New Council Members Sworn In

The seven-member Tiverton Town Council was sworn in Nov. 8, following a 2010 election where four incumbents were unseated.

The council chambers were filled with a boisterous atmosphere for the newly elected and reelected that night. Six of the elected councilors were endorsed by Tiverton Citizens for Change (TCC), a concerned taxpayer group that formed in the summer of 2008.

Elected to his second term on the council, Jay Lambert was the only nominee for council president at the meeting. Long-time Councilor Cecil Leonard was selected as vice president, nominated by re-elected Councilor Edward Roderick.

Municipal Judge G. Scott Nebergall facilitated the oath of office to all the councilors, including David Nelson, Brett Pelletier, Robert Coulter and Joan Chabot. Nelson is president of TCC and Coulter joins the council after recently resigning as vice chairman of the Tiverton Budget Committee. Coulter noted that the town faces difficult financial times ahead, and he aspires to be a voice on the council for the entire town.

Pelletier was the only elected councilor not endorsed by the TCC. He thanked the voters of Tiverton for their support, and said he looks forward to effecting a "lasting change" in town.

The four outgoing town councilors - former President Donald Bollin, former Vice President Joanne Arruda, Hannibal Costa and Louise Durfee - have 45 years of combined public service. Their colleagues thanked them during the meeting.

"Don Bollin was a shepherd to this council," said Roderick.

He added that Arruda will be remembered for her dedication to the town as a whole, Durfee will be remembered as a steward who did what was right for the town and Costa will be remembered for his wit and irreverence.

"We're all one town, in zip code 02878," said Arruda.

Recently re-elected Rep. Jay Edwards (D-Dist. 70) distributed proclamations to the outgoing councilors during the meeting, who acknowledged their tenure in public service.

Town Clerk Nancy Mello presented the outgoing councilors with a tile from the new public library, and a baseball hat and T-shirt

Nebergall also swore in Mello, the judge of probate, town sergeant and Budget Committee posts that night.