Gloria: Thanks for stepping up and getting involved. It's great to see people who passionate about our community.

No Gloria , i was the other half of the town that you that you just insulted, but thats ok, continue on, what will the school budget be next year with contracts being talked about now, will we close a school if the system needs more than we can afford? theres a smaller cap next year, will the nea settle under that cap? To caretown deeply about Tiverton you must care for all the residents, not just your side! Winner's? The FTR was the biggest winner who brought that about? Community? i believe that most folks were a little even on either side, was the smallest tax hike in years wasn't it, Still lots to do but for you and Brian trying to diamiss all the folks as mindless evil blind TCC followers is doing more to divide this town than heal it

oh and you and brian love to run out that THOUSANDS of dollars spent Don't you, ?

That's because it's FACTUAL, Jim. That's how you have a real discussion, unlike most of what you continue to say. Show me where I've EVER dismissed "all the folks as mindless evil blind TCC followers". You can't, because I didn't. So why did you say it? Does the truth even matter any more? This TCC-led Council had a prime opportunity to heal the town with this year's modest, reasonable Budget Cmte budget. And as usual, Mr Nelson, Mr Coulter & Co chose a self-serving political stunt that would bitterly divide the town further, win or lose. Spending all their time & energy, and yes, thousands of both taxpayer dollars & anonymously-contributed dollars, to "pay back"the schools & "get" the unions isn't leadership. Name a single thing TCC or this Council has done to "heal" Tiverton. It's pathetic. I'll continue to try to find common ground with anyone who has an sincere interest in doing so. This TCC-majority Council had its opportunity to make things better, and chose their own extreme, self-serving agenda instead. There are countless examples, and we'll be making sure people know about them & have the info necessary to make an informed decision about the kind of town, and leadership, they want come November.

If it facual Brian show me the proof? Can we legaly close a school? show me the proof? All the voter you voted for #2 were fooled by a political stunt?how me the proof? Those folks didn't believe what they went into a voting booth that the voted for something they didn't believe in? proff please? You want to heal this town? how about an open publc forum with the NEA budget commitee, the Tc and the voters all looking at things, that to me would be a great start, you up for that? New contracts and negoations shown online?? what are your feeling on that?

Thank you Brian and Gloria. There will always be people like JIm L who are going to be extreme and cause division but the rest of us can move move forward trying to reach the other 90% of Tiverton who believe in our community. And I agree Gloria good economic development would be a great start.

yes pat each other on the back, could i please get an answer to my questions, and how is good econmic devolpment going to happen if a tax rate of $1.39 was not approved then a school would close. i believe it all ties in together does it not, Hey i'll have nothing to say when you few stop saying everything is wrong in this town and it's all the TCC fault1 the last 10 years was the TDTC fault since they spent alot of time running things, gee lets elect them again, nice phrase there "people like me"Why would any developer even talk to the town council the way you just run them down?? oh how about my questions , yes there will always be people like me, i believe at the last town election over 2/3 of the town was people like me and why you try to still belittle them is something i don't understand just like answering my questions, i can do without a reply, just keep talking amogst yourselfs, that way you always like the answers, thanks on and for joan arruda as you know i am jim lipe so stop pretending

Gloria Crist writes
"I challenge the members of the TCC to pause for a just a minute and participate
in community. Care about more than just what is good for you. "

In my opinion the TCC members care very much about our town. Many of the members participate in various civic religious and political functions. They live here and enjoy local restaurants, use local shops and venders. Your statement shows you clearly don't know beans about the TCC. Acting like a vulgar critic helps nothing. People have different opinions . I believe we could cut 12 to 20 positions and save lots of money for books and computers. Chew on that.

There are hundreds of TCC members . To assume she knows all of them is arrogant in itself .

Gloria and Brian are clearly the type of people who don't give a hoot about Tiverton's citizens who can't afford endless and mindless tax hikes. The TCC was formed to help those very people and you two elitists spit in all their faces. I hope that the two of you someday find yourself on fixed or low income and new Tiverton tax hikes are like a knife in your hearts. Then maybe you will reflect on your selfish and insensitive castigations of those who tried to bring common sense to the table. I guess anything that Superintendent Rearick says is golden in your pea sized brains. You fools!

To say that Gloria and Brian don't give a hoot about people on fixed incomes is just as narrow-minded and bigoted as saying all TCC supporters hate the schools. But as long as Geek brought it up, I urge the TCC-majority council to expend eligibility for tax abatements for people who are struggling.

When this whole mess atarted it was about the fact that some students had no books to take home and other kids had no paper to preform on, that was a call for more school system accountability, how they spend the taxpayer money, that just got diluted into the whole , we must close a school/ not sports, it's almost like a kidnapped FTM again, for taxpayers in this town to question where their money is going and declare them anti community and anti school' id just switch and bait, to ask for the best effert you can get for your money is not anti school, it's asking for someone to hold up their end, not just come back again and again with their hand out again and still no answer about no paper and no books some want to hold the TC and the TCC to a higher standard than they would hold the school system, remember Brian and gloria let a sleeping dog li not a threat, just a thought
e

Geek:No pea size brain here, though I am sure there are some who wish I did then I would not have to think-for myself and for the well being of this community. I absolutely care about those on a fixed income-in fact our long time neighbors were born and raised here live on a fixed income-AND they get out to see ball games, soccer games and school events.They support this community and continue to stay involved with current events.They were keen enough to know the multiple postcards they received claiming taxes were going up 22% was a bunch of "hooey".They watch the town meetings and know enough about what and who is transparent.They went here,their children went to school here and their grandchildren go to school here-so they understand the value a school system has on a community. If you think the TCC is looking out for those in Tiverton on a fixed income-you are being mislead.I don't claim to know all the members of the TCC-it would not interest me to do so. I reference my statements to those in the TCC who push their personal agenda at the risk of other people who live here. I base my opinion on what I have personally witnessed and researched. And with all due respect-I know what it is like to make ends meet. It never gets in the way of what is just and right for the good of others. Tiverton is a community and not a kingdom. We all live here and some of us are trying to find ways to thrive and make this town a better place.

Gloria: I appreciate your point of view, but you are living in a place called La La Land. I am not a member of TCC, but they, like so many other taxpayer groups, formed because they had enough of the double digit tax hikes year after year as each Department, particularly the school, demanded more and more money from the taxpayers no matter what the economic conditions were. If the TCC is not in the camp of people on fixed or low income, and it is not there to keep the taxes low, then you tell me what their agenda is. And don't give me all that "community" stuff and things like "It never gets in the way of what is just and right for the good of others." You sound like a socialist and it is people who think like you do who have brought Tiverton and the state of Rhode Island to its financial knees. Just because you feel something is right and just doesn't make it affordable. Get real.

Who's watching the viewers>/? thank yoi for another false name post, are you Brian? Goria? the NEA? Tiverton tdtc, till you someone starts owning up i believe you like to forward your own arguements

OHH brian once again you duck the questions i have asked of you, i was not me who spoke of no paper, no text books, but that was just turned into closing a school , slight over kill, time will tell as always, i got no problem waiting for that, raises and all comimg up with a legal cap, time will tell, what goes around comes around, always has always will

What difference does it make whether a writer uses a real name or a pen name? The best comments come from those who do not have to fear being attacked outside of this venue. And who appointed you the watch dog, Jim L?

I did geek someones got to challege non true statement but as my dad said " son never argue with skunks you both end up smelling so brian it's all yours till something important comes up or you and your friends run for office, see ya

Typical. You cannot impugn what I say, so instead you impugn me. You make the better politician because you are good at changing the subject.

It's funny when people don't have the fortitude to post under their own name. They insult people then claim they use a false name for protection from retaliation . If you come on this site and comment using insults with a fake name, you haven't furthered the discussion . Your comments are disregarded as are posters like "Just another Shill " or " BD ". Geek you could be a Shill for all we know. Man up and use your real name. No one is going to throw rocks at your house .

Since you have brought me into to it, please allow me to comment. I been admiring a classic TCC strategy; when Brian (or anyone else) rebuts your foolishness with facts you change the subject. Take a look at the posts by JimL and Joe and ask yourself what ideas and insights have been offered to to move the town forward. Then look at Brian and Gloria's posts and ask who's dealing in reality and facts and moving ahead. I've also noticed fan favorite Atty. Fred Floon (conspicuously quiet since the whooping) wasn't singled out by you, I call shenanigans!

Don't waste your breath !

SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE, sports and afterschool progarms will end, well # 1 passed and now the only thing that changed is that 8 teachers lay off notices were taken back, and now the school system mentios that they would like to buy a van for the smaller sports to haul kids around?Really? again it's all about the kids right

Jim L, with all of the positive things that are happening at our schools, why do you feel the need to constantly attack them with half-truths and unsubstantiated rumors.

I never saw that teachers would be recalled, I really don't care, i care tha the message was we will have to close a school, there will be no sports, no after school activaties, , not that 8 teachers would be recalled and now talk of maybe buying a van for the smaller sports team, this is/was all things i read in last nights paper, so tell me of half truths and rumors if you would, So i ask if #2 passed would the student lost all sports and would a school close and would the teachers not have been hired back? i think thats an honest question and deserves an honest answer!

Jim L, the School Committee and Superintendent were very clear that one of the options(closing an elementary school or eliminating extracurricular activities would have been acted on. I would assume that some of these teachers may not have been recalled but then again I could be mistaken. Once again, I recommend you contact the Superintendent or members of the School Committee if you have any other questions regarding the school department's budget.

Brian no place did i see that money would be used to rehire teachers< that sinple, all i saw was a school will close OR all sports and after schools will end, are you telling me that someplace in all this it was said money was needed for jobs, i never saw it, just show me where you or anyone please in all the back and forth NEVER did i see that mentioned so just show me

Jim L are you going to contact the people who can provide you with an answer or are you going to continue to complain about various issues relating and in many cases unrelated to the school department?

Brian , my point here is that the school dept, handed out these notices not the budget commitee, but then they went to the A. one school my close B. all sports and after school activies will be withdrawn, that a tough choice to face i think, (ever if they want a van and a driver and the gas and the insurance) But I didn't see anywhere in any statements that teachers would not be recalled, no where was this stated, and as you say they are not new hires, they are already working, who pointed this out in the back and forth? no one! I am sure that some folks in this town just voted for #1 just to save our schools and activity's, not to save payroll cut's the superintend thought the system could handle, that's all that it, just something to remember the next time we hear close a school, all sports will stop, or the next time kids get called to a meeting to be told sports may be gone, to me decieving at its best and to be remembered

Jim you said they never told us they were going to rehire teachers. They said they would have to close a school did you think they would close the school and keep the teachers on the payroll doing nothing? then you said they never said they would rehire teachers with the money did you think they would keep the school open with no teachers because they already laid them off. You make no sense. I can tell by your incoherant rants that education was never very important to you. Had the town been mandated by the state to fund special education when you went to school maybe you would have had a better education I am sorry for that but why deprive an education to our children just because you didn't get one.

Brian this is just 2 different views, thats all just wanted to get mine in, shill i would answer you but make no sence, laying off 8 teachers closes a school ? they had planned that? thats a laugh? thank for the support for decorum on here Brian, we both agree on that, I'm done with schools for this year, now to zoneing

Jim, this is more than just two different views. This thread had been silent for 5 days until you decided to use it to launch another misleading attack against the schools, introducing information that was not addressed in this letter until you brought it up. Also, it's clear that you have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to state law and layoff notices. Where did you get information about a new van? The voters have spoken. The schools have a budget that they must abide by. Why can't you respect that? Better yet, why can't you bring yourself to acknowledge the great accomplishments by our students? This is why people look at you and others as school haters.

I know the law and why they are trying to change it, what misleading about just finding out 8 teachers would be retained, good I'm just saying that this LITTLE fact didnit appear anwhere till it was in the news paper, also in the paper was a statement that it was 2 costly to use a regular bus for smaller sports and perhaps the school should buy one Both of these were in the paperm so how was i misleading, agian a school will close or sports will , thats all thats said. the reason i'm on here now because the point of teachers having to be layed off was never mentioned, as i said i found it deceptive, all you have to do is read the paper ya know. thats all, you guys can have the final word, i print what i think

Jim: TD is right. This isn't just two different views. It's the truth on one side, and you spinning conspiracy theories on the other. You're entitle to your own opinion, but not your own facts. You're still repeating the same misinformation you did the last few times. Just because you didn't happen to see or hear the repeated explanations of the superintendent (including on Patch) doesn't mean they weren't said repeatedly. Just because you don't seem to understand, or want to accept the facts, doesn't make them any less true. Here it is in caps: NO TEACHERS WERE LAID OFF AND REHIRED. And although the need to lay off teachers if budget 2 passed WAS mentioned by the sup't, the layoff-notice process has been in place for years & was not directly related to the FTR. It's not deceptive just because you don't even try to understand it. It gets boring correcting this stuff over & over, but the days of leaving misinformation out there unanswered are over.

Who paid for the TCC signs?

When is the Town Council going to discuss adjusting the 2012-13 budget?

The TCC paid! who paid for the handbills printed with a school logo and school colors, honest question, someone one just said questions would be answered i have asked that more than once all i hear is silence of course i will now be jumped on because you folks kept it up, you think because there's not a lot of chatter on here folks are reading this? the more you comment the more i will reply both sides did wrong here , but for some on here to hold up their hands and say, see i'm clean is a joke

Jim L,why aren't you interested in who actually donated the money not only for the signs as well as the robo calls, and mailings that were sent out by the TCC? Why doesn't Mr. Nelson release the names of his donors? I did not realize that posting political signs in Tiverton is illegal. Maybe somebody should tell Mr. Nelson?

Hey Lipe, before I start with my question, are you Lipe Senior, or Lipe Jr?

Where did the TCC get the money to pay for the signs, the robocalls, and the mailings?

Jim: Unfortunately, Rep Jay Edwards bill that would have closed the loophole that allows political groups to raise funds anonymously hasn't become law. TCC vehemently opposed that law, & has exploited that loophole to raise & spend thousands in anonymous donations on robocalls, mailers, etc. For an organization that advertises itself as supporting "transparent government", this is blatantly hypocritical. Transparency means transparency for everyone, so either TCC needs to reveal its donors or stop claiming "transparency" as a guiding principle. I have no idea who was involved with what signs. Individuals are allowed to create & display political signs. If TCC has its way, none of us will ever know who paid for what. So much for "transparency".

Jim L, I am still waiting for you to answer my question; Why doesn't Mr. Nelson release the names of his donors?

again follow your own advise ask him, he might talk to you I,m sure Mr rearick won't talk to me

Jim, why can't you acknowledge that our schools and their students do some really great things?

Dad great things happen in the school everyday, the teachers are great, i agree , thats all well and good, how do you know that the support #2 signs were not paid for the same way dad? You seem to have some Knowledge of this but do you offer proof? off course i will get Where's Mr Nelsons proof, and i will say again hurray 8 teachers kept their jobs good great smaller classes , good, got no problem with that , I don't thing The tactic's used to support #1 happen to meation that again all i saw was saw a school save after school programs, if you don't agree fine, okay, i was even good this i also saw "hey lets buy a van" how you feel about that i ask

Jim, I never asked where the TCC signs came from, so you're barking up the wrong tree. I was merely offering information that I had heard second hand in response to your question.

Which of the schools' accomplishments do you think are most noteworthy, Jim?

dad well the fact that fort barton is top rated and ranger and pocasett not far behind, the mural, the kids going on to college, the 365 out of school suspensions, the girl who painted the little league building, lots of things dad, i pay arrention, also the no textbooks to take home, no paper for school work, those are all wonderful things t aren't they, well except for a few kids that didn't get what they needed, but it's all good

Why should i contact the super, JAT you have my express permission in writng if you wish to discuss mine and his relationship, are i will be more then ready to have a public talk any time, just need his permission, so as i say take your own advice you want an naswer from someone call that someone? oh wait you can't, your not real, dismissed The last thing he wants is me in a room

Jim: That's classic. TCC is afraid that if Rep Edwards' bill passed, it would have to "open up its books"--oh no! What exactly is TCC hiding? That's the whole point of "transparency". And it wouldn't just affect TCC, but any group raising & spending money on a referendum. I support that kind of transparency, while you & TCC just use it as a slogan while fighting to keep your contributors secret. All it does is open this TCC-led Council up to questions about selling influence to contributors. And I never said TCC stopped the transparency bill, only that they opposed it, which they did. And CURB doesn't raise or spend money, so don't try to equate our grassroots effort with TCC's anonymous fundraising. This is just one of many areas where TCC exploits taxpayer concerns to promote its own agenda, saying one thing while doing another.

Fisrt edwards bill was never gonna pass, so again who spent all the money on #1 , that doesn't concern you at all does it , like i say you keep harping on transparency for just one side, selling influece to contributers? show me the money brian, give me the exploit, i myself have never given the tcc a dime , saying one thing and doing another> like save your vote! by giving it up? save our community, by making the budget about closing a school or saving sports? your reply's are classic always the same with no answers just TCC! TCC! TCC! not tacpayers just stop the TCC, good luck, are you going to run a slate that say's give more to the school to misspend or put in surplus, oh they already did that, i guess who ever puts up anybody in this town won't have their own aganda huh , Can't wait to see that platform, should be real good, , and again i think you played a card from the bottom of the deck and you don't like to hear it, thanks goodnite

Sorry, Jim, but you can't deflect the issue that easily. Whether Rep Edwards' bill was likely to pass or not, if TCC cared about transparency, they'd have backed it, not opposed it. They already need to take the "fiscal responsibility" line off the TCC masthead after that irresponsible budget proposal; looks like "transparent government" doesn't apply, either. FACT: TCC solicits & accepts thousands in anonymous contributions to pay for robocalls. This leads to questions about what out-of-town contributors get in return. And you want to try to change the subject to which private citizen paid for a sign or a flyer? Give me a break. I can tell you I didn't have anything to do with either, but it's too bad we don't a law that would allow us to know everyone on any side of an issue who contributed funds. You can make all the baseless accusations you want. But everyone in Tiverton knows they received robocalls & repeated mailers from only one special-interest group trying to push their political agenda, and that was TCC. And I'll make you a deal: when TCC stops trying to force their political agenda on the town, & destroy our schools & community in the process, I'll stop pointing it out. Until then, it's good to have these discussions. Good night to you as well.

Brian: Could you please explain TCC's agenda since you talk as though you really know. Are you going to give me something like the Democrat talking points where Republicans supposedly want dirty air, they want dirty water, they want old people to starve, etc.? You keep referring to the TCC's "political agenda" without saying what it is. What is it?

that would be the transparency of "save our schools" with the robo calls and thousands of dollars spent on robo calls, you always seem to forget that all but 163 voters agreed with a so called political agenda, , last time i checked this was america, about the only way you could force an agenda on anyone would be mob rule , with one side flooding the room to get what they want(hmm that sounds like something in town past?) Since we now have a private vote FTR, something you fought very hard to defeat , i think maybe you don't realy like the new system or the folks who gave it to us, Now i know your gonna say i did this and that, good! But the so called TCC got it done, I myself vote the person, not a card, a handout, please tell me all the members of the TCC it.s about half the town so take your time, Also as we know Mr Edwards bill got nowhere, of course the TCC disliked it, because he stated it was direct straight at the TCC, seems he doesn't care for all the like mind voters that like some off the things they do, just imagine a bill making the tiverton nea or tdtc open their books? right thats going far, And again $ 600,000.00 surplus, no books, no paper, nothing about teachers, nothing at all, about teachers nothing about hating schools, just misspent money with a large surplus, you can use your crayon to color the way you want brian, and i get to use a different color, it's that simple

So you think if the TCC had backed Mr Edwards bill it would have pasted, just slid by all the closed books of the other pacs and unions in this state? in what world brian?You should give up that theme, it's not going to fly,

Mr. Edwards is a typical liberal with empty arguments. When he can't out-argue the opposition, he tries to shut down the opposition. People join clubs and organizations because they agree with what the philosophies and positions. They are not bad people. Mr. Edwards' bill would have exposed them and portrayed them as bad people. That was the purpose and it was rightfully defeated. Jim L brings up a good point: What would the NEA, TDTC, unions, etc. think if all the membership names were published? You know damn well they woujldn't, so why should the TCC reveal its membership or donors?

And what's with the school closing, no sports, no books, the sky is falling, etc.? If I have the gross numbers right, the school wanted a 3.7% increase over $26.9-Million. The TCC budget offered a 1.5% increase. How can that be a cut? The difference - 2.2% - is enough to close a school? BS! Too many people like Brian have drank the Rearick Kool-Ade for far too long. They can no longer reason things out.

Geek: That's an incredible argument: to have transparency & accountability in election financing is to "expose"people & "portray them as bad people". So we should apparently get rid of ALL campaign finance disclosure laws? Why is it okay for contributors to a candidate to be "exposed", but not those to a political-action committee raising & spending thousands on a referendum? Whether or not Rep Edwards bill was the best or only way to get there, it would have brought transparency to political contributions, on ALL sides, & I support that. TCC has a right to oppose it, but not to then claim to be an advocate of "transparency in government". Simple as that. As far as the schools, you use the TCC tactic of grabbing a number, taking it out of all context, and saying it means something it doesn't. Unlike the totally unvetted & unexplained TCC budget, both the School Cmte & Budget Cmte fully vetted the school budget & determined the amount needed to maintain services. The School Cmte were forthright in telling voters the consequences of Mr Nelson's budget, and yes, to make up a $600K shortfall would require closing a school or eliminating all extracurriculars. As far as drinking Kool-Aid, you claim the TCC budget would have been sufficient to fund schools based on what? Mr Nelson's sole explanation was he felt it was enough. You go with Mr Nelson's feelings. I'll back the School Cmte, Budget Cmte & professionals who actually did the work to know what they're talking about.

The last time I checked, the TCC wasn't government. Just because a few of their members are on the town council doesn't make them government. They are a private organization and they don't have to disclose anything. But what the town council and school committee do must be public because they are government organizations. That's why there's an Open Meetings Law. It applies to them, but not to the TCC. If the TCC wants to keep secrets, that's their right. Who their members are is none of your business.

Which school runs on $600K per year? Is that the one that would have to close?

Geek, Unlike your pseudonym suggests, you obviously didn't do any research before you bashed the election law Rep Edwards put in. If you had read it, you would understand that it doesn't require groups to disclose their members, just their donors. If you can't understand why that might be important, then you obviously are a member of the TCC who wants to hide their contributors at all costs. How much money did jerry the fleece give the TCC hypocrites to put forward his wind farm proposal? How much money did they get from out of town sources?
You're correct, Geek, that they are not the government, but they currently control the majority of the TC so they need to be transparent.
BTW, I will gladly trade reps any time; mine is totally useless, doesn't even go most of the time now- That's great representation.

Dear Gerry: The Federal Elections Commission has a threshold of $250 per calendar year where a group or individual contributor making independent contributions must be reported by a political party or a candidate running for office in an election. I doubt that the TCC has very many contributors who exceed that threshold. Check it out:

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/ie_brochure.pdf

Our state's board of elections would like to gain control of groups like the TCC. It's their way of squashing activist groups and freedom of expression. So they used Rep Edwards as a political hack to get it done. He didn't get it done. Their rule is $100 of independent expenditures. Exceed that, and the organization has to report it. So does the politician or political party who received it. If the TCC did not do that, then they are at fault. But if the TCC reports it, they don't have to say who provided the funds to them. This is what Rep Edwards tried to crack with his ill-advised bill. This is supposed to be a free country. We don't need Big Brother laws from the likes of Rep Edwards. How much freedom are you willing to give up to liberals?

well brian , guess it would require closing a school(not Legal) and not retaining 8 teachers, is that the facts as you state it? you know this to be true?

pro fessionals ?give me a count on professional on the budget commitee! with the way the school runs out of or doesn't supply stuff give me the professionals on there? anti teachers NO you are being misleading at the best, edwards bill? just nonsence? Foright the budget comitte could have put out 2 propoals, one with keeping the schools open and our doing that AND Keeping they 8 teachers, an honest choice, but in their honest tranpareny they the forgot to tell the voters the link, and i never sais anything about members names being publisheds just the money they spent in each town and 4 what, have you forgotten that if your a teacher you join the union or you don't teach< have you forgotten that for years the union got a paid day a week on the taxpayers dime for them to do union business, while the taxpayer also paid for their sub, And you still hold up the all it's about the kids, talk about drinking the kool aid, BRIAN should the contract between the tiverton NEA be done in public? yes or no?none of your i did i think the TCC one word, can you do that< you know just a simple statement , i believe it called transparency on your part! batter up

Jim: Is it time for you to start attacking the Budget Cmte already? There is more financial experience & knowledge on our current Budget Cmte than in the whole of TCC. What's more, they actually follow the Charter & serve all the people, not just pushing their extremist agenda, like the TCC-led Council. Voters made their decision on who had credibility, & they picked the BC over the TCC. The rest of this is your usual stream-of-consciousness, half-understood talking point nonsense. I & others have explained the facts to you; just read above. As far as transparency in labor-contract negotiations, I'm all for it. There are legal & practical issues involved (otherwise, why isn't this Council negotiating in public?), but the more transparency the better. And that's why I made a first step in that direction by writing the Charter Amendment that requires details of contracts be disclosed before a vote can be taken. Your turn, Jim: what have you done to improve the situation? Complaining and spreading misinformation doesn't count.

Jim L, regarding contracts, the TCC led Town Council has only negotiated one and that was with the Public Work's union which cost $88,000 for 10 employees. Too bad this contract was negotiated in public.

JIML, I have kids in two different schools in Tiverton. They have never gone without paper and books. What is your source of information for the supposed shortage of these items?

Brian please just answer the question, tivertondad you were on here when the no paper no books were brought up and not by me, so just stop the bull, oh guess what guys, it's not about the school's about the taxes and wasted money, Dad do you teach in portsmouth?

Brian , haveing read all your posts on here your getting to be pretty funny, little long but good, so now what i asked is will teacher contract talks be public this year? how you got that into the TCC , and the budget commitee i have no idea, so please just answer , thanks

Jim, yes some folks came on here claiming they didn't have enough paper. I don't remember anything about books, nor do I know who those people were. I'm not saying they're lying, but in my experience that has never been an issue. So I ask again, what is your evidence of no books and paper?

I will answer your second question only to make a point. No, I do not teach in Portsmouth. Nor do I belong to any teachers' union or any other union for that matter. I'm just a dad who believes in education as vital to my kids' future. I believe that Tiverton provides a quality education and I'm proud to pay my taxes to support that education, just as I am proud to pay taxes that support the services that you take advantage of. That, Jim, is one meaning of community.

JIML, do you suspect everyone who supports the schools of being a member of a union? Why did you ask me if I was a teacher?

Jim L. you wrote "yes 8800 per man, who fix stuff all over town, plow the stretts clear the drain make sure the roads are safe, why's that a problem, oh the TCC did it i forgot." The "problem" is not that these employees received raises, but with the TCC's claim they are about controlling spending in Town. The TCC wants teachers to take a pay cut while the TCC led majority on the Town Council is giving out raises. This is another fine example of "TCC Hypocrisy." Jim, the fact that you support this type of behavior is your right but at least acknowledge what they are doing.

It seems to me there is a very basic divide between people like JimL and the people on this thread who have been answering his many and repetitive questions. The latter group believes that the community--the entire community--comes first. I have never voted on a budget at any FTM or the FTR that underfunds services to one segment of the community or another, whether I use those services or not. By contrast the TCC continually supports budgets that endanger or eliminate vital town services including visiting nurse services, fire protection for 1/3 of the town, or education. I'm sure others can add to this list. If they want to slice and dice the town based on their preferences, I guess that's their right. But this is not "community first," and it's not the type of values that this town has supported, whether at an FTM or the FTR.

Question #1 Will the contracts between the Tiverton NEA and the school comittee be in public and/or unline like they were, if not why not?
#2 It was brought up the THE TCC , not the entire council did the contract for 10 employees behind closed doors and thia is said to be a point of TCC transpareny, But the brian says by law and contract the town employee contracte are not open to the public! Which is it?

#3Just how many of the Town council are TCC members and how do they control the council?

Now my a have answers to these questions? Not When i was or i did that, just straight up answers please

Jim, no union will ever agree to open negotiation . Since both parties have to agree to those terms ,it is improbable .
The best thing for people to do is write the school committee, or attend a meeting. Remind the GIMME GIMME union negotiators the town just upped the contribution for there benefit package. In my world that's an increase in the compensation package we offer our employees.

the school comittee a few years ago, posted all the back and forh between the Tiverton NEA and the town , this ended many union deals that took adavantage of taxpayer money, so why would we go back to a gift giiving sysstem

Brian ? my answers?

Brian the last time the contract terms were put online the TCC didn't even exist so how do you manage to get them into this, i think your hatrad of the TCC and the FTR is coming thru

Jim L. once again you are wrong. The School Department posted contract information on their website during the last round of negotiations which I believe was back in 2010. I believe the TCC was around two years ago.

i believe you are mistaken,but what does the tcc have to do with school contracts/ are you saying their running the schools now?

Jim, they have now painted you as the voice for the TCC. Not that it's a bad thing. Fighting to bring things back to the way they used to be is a fools errand . This Town still has a bad taste of the anti business councils, and the give a ways of the past. Much of the hardship this town faces was caused by them.

Joe I am confused. I thought you were the unofficial spokesperson for the TCC?

Jim: You may not be the TCC spokesperson, but you share the same fact-free, conspiracy-theory-riddled, divisive approach to town issues that TCC has brought to Tiverton. You are wrong yet again; the last time communications were made public during negotiations was 2009-10. It's a full time job correcting your comments. As far as hatred for TCC, you're completely wrong. As Harry Truman said when campaign crowds yelled "Give 'em hell, Harry": "I just tell the truth and they think it's hell." I may be fed up with the deceptive, divisive, community-destructive approach of TCC leadership, and I'll speak out against it, but I don't make it personal (which isn't always when people are spending thousands of dollars to decimate your child's schools). In fact, I respect views that differ from mine, if they're expressed honestly. And if the majority decides against me, so be it. But there's been no honest debate from TCC, just robocalls & hypocrisy & attacks. It won't go unanswered any more. But in the end, we're neighbors, & I'd welcome any effort to work together to move forward. This TCC leadership had that opportunity, and blew it. Time to make clear what TCC has done & tried to do, the consequences if they get their way, and why it's time to move forward without them. But hatred? No way.

Just Another Taxpayer I agree, your confused.

Jesus Brian jusy by your comment of "spending Thousands of dollars" shows how one sided you are? Really?you think thousands of dollars were spent to fool the taxpayers of tiverton to hold the line on the never ending, increaRES of property tax in this town this is not a school verses taxpayer issue , it an issue about the property tax increares driven buy the school budget! The entire school budget repairs! fuel! paper? sports? raises it's about the abllity of folks trying to pay for tax increares that just roll up every year For years the schools got handed what ever they wanted and bussiness was just driven or ignore by the town council, shall we just revert to that same system?teacher contracts will raise the tax rate again, fine but if the nea will not except a contract fair to the town, well thats just to bad, and don't give me that they are the lowest paid, it doesn't fly First i think we should all be told just what the NEA wants, and what the town can afford, UNDER the cap and stiil take care of citizens in this town, is that a problem for you? you may think i'm just one crazy voice, all alone on here< but i don't think so!!

Jim: Every resident of Tiverton who suffered through the endless robocalls & mailers know TCC tried to buy the FTR. And $1.39/week difference in taxes between the two budget proposals is your idea of "holding the line"? Enough people saw that TCC budget for what it was: a scam, taking needed funds for the schools, moving it to the TCC-controlled Council's control, increasing the municipal budget 4.6%, emptying the General Fund below legal requirements, relying on unspecified "new revenues", while decimating the schools. Even with thousands in robocalls, TCC couldn't sell that turkey. I don't think you're a crazy voice, just painfully uninformed & misinformed. You write these tirades, stating things you seem to believe are true, without a single fact to back them up. Your obsession with taxes & teachers, to the exclusion of all other factors & issues, leaves you shouting in the echo chamber, detached from reality. The reality is that if you want to cut taxes & budgets, you have to be willing to give up many of the services people depend on. To tell them you can maintain services while cutting budgets is dishonest, and people seem to have caught on to this. Taxes went up largely due to factors beyond our control (most that can be have been). Given a choice between community services or lower taxes, majorities chose community. Tell me a way to contain costs & taxes (without making public employees scapegoats or starting a war with unions as you advocate), and I'll be there.

Privatizing services, and pushing to end unfunded mandates. Two things we can do to lower Property taxes . Prop 2.5 works in Mass because the Mass Legislature funds education at that level. I've seldom seen an over ride of the cap in West port.
THIS STATE NEEDS AN ENEMA ! Till people take to the streets demanding a State budget that set priorities, and funds them we will see little change . Social programs, and wasteful spending, need to be cut to fund the Items Government was created for. Kicking the socialist liberals out of the Legislature is the only cure for this State.
Massachusetts unemployment rate 6.3
Rhode Island unemployment rate 11.2

This could be your best work yet, Joe! Holding Massachusetts out as the beacon of your "conservatism" is priceless.

JAT you are a prime example of a socialist liberal. You voted for " Obongo " didn't you ?
BD Prop 2.5 was voted in by the people . Voter Initiative in an option Mass voters have if their legislature steps over the line . Prop 2.5 works.
Like most anonymous posters you can't put your name or credentials behind your statements. I find this a lot with your kind.
Massachusetts unemployment rate 6.3
Rhode Island unemployment rate 11.2

Bob 2.5 is still the law ,and it's helping them.

We have the ability to vote them out if they don't listen. Check and balance. The RI legislature has refused to put Voter Initiative on the ballot . Most people don't grasp the value of it.
Tiverton has a Voter Initiative provision in it's charter . It allows citizens to make change using the ballot box . It can also be used to show public opinion. I wish we had it State wide.

Is President Obama's actual nickname 'Obongo' or is that just another conservative attempt to demean him ?
Is the KKK alive and well operating under the name Tea Party ?
These questions and more on the Rachel Maddow Show - msnbc.com
Where the libs get their talking points .

Larry Welsh wrote
" I'm very confused, Joe. " I guess the thought of Prop 2.5 in RI was too much for you . Calm down, you don't have call people bigots to detract from the facts. Prop 2.5 and voter initiative works well for Mass.

Brian Mederious Now that it's been confirmed that just another taxpayer did post calling me a racist what do you say now, i myself think it's just a little bit out of line for some named advocate of yours refering to me by that term. How can you defend him on that score? As i stated i had no idea why he would post that about me, or why you would think it okay for that term to be used by anyone against anyone on here. The Height of HYPOCRISY and practice what i preach?GO LOOK in the mirror Brian, and tho i have no love for the shill at least he knows wrong when he see's it and i thank you sirthanks for showing your true colors Mr Mederios, Tho you don't know him Norm franklin dismisses you and i do also RACIST??? Really

First you called me a racist, thanks that term shouldn't be used on anyone, you brian are just promoting what? I don't know? Having never met joe Sousa i don't know the basis of your remark, NOR do i wish to know . I have seen nothing on here to support your use of that term, on both points i have no need to discuus anything with youor Mr Mederios, That is nothing but a hatefull evil term to place on anyone, never mind on purpose or by mistake

Just Another Character Assassination
Character assassination is an attempt to tarnish a person's reputation. It may involve exaggeration, misleading half-truths, or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the targeted person. The tools of the left . Have they no shame?

Joe, why did you call the President of the United States, "Obongo"? This is a racist comment that you made.

Alright folks. Keep this up and the thread is shut down.

JimL, you have posted dozens of times on this thread. It's time now for you stop verbally tearing everyone and everything down and contribute something constructive. How would begin to fix Tiverton's problems? I/we don't need any grand answers, because there aren't any. But a few specific ideas from you would be refreshing and interesting.

Jim, I'm not getting into that, because it seems that some of the posts were deleted, Brian explained, and JAT apologized. Rather, I am trying to get this thread back on track, and since you're the horse that's been leading this cart, I'm challenging you to lend some positive input to the conversation. And saying, he did it first, doesn't cut it. We're not kids and this ain't the playground.

Jim: You falsely accusing me of defending someone calling you racist is as bad as someone falsely accusing you of being racist. You have a right to be upset, but you're aiming your anger in the wrong direction. It's sad that a discussion on town issues has devolved into this. As soon as someone lowers the discussion with namecalling, it tends to spiral downwards. So one person used a term someone else found racist. That person accuses the first person of being racist, but mistakenly types "Jim" instead of "Joe". Jim understandably gets upset, and goes after the one who called him racist. That person retracts his comment, and corrects it to say "Joe". I see that corrected comment, and question why Jim thought it was aimed at him. Jim then falsely claims that I defended someone inexplicably calling him racist. Wow. Democracy and free speech aren't always pretty. Maybe now we can get back to talking about issues?

Someone should tell Lipe and Lipe Jr to grow some thicker skin. I saw the original offensive post by Joe Sousa and the incorrect post by JAT. JAT deleted the incorrect comment. Lipe's offensive tirades which include personal attacks on the superintendent never seem to bother anyone. Especially when he implies mismanagement on the part of the schools. In fact some of the things Lipe has stated have been incorrect and I don't recall him ever saying sorry.

Jim L said: "...my dad if he was alive would come looking for you..."

This illustrates my earlier point about remaining anonymous to avoid personal confrontation and property destruction.

Jim: Don't get me wrong. You should never have been called a racist any more than Joe or whomever JAT called a racist. Calling somebody a racist for saying things that aren't really racist is the favorite game of liberals these days. It's their silver bullet that they are quick to fire whether deserved or not. Today, simply disagreeing with Obama is called racist. They can all go straight to hell and I don't care if they chose to stoop to playing the race card.

I am glad that you have taken exception to this. I would do the same. It's probably best that you do not know who JAT is; otherwise, somebody may end up being arrested.

you take the oath, you go where sent, ever mind, how did this even get to tiverton politics? no defence, no reason, just a total smear, beyond words