To the editor:

Almost weekly, there appear letters from members of the Tiverton Charter Review Commission (CRC) insinuating that the Town Council is attempting to “strip voter’s rights, block proposals from your elected charter commission, or silence the will of the voters, etc.”

The town charter is our principal governing document so it’s important that all of us understand how the charter is properly amended. The power and process to create and amend our charter is granted under Article XIII of the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island. This is why our charter specifically states that it may be amended “in the manner provided by the Constitution of the State”.

Under the constitution, when a community adopts a charter for the very first time, a charter commission is required. After that, to amend the charter, the “legislative body” now becomes the entity charged with the responsibility to determine the proposals to be placed in front of the voters on the ballot.

In Tiverton, the legislative body is the town council. While not required under the constitution, there may be a charter committee to assist the council, appointed or elected, such as ours. Whether appointed or elected, their role is the same, to assist the council by recommending revisions to the charter. Ultimately, the town council must take the proposals under consideration, solicit citizen input through required public hearings, and finally adopt proposals for voter approval at election time.

This process is not only laid out in the constitution, but has been reaffirmed by the R.I. Supreme Court and importantly, is the practice previously followed in Tiverton. In 2007-2008, when the prior Tiverton CRC presented its work to the council, some proposals were adopted, some were amended and adopted, and some the council declined to move forward to the ballot.

The current CRC’s insistence that they alone have been tasked with coming up with the final charter ballot proposals is incorrect, regardless of how many times it’s insinuated or demanded. To insist that the council simply rubber stamp their work is not only outside the constitutional process, it would be a terrible dereliction of the council’s duty and very unfair to all the citizens of Tiverton.

Another concern in the letters are repeated attacks on the council and others who have submitted ideas for consideration that that the CRC disagrees with. The CRC regularly highlights their open and participatory process yet continues to attack and make derogatory statements against anyone who ventures to submit something not to their liking. This makes a sham of “open and participatory” and hardly welcomes participation. Do we really need to be afraid of what are only ideas at this point?

To sincerely improve town government, I would suggest that an environment that welcomes everyone’s input, whether one agrees or not, in a respectful and polite way would be a fine place to start.

Patricia Hilton
Tiverton Town Council