFEV-M20xi7PDYYasCyhN-hjbs277WCgno3udD99RYzyOG9WXWcM94C0t4nr0JggGMDY7QYP~vht6pt5f~ZHhekKLPBr32JHDF0IOQR64tyWmbtYhJuTCBUGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tiverton Town Council on Monday opened a public hearing on a proposed zoning amendment that would allow construction-and-demolition (C&D) debris processing facilities in the town’s Planned Development Park, heard detailed testimony from the applicant and more than two dozen residents, then voted to continue the matter to Aug. 12 to allow further review and collection of technical information.

The applicant’s attorney described the proposed ordinance and the operational controls required by state regulation, while dozens of residents and local officials raised concerns about fire risk, odors, groundwater contamination and traffic. Councilor deMedeiros moved to continue the hearing to give the council and the public time to digest the testimony and additional materials; the council approved the continuance, amended to Aug. 12.

The attorney for the petitioner told the council the proposed ordinance would limit C&D processing to the business park and would require a special-use permit and review by the planning board before any facility could be built. He summarized regulatory safeguards that would apply under Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) rules and the draft local ordinance: operational plans, dust/odor/ vector controls, contingency and fire plans, closure plans and a closure bond, and mandatory water testing for the site even if state rules did not require it. He said the facility would not operate as a landfill and that RIDEM rules would limit on-site storage: 75% of materials received must be removed within six weeks and no material may be stored more than three months.

Residents who spoke described proximity to Stafford Pond, nearby schools and neighborhoods and a history of fires and nuisance at similar facilities elsewhere. Speakers described specific hazards residents believe could arise if a C&D facility were approved: hydrogen sulfide gas generation from certain piles, risk of self-heating and fires in large outdoor piles, asbestos and lead exposure from processing older building materials, long-lasting smoke events, stormwater and groundwater contamination, and increased heavy-truck traffic on roads they described as narrow and deteriorated. Several speakers urged the council to preserve the business park for lighter, higher-tax-generating uses called for in the town comprehensive plan and the planning board’s guidance.

The planning-board recommendation was mentioned: the planning board evaluated the petitioner’s ordinance and had earlier determined the amendment was consistent with the town comprehensive land-use plan, subject to site-level review. Councilors and residents repeatedly requested additional technical data, particularly hydrology and groundwater testing and demonstrable enforcement capacity from RIDEM and the town; multiple speakers noted RIDEM’s limited enforcement resources.

After roughly four hours of testimony the council voted to continue the public hearing to Aug. 12 to allow time for additional documentation and to ensure a full council quorum for the deliberation.

A continued hearing will allow the council to review water-quality and hydrology information, the planning board’s final implementation checklist, and any additional material the petitioner supplies. Until the council votes on the ordinance amendment, C&D processing remains prohibited in the Planned Development Park and any future facility would still require the planning-board special-use permit and other state approvals.

Votes at a glance: the council voted to continue the public hearing to Aug. 12 (motion carried; recorded vote: majority in favor; Councilor Burke opposed).

What’s next: the council’s Aug. 12 agenda will include the continuation of the public hearing and any supplemental reports the planning board, the petitioner or RIDEM provide.

","The council opened a public hearing on a proposed amendment to allow construction-and-demolition (C&D) debris processing facilities in the Tiverton Planned Development Park, heard hours of opposition and technical explanation, and voted to continue the hearing to Aug. 12 for more review and data.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518589,"Tiverton council tables proposed changes to open-burning rules after public health and enforcement debate",92,8264000,8356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8&start=8264&end=8356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387742-a6189c7a563c3ac7558d13649f58c5c8/thumbnail_8264000.jpg","/articles/6518589/Tiverton/Newport-County/Rhode-Island/Tiverton-council-tables-proposed-changes-to-open-burning-rules-after-public-health-and-enforcement-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518589-fd1a3644abd9fed62dc83898f0e365cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149176&Signature=bq-6PFZXpKm1wvEyEXlmalX-3FV3cIBAPiIwF4Y6cWWn2xp9QCHr4~N~d0NkEMWFhgk~VVnt9A20ieWh2ACuKpn6TFv~NY5HVUyvFnZ8w5hW0~IVlxvnuJCQApQpJHvaFxu-KahDH2zXvPRWq5YadNu1iO0UK7PZrWCCYbHAWKClNUsa71maQb-Q3TtIVzfPZ4uDSY1sc97cixD33KLetOpJZUKmH~MLUJAlsRoXN1zbEY7Bw9SbuPwonBaUMMVBTOxMfRpkOz8ZOi8dh2b1JH0UvZDlC8H90x75dvRUE8VmYDblLb3sC8XOgxcKYhtGVFjOZkzr3RlxunuZk7vbow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tiverton Town Council on Monday heard extended public comment and a fire-department briefing on a proposed revision to the town’s open-burning ordinance and agreed to table the matter for further drafting and public notice.

Councilor Camino introduced the item as a modification to the calendar dates that currently prohibit open burning. The proposal would have removed the existing seasonal prohibition and replaced it with a permit-based approach; council discussion and the fire marshal’s presentation led to adjustments being suggested in real time (for example, preserving a prohibition during the driest months and limiting daily permits).

Multiple residents urged the council not to expand burning during summer months, citing smoke-related health impacts (asthma and COPD), the nuisance of odors, and the reality that people sometimes burn without a permit. A written submission read into the record urged protection of residents’ right to breathe clean air and noted the limited municipal-court enforcement capacity in the past.

Tiverton Fire Marshal Dan Murphy briefed the council on what the department recommended: preserve a summer prohibition for the driest months (the working group suggested July and August), limit permits per day, set allowable hours, and add a minimum setback from property lines for permitted brush burning. Murphy also asked the council to remove arrest authority from the ordinance while the town instead pursues municipal-court fines and education; he said the department would continue to educate and respond to nuisance calls.

Councilors discussed options: advance the item as proposed and amend later, or table the draft to let the solicitor and department refine language. Given the number of substantive changes under consideration and public concern, the council voted to table the proposed ordinance and directed staff (the solicitor, the administrator and the fire department) to collaborate on revised language for re-advertisement.

The council did not change the current enforcement posture immediately; any new ordinance will require fresh advertisement and another public hearing.

","Councilor Camino’s proposed revision to the town’s open-burning ordinance prompted public questioning and technical discussion with the fire marshal; the council agreed to table the measure to allow staff to rework language and return with recommended amendments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tiverton council approves a range of personnel and capital items, and advertises cemetery ordinance amendment

Tiverton ratifies new police chief and DPW director; both sworn in at council meeting

Tiverton council continues hearing on zoning change to allow construction-and-demolition processing facility after hours of public comment

Tiverton council tables proposed changes to open-burning rules after public health and enforcement debate