Voters in Tiverton and Little Compton approved 19 amendments to their respective town charters, voting on recommendations from the towns' charter review committees.

Little Compton

Question 5: Town Property

Voters passed a question that amends the Town Charter by removing a reference to the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust in the section dealing with the acquisition of town property, as those trust acquisitions don't require town approval. The measure gives the town the ability to hold a special town meeting in lieu of waiting for the annual Financial Town Meeting.

The measure passed 1,392 to 518.

Question 6: Elections at town meeting

Voters overwhelmingly approved a measure that will allow the board of canvassers to close polls for elections at Town Meeting after 15 minutes, or after enough time has passed for all voters to cast their ballots after the meeting's adjournment.

The vote was 1,404 for, 473 against (75 to 25 percent).

Question 7: Date, purpose of town meeting

This measure, which passed overwhelmingly (1,621 to 272 votes) modifies the town charter to allow the Annual Financial Town Meeting to be held through the third full week in June, under extenuating circumstances.

Question 8: Meeting notices and agendas

Also overwhelmingly approved by voters was a question that acknowledges the role of the town clerk with regard to warrant items, and includes language on voting procedures and to speak to the budget committee format. It passed 1,498 to 331.

Question 9: Budget committee

This question removes the town treasurer/tax collector from the town's list of elected officials, and clarifies that the budget committee reviews the town's capital expenditures program. It passed 1,325 to 524.

Question 10: Budget preparation

Passed 1,469 to 378, this charter amendment acknowledges the role of the town administrator in preparing the budget, and adjusts the timeline to give more time to process the budget each year.

Question 11: Capital programs

Approved 1,488 to 331, this charter amendment simply clarifies the town administrator's role in preparing the capital expenditure program for the budget committee's review.

Question 12: Treasurer/tax collector

This amendment recognizes that the town treasurer/tax collector is appointed, and spells out the way the deputy town treasurer is appointed. It passed 1,454 to 398.

Question 13: Treasurer/tax collector

This amendment allows the council to make a provision for the assumption of the town treasurer/tax collector's duties by the town finance director. It passed 1,379 to 439.

Question 14: Tax assessors

This question amends the charter to provide for a single tax assessor employed by the town. It passed  1,362 to 470.

Question 15: Tax review board

This charter amendment makes language reflect the current town structure, of a single tax assessor and an appointed Tax Assessment Board of Review. It passed 1,400 to 420.

Question 16: Town Finance Director

This question amends the charter by adding a new section documenting the town finance director position. It passed 1,368 to 462.

Question 17: Housing Trust

This charter amendment allows the Little Compton Housing Trust to petition the town council for approval of acquisitions of housing needs, and adds that if approval is granted by the council, the acquisition would not also be subject to Section 103 of the charter. This passed 1,331 to 522.

Question 18: Police department

This question amends the charter to specify that the police chief is subject to town ordinances as well as state law. It was approved 1,686 to 224.

Question 19: Fire Department

This charter amendment designates the fire chief as the department's administrative officer, subject to town ordinances in addition to state law. It passed 1,690 to 225.

Tiverton

Question 4: Articles four, five and nine

This question amends various articles of the charter to allow the town council to determine additional requirements for the hiring of town administrator, police chief, fire chief and director of public works. It passed 3,684 to 2,092.

Question 5: Personnel board

This question amends the role of the personnel board in the review and hiring of full and part-time employees, and allows the town administrator to hire seasonal, temporary and appointed employees hired for 180 days or less. It passed 3,598 to 2,118.

Question 6: Article III and related sections

This amendment allows the council to adopt a unified budget inclusive of municipal and school budgets, through an ordinance process similar to that used in other towns. The unified review process includes review by an elected budget committee and a public hearing, and specifies that when there are alternate proposals brought by electors, the final budget will be approved by voters at Financial Town Referendum. If no certified alternate proposals are received, a Financial Town Referendum is not necessary. It passed 3,529 to 2,114.

Question 7: Budget committee

This amendment reduces the membership on the budget committee from 11 to seven members. It passed 3,645 to 2,066.