To the editor:

There seems to be a lot of one sided rhetoric at Tiverton Council meetings these days,from councilors in the left seats (looking from the gallery) and the gallery.

Pure and simple, the councilors in the right seats are TTA members, Katz, Coulter, Cook and Driggs. Their top priorities are controlling taxes, transparent government and the town’s welfare. There are many of us who feel this a noble mission.

The squabbles in council chambers always seems be an “us against them” situation with the left side dissing the right side. Everyone is interested in a better Tiverton. Many good ideas abound and much good work has been done. I had a grandfather that always said “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” Because you don’t get your way doesn’t mean the other party is wrong. Just a different way of doing things and we know the old way didn’t work very well.

It’s time the people of Tiverton realize we are all working for the same thing, a better Tiverton. And petty quarrels are just an interruption, distraction and quite frankly a waste of time.

For example, a recent article in your newspaper described the CEO from Patriot Solar Energy wishing to lease unused acreage in the town industrial park suggesting the town could benefit by $250,000 to $400,000 per year by installing a solar array at no cost to the town. Zero!

What the paper didn’t mention is it was a TTA member that did the background work, arranging for a meeting and introducing him. And there are many other examples such as TTA leadership resulting in new police and firefighter contracts and working on a long term financial plan.

The TTA is looking out for the welfare of the town. In this situation seeing both sides of the cash flow equation benefits the citizens of Tiverton. And typically the right looks at both sides of issues thoughtfully. Just because they are doing business differently doesn’t mean they are doing things wrong. Let them do their job!

Ray Fougere

Tiverton