Tiverton council approves preliminary budget framework, zoning advertisement and multiple routine items; schedules public hearing

The Tiverton Town Council on May 12 approved a preliminary budget framework that sets the town's target for school and municipal increases and directed staff to prepare a unified budget ordinance for public hearing. The council also approved the advertisement of proposed zoning amendments, a five-year lease for the municipal recycling center, and a string of routine licenses, appointments and municipal agreements.

The council's budget direction sets the school local appropriation increase at 3.5% and the municipal side at 3.4% (a combined levy change of about 3.43% in the council's preliminary calculations). Councilors asked the administration and treasurer to prepare the ordinance language and the formal materials for a public hearing to be scheduled after the town administrator and treasurer finalize calculations.

Councilors approved the town's municipal agreement with the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, a five-year $1-per-year lease for the municipal recycling center with Street Legal LLC (the lease will not be executed until the underlying property closing is complete), and an advertisement to solicit public comment on a set of proposed zoning code changes. The council also approved administrative items including the renewal of a private detective license, a special-event license for the Cycle for Life ride, and minor amendments to the town's boats-and-waterways mooring renewal process.

On personnel and appointments, the council appointed Cheryl Valentine to the planning board, appointed Steven Clark to the harbor commission as the planning-board representative, and instructed the town clerk to swear in seasonal community service officers for the summer program. The council approved emergency repairs and associated purchases for the town clerk's office and authorized the administrator to proceed with a furniture purchase for that office not to exceed $38,000.

The meeting included a contentious discussion about reimbursement to the Warren Police Department for equipment lost in a lateral transfer of an officer to Tiverton. Councilors declined to approve a reimbursement payment immediately; instead they directed the town administrator and police leadership to prepare an itemized list of equipment actually in Tiverton's possession and return with a recommended, capped reimbursement amount at a future meeting.

The council voted to prepare the preliminary unified budget ordinance and related resolutions based on the parameters discussed; the solicitor and administration will complete the ordinance text for a formal vote following the required publication and public hearing schedule.

Votes at a glance (selected actions): - Consent agenda: approved (no opposition). - Special event license, Cycle for Life ride (Sept. 20, 2025, rain date Sept. 21): approved. - Private detective license renewal (Charles Mulcahy): approved. - Amendment to mooring renewal date in the boats-and-waterways ordinance: approved after public hearing. - Appointments: Cheryl Valentine appointed to Planning Board; Steven Clark appointed to Harbor Commission; seasonal Community Service Officers sworn in: approved. - Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation municipal agreement (FY26 & FY27): approved; administrator/solicitor authorized to sign. - Motion to have administration prepare an itemized list and recommendation regarding reimbursement for equipment transferred from Warren Police Department: approved (direction to staff, not a payment authorization). - Emergency repairs for town clerk's office up to $7,000: authorized. - Purchase of clerk's office furniture up to $38,000: authorized. - Resolution in support of sidewalks maintenance (Res. 2025-0019): approved. - Appropriation from casino special revenue fund (Res. 2025-0020): approved. - Five-year lease for municipal recycling center with Street Legal LLC: approved (one abstention reported); execution contingent on property closing. - Authorization to advertise proposed zoning ordinance amendments (to go to public hearing): approved. - Motion directing solicitor/administration to draft the unified FY26 budget ordinance consistent with the council's direction (school +3.5%, municipal +3.4% with general-fund draw specified): approved (preliminary).

Council President John Edwards presided; the council met with all members present. The administration and treasurer will return with the formal documents needed for publication of the budget ordinance and the advertisement for the zoning amendments, and staff was instructed to return with the equipment-inventory/reimbursement recommendation concerning the Warren police transfer.