The Tiverton Town Council is proposing a Charter amendment that eliminates the Personnel Board from the process of hiring for seasonal, temporary and appointed persons, and gives this hiring process directly to the town administrator.

This amendment, if approved, would set the stage for potential abuse and the perception of irregularities in hiring.

The Tiverton Town Charter, Section 1007 (Personnel Board) gives the responsibility to the five-member (volunteer) Personnel Board for the reviewing and interviewing of all applicants regardless of whether they are full time, part-time or seasonal. The board was established to ensure a consistent, fair and equal opportunity for employment and to eliminate any perception of favoritism or influence in the hiring process for all positions.

The board has established a hiring process that is open to all who wish to apply for any position in town and is free from any undo influences of any kind. All applications are reviewed by the board in an open meeting. Those who meet the qualifications best as posted are then interviewed by the board. At the conclusion of the interview process, the board then forwards those applicants who are qualified and suitable for the position to the respective department head for consideration. At that point, the department head conducts second interviews and makes the selection of who to hire.

Having a consistent, transparent hiring procedure for all positions protects the town and council from any legal actions that could arise.

Vote 'no' on local question five, Personnel Board.

James Camara

Joy Gilkeson

Marguerite Rizzi

Eugene Raposa

Joanne Arruda

The signed are members of the Tiverton Personnel Board.