LIBRARY BOND & FTR CHARTER AMENDMENT APPROVED BY VOTERS

Both the bond for a new library & the FTR Charter Amendment were approved by the majority of voters on tonight's special election. Congratulations to both library supporters & FTR supporters.
For those disappointed by tonight's FTR outcome, keep in mind that this is one chapter in a much longer story. Reading the tea leaves to understand voters' decisions is always a dicey proposition. It's clear voters wanted to eliminate the Financial Town Meeting, and FTR supporters successfully persuaded a large majority that the FTR was a good alternative. It remains to be seen what voters will think of the FTR once it's in place, but I respect the right of the majority to decide, and tonight they chose the FTR. There will other important decisions before Tiverton voters in the next year, and I think making this town the best it can be for every resident is worth continuing to work for.
Thanks to everyone who got out to vote, talked with others in person or on Facebook, and took the time to learn about the issues. Even with the disappointing FTR result, I'm proud to have made the effort for what I thought (and still think) was best for Tiverton, and I'd do it again in a minute. And I'm proud to have stood with so many community-minded people in this effort. And I'm pleased to know that at least tonight assured we'll have a new library to meet the town's needs.
Keep the faith.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

POLL LOCATIONS / OPEN UNTIL 8pm TONIGHT

For anyone not sure of your voting location, go to this link to see a map of voting locations for today. The polls are open until 8pm tonight. Make your voice heard, and encourage others to do the same.
http://tivertonlibrary.org/library/?content_id=197

QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT THE FTR (QUESTION 2 ON TUESDAY'S BALLOT)

On Tuesday, Tiverton voters will be asked to consider making a major change in our system of government and adopt an FTR system to replace the Financial Town Meeting as the way we approve our budget and tax-levy. Before making this decision, there are some basic issues to consider.

Both the Sakonnet Times and Newport Daily News have analyzed the FTR plan and strongly urge voters to reject it. The FTR is also opposed by the School Committee, the long-time Chairman of the Budget Committee, and half of the original members of the committee formed to write the FTR plan. Does this sound like a proposal voters should have confidence in?

Under the FTR (and unlike the FTM), two Town Councilors could veto voters' decisions at the referendum if they disagree. When else do we allow politicians to overrule voters? Shouldn't voters be the ones overruling politicians? Does this sound like democracy?

Under the FTR (and unlike the FTM), voters will have no ability to vote "no" if all proposed budgets on the ballot are bad. And if there is only one budget proposed, we will pay to hold an "election" with only one choice and no way to reject it. Does this make any sense?

Under the FTR (and unlike the FTM), there could be a second "runoff" referendum two weeks later, where the top two votegetters on day one are the only ones on the ballot. Since the FTR allows unlimited budget proposals with just 50 signatures, the top votegetters may only have received 15% on day one. We would end up with a runoff between two choices that received only 15% of votes on day one, with no way to say no if both are bad. Does this preserve voters' rights to decide?

Under the FTR, there is no limit to how many budget proposals can be on the ballot, with just 50 signatures needed to put one on. Voters will need to understand the consequences of dozens (or more) of proposals for a $40 million budget. Does this sound quick or easy?

The Pro-FTR group and TCC have raised over $8000 to try to sell this FTR plan to voters as being good for Tiverton, including robo-calls. Yet in their recent postcard-mailer, they don't mention any of the FTR's supposed benefits for voters. They mention only the baseless claim that it will "control taxes", and a sinister plot of "insiders" who are trying to stop the FTR. Does this sound like a plan being pushed for our benefit, or theirs?

Neither the FTR Committee nor the Town Council ever bothered to contact the state agency charged with overseeing the legality of town budgets and tax-levies to see if the FTR plan would comply. That agency, OMF, has now made clear that they will review only the one official town budget, putting the legality of all other budget proposals on the ballot in question. Does it sound like due diligence was put into creating this FTR plan?

This FTR plan has never been tried anywhere else, and even its authors admit there are flaws that they claim can be "tweaked" later. Shouldn't a major change in our form of government be "tweaked" before being put before voters?

Tiverton voters have a history of taking changes to our Town Charter very seriously, especially ones that will broaden the powers of the Town Council over voters. Consider all the facts and questions about this FTR plan. Ask yourself: unless you fully understand it and its consequences and are certain it is in the best interests of Tiverton, does it make sense to make it law? And if you agree that the FTR will be far worse than the flawed FTM, please take the opportunity to inform others as to why it's so important to take the time to vote to preserve our democracy. A recent Charter Amendment was decided by only two votes, so every vote counts. Please make your voice heard on Tuesday.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

ON TUESDAY, REJECT QUESTION 2 (FTR)

On Tuesday, your vote will determine what we, as a community, want our town to be. I urge you, in the strongest possible language, to make time on Tuesday to vote against the proposed replacement for the Financial Town Meeting, the FTR.

If you think that anything would be better than the Financial Town Meeting, think again. The proposed FTR is a hugely complicated process that few (anyone?) can understand. It is not a straightforward, time-tested process; it is an experiment that no other city or town uses – a risky experiment that introduces many more problems than it solves.

It is up to you. Read the editorial and letters in the Sakonnet Times and Newport Daily News. Search “CURB Tiverton” online. I am confident that when you realize all the potential pitfalls you will agree with me that now is the time to vote No.

One last thought prompted by the latest news that our local “taxpayer” group just reported a pot of $8,000 to spend on persuading you to support their FTR. If you’re tired of the barrage of campaigning for Tuesday’s election, just think of the exponential increase in electioneering for the unlimited number of budgets that the FTR allows on a ballot. Multiply the letters, cards, signs and nastiness for Tuesday’s one ballot question by 5, 10, 50 or more and you get a sense of the FTR’s madness.

Make time to vote on Tuesday. Pass the message on to just five of your friends and together we can put a stop to this chaotic, divisive mess.

Vote NO to the FTR proposal ~ REJECT QUESTION #2

Laura Epke
Tiverton, RI

FTR PLAN SHOULD BE CALLED "LEAVE NO LAWYER BEHIND"

Imagine waking up the day after the Tiverton’s special election to find that the library bond was approved by voters. A week later, two members of the Town Council decide to subvert the will of the voters and veto the bond’s approval.

Sounds crazy, right? But a similar scenario will be possible if the FTR proposal (Question 2) is approved: two Councilors could veto the results of the budget referendum and overrule voters’decisions on the budget and tax-levy. Giving politicians the right to overrule voters is the key element of the FTR, and just one of many reasons to reject it on Tuesday.

FTR proponents now admit that this plan would give broad new powers to the Town Council, not just to veto the tax-levy, but to “reduce budgets” or raid the General Fund. In their view, it’s good for politicians to overrule voters. They now brag on yardsigns that the FTR is designed to “control taxes”, although the FTR is so poorly written there’s no way to know what will result. The one certainty is that it will result in a flood of lawsuits. The FTR should be called “Leave No Lawyer Behind”.

FTR proponents claim “struggling seniors” are their concern. The fact is that the TCC-majority Town Council could help struggling seniors and families at any time by expanding tax-abatements for low-income taxpayers. They won’t do it because then they would have to pay a bit more to make up the difference. They use struggling seniors as human shields to hide their real purpose: lower their own taxes at all costs.

Just this week we’ve learned that OMF, the state agency charged with approving town’s budgets and tax-levies, has made clear that it will review only the one, official town budget on the ballot. Any alternative budget that is approved will not be in compliance with state law. The FTR Committee and Town Council never even bothered to run this FTR plan by the state.

I’ve been the primary advocate for replacing the outdated Financial Town Meeting (FTM) for years. But this FTR proposal will be far worse. Tiverton deserves a fair, workable system, and any reasonable analysis makes clear that this isn’t it. It makes no sense to jump from an old, slowly-leaking boat, only to wind up on the Titanic.

Had the FTR been in place in 2008 & 2010, two Councilors could have overruled voters and forced $3.5 million in cuts in services. Instead of a town with intact services and a budget surplus this year, Tiverton would have been a crumbling basket-case.

If you agree that Tiverton deserves better, and that the will of voters should be respected, please vote to reject question 2 (the FTR).

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

NEWPORT DAILY NEWS: "VOTERS SHOULD REJECT" FTR

The Newport Daily News has also come out in opposition to the FTR, in another well-thought-out editorial. The takeaway: "As bad as the current system is, voters should reject this attempt to replace it".
Added to the Sakonnet Times editorial, it's clear that any reasonable, unbiased analysis will show that the FTR is worse than the FTM, & to quote the Daily News, Tiverton "voters deserve better than that".
Read the full editorial in the weekend edition of the Daily News. And let everyone you know about the danger of this FTR, & that BOTH local newspapers weighing-in have strongly opposed it as bad for Tiverton.

Brian Medeiros
TIverton, RI

STAND AND BE COUNTED

As a citizen of this town for 72 years, I have never witnessed such bad behavior, by some of our residents in my whole life. While I am not going to discuss the politics of Tiverton, I have to say that while the newspaper articles or television discussions have been interesting, they have been very disturbing to me at the same time.

There are some who have spoken or written comments over the past months or made insinuations about some of our citizens at one time or another by calling them thugs, liars, people who misrepresent the facts, cronies, slimy, sleazy, and lastly thieves! As a citizen of this town I beg to differ, and I am insulted as you all should be! Enough is enough ! We are not children but good and thoughtful adults who want what is best for Tiverton, nothing more, nothing less. Do we make it our responsibility to intimidate people at the meeting, absolutely not! There are some who like to hear themselves talk and go on too long but that's why we have a moderator who makes sure the meeting runs smoothly, and kept under control.

Two years ago, to make it easier for everyone, instead of an evening meeting during the week we changed it to a Saturday morning, because some thought it would bring in more people, and it seemed to, but now we are informed that Saturday is not a good day, because it keeps families from attending games or family functions'. My family and I came home early from a college graduation to make sure we made the meeting so we could vote. It's only1day out of 365 for maybe 4 hours,. I personally do not find it to be an inconvenience, but no matter what concessions we've made, it's not good enough, only because some factions want the meetings gone.

We are a diverse group from many different walks of life and educational backgrounds who are now living their lives here as did their parents and grandparents before them. As we all know the Financial Town Meeting is a Democratic process, a privilege, and it's our responsibility, to attend the meeting to hear the budget and taxes presentations, listen to all sides, then vote for what we believe is right for our families and our town. What is wrong with that ?

Some people believe the FTR is a good thing, and maybe for some it is, but not for me. I believe if we give up the Financial Town Meeting this piece of Democracy we now have will be gone forever. Your voices will be silent, and decisions will be made for you. I can't believe this is what some of you want, but in the long run it's your decision. Just don't be talked into something that you may regret in the years to come. You know the old saying, “ If it looks to good to be true, it probably is,” just give it a lot of thought please!

Don't give up on something that gives us, a right to be heard, a right to disagree, and a right to vote. Stand up, be proud ,and be counted.

Patricia A Curran
Tiverton, RI

SAKONNET TIMES EDITORIAL: "TOWN CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS UNTESTED FTR"

Tiverton's Special Election is this Tuesday (Nov. 8). It's crucial to spread the word to as many Tiverton voters as possible about Tuesday's election, & the many good reasons to approve question 1 (the new library) & reject question 2 (the FTR). TCC has raised over $8000 to fool voters that this FTR is a well-thought-out system, or will magically control taxes. We're counting on word of mouth, grassroots efforts, getting the facts out in the media & online, and of course having those who share our view show up at the polls on Tuesday.

The latest TCC postcard started arriving in mailboxes today. It drops all pretenses that the FTR is a good system, will increase turnout, will make things easier, etc. The only messages are that the FTR will "control taxes", and that there are shadowy unnamed "insiders" who are conspiring to stop the FTR (never mind that with a TCC-led Town Council, THEY are the insiders). Apparently this conspiracy now includes the Sakonnet Times, the School Committee, the long-time Budget Committee Chairman, half of the original FTR committee, and the State of RI, who dared remove illegally placed FTR yardsigns from state-owned land. It's the same old fear and smear tactics we've had to endure before, backed by all the tactics $8000 can buy.

For anyone looking for an unbiased analysis of why the FTR should be rejected for the good of Tiverton, or to persuade someone on the fence, read the editorial in this week's Sakonnet Times. It's well-thought-out review of this important question, concluding that "the town can do better than this untested FTR with its scattershot budget barrage." Please read the full editorial in this week's paper, or view it online at www.eastbayri.com (under "Opinion / Editorials"). And encourage everyone who may vote on Tuesday to do the same. Unlike TCC, we're not afraid of voters who have all the facts making up their own minds.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

WE ARE THE 99%: REJECT THE FTR

Over the next few days the onslaught of pros and cons on the FTR will surface as Nov. 8th gets closer. As an advocate for community, education, democracy and for majority, I encourage my friends and neighbors to look at the heart of what will happen if the FTR is passed.

Look past the power struggles, look past the nasty comments, look past the pseudonyms and threats, look past the over exaggerated numbers used to scare and alarm and look into the real heart of what is at stake if we, the majority give up our right to vote. If we, the 99% give up our voice to the 1%. If we, who care about programs and services that enrich, provide and educate is suddenly left up to a select few. Look past wanting to be "right". Look past wanting to "win". Look into what we will have to sacrifice if the very fiber of what holds a community together is ripped at the seams.

We are the 99% who care about how we grow. As a town, as a network, as a neighborhood, as a school, as a family, a sports team. We are the 99% who realize the current FTM is NOT the solution- but we are willing to find one that serves us better as we progress. We are the 99% who work, who struggle, who look out for one another, who care about our children, who understand the power of choice and voice. We are the 99% who may have disagreements with each other,but are willing to listen, who complain about taxes, who work two jobs, who stay at home, who tuck someone in at night, who teach compassion, science, math, art, history and what it means to stand up for what you believe in. We put out fires, rescue, defend, protect and serve. We are the 99% who know the value of books, technology, updated programs and services. We are single family, extended family, blended family. We are individuals who seek what is right and just for the greater good-the common man, woman and child; and not for what is good for just a select few. We attend soccer games, basketball practice, theater productions,debates, meetings and church. We care when someone we love is hurting. We offer help when someone has fallen.

We are community. We are the majority. We are the 99%. Don't let the 1% take this away.

Gloria Crist
Tiverton, RI

REJECT THE FTR: DON'T GIVE YOUR RIGHTS AWAY

The real motive of those who want the proposed Financial Town Referendum (FTR) has finally been exposed. It is not about greater participation or about voter intimidation or about private votes or anything else. It is about one thing and one thing only- their taxes.

Remember that the same group that is proposing this FTR over the years has proposed and supported cutting over $3 million dollars to our schools, cuts that could only be made up by actions including closing an elementary school and eliminating all extracurricular activities. But it would have cut taxes.

Remember that the same group that is proposing this FTR proposed cutting Tiverton's membership in the League of Cities and Towns and in the Chamber of Commerce, cutting the Town Planner position to half-time, and eliminating most of the funding to our Economic Develop Commission. We should be sending out a message that Tiverton is forward-thinking and attuned to the needs of the business community, but this kind of penny-wise but pound-foolish cost-cutting sent a clear message to the business community that we really aren't interested in being a business-friendly community. But it would have cut taxes.

Remember that the same group that is proposing this FTR proposed cutting Visiting Nurses Services, Newport County Mental Health, and Newport County Women’s Resources as well as the Samaritans. To cut funding to organizations that provide essential services to people who otherwise lack them, would mean that some of our community would be unable to continue to live in town rather than an institution or be forced to live a life whose quality would be less than dignified. But it would have cut taxes.

Remember that the rise in the tax rate was prompted primarily by debt service on voter-approved bonds and by loss of state revenue, not by extravagant spending by the schools and town.

If your only goal is to keep taxes low at all costs and you don't care about the long-term ramifications of such a strategy, then vote for this FTR. But, be careful what you wish for – it may be your trash collection, the fire or police department or whatever town service you like and use that they cut next. And you will have given up your rights to let them do it.

But, if you want to be the one that gets to decide whether the needs of the community are met, then keep your rights. Don’t turn them over to the minority or to a two council member veto. Vote NO on question #2 on November 8th.

Jim Arruda
Tiverton

PRESERVE TIVERTON: VOTE TO "APPROVE" QUESTION 1 (LIBRARY), "REJECT" QUESTION 2 (FTR)

The November 8 special election will be a pivotal one for Tiverton. The stakes are clear, and the differences are stark.

On one side are proponents of the FTR proposal, who advocate that politicians should be able to veto voters’ decisions on budgets and taxes, and favor lower taxes without saying what they would cut to achieve it. On the other are those who cherish the rights of voters to decide without threat of being overruled by politicians, and resent a small special interest group trying to change our form of government to an FTR plan designed to favor their political agenda.

FTR advocates claim it will increase participation, but the evidence from other towns that changed to a referendum show little or no increase. In fact, the confusion of this FTR process and the elimination of the right to vote “no” if all proposals are bad could lower participation. Regardless of the process or the turnout, the guiding principle should be that the majority of voters decide. The FTR subverts the process by allowing the losing side to prevail by giving just two Town Councilors the ability to veto voters’ decisions.

Ask FTR proponents this question: why would allowing two politicians to veto voters be good for Tiverton? When they say “tax-cap protection”, what they’re talking about is protection for them against the will of the majority. This FTR is in their best interest, not yours. If they can veto voters and force cuts to services, the first targets will be the schools and the library (ask FTR proponents if they support the library bond).

Don’t be fooled by the spin that a vote against the FTR is a vote to keep the Financial Town Meeting indefinitely. Many of us remain dedicated to finding a workable FTM replacement, and a Charter Commission will be soon be elected. That group, representing all voters, can develop a strong FTM alternative that respects voters’ rights and can win wide support. Does it make sense to replace a flawed FTM with a more flawed FTR?

Even the FTR’s author, Jeff Caron, acknowledges that the plan has flaws that he says can be “tweaked” after it’s passed. Shouldn’t a plan to alter our form of government be “tweaked” before being put before voters? Sadly, it was rushed to suit a political agenda. Beyond the clearly negative aspects of the FTR, how many unknown consequences will there be?

Unlike at the proposed FTR, the majority of voters will decide the fate of our library and our right to decide our budget and taxes, free from the veto of two Councilors. If you support our library, and cherish your voting rights, get out and vote to defend these things from those eager to take them away. Defend your rights and invest in our community by approving question 1 (library bond), and rejecting question 2 (FTR proposal).

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

FTR PLAN DOES NOT MEET STATE LEGAL STANDARDS

Note from CURB Coordinator Brian Medeiros:
The following letter was sent this week to the Tiverton Town Council by Budget Committee Chairman Chris Cotta. The bottom line is that under the FTR (and unlike the FTM), any alternative budget & tax-levy on the ballot will not have been legally advertised & approved by OMF, opening the town to a flood of lawsuits. Note that the FTR Committee & Town Council never even bothered to do what Mr. Cotta did with a single letter: to run this FTR plan by the state agency charged with approving budgets & tax levies! This tells you all you need to know about the diligence afforded this major revision to our Charter that voters are asked to put their faith in.


RE: Ballot Question #2

Dear Tiverton Town Council Members:

After an exhaustive review of the supporting documentation for the proposed Ballot # 2 question, which would change Tiverton’s use of a Financial Town Meeting to an All Day Referendum, it became apparent that there are legal issues not resolved in the proposed charter changes. I inquired of the regulatory state agency, Department of Revenue, Office of Municipal Finance regarding the legal notice requirements, budgetary review and approval processes. Please see attached letter to the Office of Municipal Finance dated October 6th, 2011. Of great concern was the proposed concept of permitting elector budgets on a ballot without being vetted and approved by the Office of Municipal Finance. The ballot question and related charter changes offer ballot access to electors without following the same stringent taxpayer protection reviews or notice requirements that the municipal budget must endure. Please see attached response letter from Director Greschner of the Office of Municipal Affairs dated 10/26/2011. It is now clear through the response that the Department of Revenue will approve only one budget and one tax levy for the Town of Tiverton whether such budget exceeds the statutory tax cap or not. The Department of Revenue will not approve several budgets from the Town as addressed in the charter change proposed.

What this means is that any budget supported by a tax levy that has not been preapproved, heard and advertised in accordance with state laws can and will be challenged by any aggrieved taxpayer in the Town. This has far reaching consequences both legal and financial for the Town.

State Law requires a detailed budget summary set forth in a statement that the revenues and expenditures are certified by the President of the town Council and the property tax estimates have been computed in a manner approved by the State Department of Revenue. Please see the most recent summary approved by the Department of Revenue prior to the last Financial Town Meeting on file with the Town Administrator, Town Clerk and Tax Assessor’s offices. That summary was prepared in accordance with rules and regulations established and adopted via the State’s Administrative Procedures Act in support of the State Laws granting taxpayer protections for municipal budgets, tax disclosure and tax levies.

Contrast this to what is being proposed. Under the All Day Referendum (FTR) entire new budgets (elector petitions) can be placed on the election ballot. None of these new budgets will contain the necessary review, certification and approval that state law requires nor will any of these new budgets meet the stringent requirements of Rhode Island General Laws. To say that separate budgets (elector budgets) as provided by the FTR are similar to amendments made at the annual financial town meeting is clearly wrong and unlawful as they fail to provide the requisite taxpayer protections required per Rhode Island General Laws related to budgetary review, tax disclosure and tax levy approvals and notifications.

In light of the newly received information attached, I request that the Town Council provide notice to the public that Ballot question #2 does not meet the legal standards required for taxpayer protections required under State Law and to further require that the Board of Canvassers provide said notice at each of the applicable polling places on November 8th the day of the special election.

Sincerely,

Christopher Cotta

Budget Committee Chairman

TV FORUMS ON COX CABLE & ONLINE

The TV Forums discussing the Library Bond & the FTR proposal will re-air this weekend on Cox channel 18. The Library forum airs FRI @ 7pm, SAT & SUN @ 11am & 7pm. The FTR forum airs immediately after: FRI @ 7:30pm, SAT & SUN @ 11:30am & 7:30pm.
Both forums can also be seen online at www.tivertonvideos.blogspot.com .

Brian Medeiros
CURB-Tiverton Coordinator

SUPPORT THE NEW LIBRARY

Learn from the Past, Cherish the Present, And plan for the Future

1820 – Subscription Library opened at Seabury Store, Tiverton, RI

1888 – Converted into Free Library

1914- Templars sell building to Union Public Library

1923 – Union Public Library moves to its current location

All at Tiverton Four Corners Area.

1846 – Whitbridge Hall Library opened on Lawton Avenue

1937 – 1939 – Lydia B. Essex Library built on Highland Road

1971 – North Union and Essex Libraries consolidated to meet state standards

All located in the Stone Bridge area

1881 – Garfield Hall Library opens at Main Road and Conanicous Street

1929 – North Tiverton Library opens at Hooper Street and Main Road

1967 – Library relocated to Hilton Street

1974 – Fire damages the Library building

All located in North Tiverton

1900 – Rev. Charles Gordelier founder of Library on Crandall Road to serve

East Tiverton residents

2003 – The Economic Development Plan prepared by Edwards & Kelsey mentioned that the Library Trustees had formed a Building Committee to design and construct a new Library “Tiverton is on the Move!” Let’s make that statement a reality!

2006 – The Comprehensive Community Plan states that “The Essex and the Union Libraries together provide less than 5,000 square feet of library space to a community that has grown considerably. Due to fire regulations the Essex Library is currently restricted to serving no more than thirty patrons at one time. In accordance with state standards which take into account

present and future needs of the community, a new Library would require an area of approximately 32,000 square feet. (The proposed new Library will be 23,886 square feet.)

This historical account shows that our Town of Tiverton has always exhibited the legacy of learning and supported equal access to the pursuit of knowledge and intellectual and social growth in each and every corner of our town. This Library has been years in the making well developed and well vetted for Tiverton.

November 8, 2011 - will now be our turn. On this day we will be asked to continue our support for our Public Library. It is this new Library or NO Library. The current one can only accommodate 17 patrons upstairs and 13 patrons downstairs in the Children’s Section, and that includes staff, and is not handicapped accessible. This is absolutely unacceptable in a Town of 15,780 (highest growth in Newport County – 520 new residents since the last census). Tiverton is an amazing place to live and raise a family or retire.

“Rhode Island Constitution – Section 1. Duty of general assembly to promote schools and libraries. -- The diffusion of knowledge, as well as of virtue among the people, being essential to the preservation of their rights and liberties, it shall be the duty of the general assembly to promote public schools and public libraries, and to adopt all means which it may deem necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education and public library services.”

Please find it in your hearts and in your budgets to support the building of our new library, which will provide much needed construction jobs in our area! It will be our legacy for generations to come. A living breathing space that will adapt to the future needs of our community…a place where our citizens of all ages can gather and truly be lifelong learners in our “Knowledge Based Economy”.

Sincerely,

Sally A. Black
Tiverton, RI