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Tiverton council approves appointments, DPW truck purchase and other measures; full list of votes
Summary
Councilors approved reappointments and new members to multiple local boards, authorized purchase of a DPW truck, and approved several administrative items. This article lists motions and outcomes from the July 28 meeting.
At its July 28 meeting, the Tiverton Town Council took a series of procedural and administrative actions, including appointing members to boards and authorizing a municipal vehicle purchase. The council also authorized the administrator to pursue potential USDA grants and approved an increase in town-paid life-insurance coverage for two town officers.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda: Adopted as amended (consent agenda minus C1). Motion to accept consent agenda passed; no recorded opposition.
- Planning Board appointments and reappointments: The council reappointed Stuart Hardy (term to 07/15/2028) and Janice Gomes (term to 07/15/2028). The council appointed Adam Raposa (term to 07/15/2028) and Alan Myers (term to 07/15/2026). A waiver of policy to consider applicants out of sequence was approved before appointing Raposa and Myers.
- Zoning Board reappointments: George El Zabeck reappointed (term to 07/15/2030); Edwin K. Schober Jr. reappointed as first alternate (term to 07/15/2026).
- Economic Development Commission: Renee Jones reappointed (term to 07/15/2029). Vote recorded in the transcript showed a divided council (3–2 on voice vote reported as 3-2 in discussion); the motion carried.
- Harbor Commission: David Stewart and Charles Lawrence reappointed to terms ending 07/15/2027.
- DPW vehicle purchase: Council authorized the DPW director to purchase a Ford F-600 (or similar) dump truck with plow, lift gate and sander not to exceed $125,000 from capital fund 640. The council noted the equipment will replace older single-use trucks and improve year-round capability.
- USDA grant application: The council authorized the administrator to pursue USDA grant opportunities (matching grants) for DPW and police vehicles; any awarded grants would be brought back for council acceptance and appropriation.
- Life insurance coverage: Council authorized increasing town-paid life-insurance coverage for the town clerk and treasurer to $100,000, consistent with other department heads.
- Resolution regarding the Newport Hospital birthing center: A resolution opposing closure was approved by the council and recorded on the agenda (several councilors spoke in favor citing local births at the facility).
- Executive session: At the meeting’s end the council voted to enter executive session to discuss pending litigation and opioid litigation settlement authorization.
Most appointments were routine reappointments; several councilors praised volunteers’ service. The council urged staff to follow through on equipment procurement details and to bring any awarded grants or contracts back for final council approval. The meeting included extended public hearings earlier in the agenda (sound variance, Communication Drive abandonment, and open-burning amendment) that were handled separately.
