To the editor: 

Ever hear the saying, "Don't shoot the messenger?"  Everyone is blaming Justin Katz for the budget debacle.  However, the person or persons to blame here are the authors of the budget who did not do their due diligence.

Having been involved with budgets for the past four years, I immediately, upon picking up the petitioners’ budget statement, found errors.  I am disheartened that the president of the Town Council does not even know the Charter!  She is the head of the governing body of the town and does not know our Town Charter rules?  Pretty sad.  

The Charter clearly states the alternate budget must be remanded to the Budget Committee, not the Town Council or the School Committee.  Pretty straightforward, wouldn't you say?

In the past few years there have been numerous alternate budgets, most of which I have been a part of, and they were all flawless, as they were done correctly.  Like liberals always do, they are blaming the messenger here,  which is wrong.

The voting rules of this country are the day of vote taking the polls are open at a specific time.  If you decide at 10: p.m. on the day of voting that you’ve finally made up your mind, could you go and cast a vote? No, as the polls are closed. 

Our town clerk gave ample notice that these documents were to be in by noon. They obviously did not check their work before turning it in, ergo Justin made a complaint.  It is that simple.  If they had checked their work it would be on the ballot no questions asked.

So, authors of this electors’ petition, own your mistakes and shame on you!

Madeline O'Dell

Tiverton

Ms. O’Dell is a former Budget Committee member.