To the editor:

Residents of Tiverton, it is time to finally pay attention. I attended my first budget committee meeting last evening (2/16) with some expectations and also with an open mind. What I witnessed by some members of the committee was flat out wrong — from misunderstanding basic information, to obvious bias towards the library, fire department, contracts and unions.

At times the questioning from certain members seemed to be an interrogation rather than a fact-finding mission. Some were even armed with their own numbers, and we all know a quick Google search can yield whatever numbers you choose to “make your case.”

The treatment of department heads, in the case the fire chief and library director, was flat out embarrassing. One example was the fire chief being asked why his department couldn’t use former police cars as front line response vehicles. This was met with a collective sigh among the crowd. Is it not common sense that if a police vehicle is beyond its useful emergency response life, that the fire department cannot use these vehicles?

Another example was the intent to mislead the public that the library was closed on Saturdays last summer as sort of a slap in the face to the residents when it was forced to cut hours to make budget. This was, in fact, an educated decision that was made based on a signed agreement with the state that regulates when libraries can close. After all it was summer and the children had access to the library every single day during the week anyway.

To be clear, I understand why alternate budgets were submitted and why the voting residents chose what they did. However, is it not safe to assume that the mission of the successful alternate budgets was accomplished? The “fat” was cut out of the budget. “Mystery money” was exposed. And the “spend it or lose it” mentality has turned into serious vetting of the budget by the Town Council prior to them submitting their budget to the Budget Committee. Isn’t that success?

So why now do we have to seek to take these cuts into the bone and destroy whatever fabric is left in this community? I ask all voting residents of this town to wake up. If you went to the polling station with blinders on and worried about your wallet, I understand. However, now is the time to really pay attention to what is going on here. Fact: There is going to be an attempt by certain members of the budget committee to intentionally break contractual obligations as was reported by the Newport Daily News. Fact: There is going to be an attempt to destroy the library and all it stands for as a Community Center. Fact: There will be lawsuits. Fact: If you think that not picking up trash is a threat, think again. No trash pick-up will be the least of your concerns as the taxpayers pay through the nose to fund lawsuit after lawsuit. With just shy of 30 lawsuits going on now, some of which were and are the result of now sitting budget committee members, why create more? Receivership is their goal and your wallet will be begging for mercy if that happens.

David J Paull

Tiverton