Bringing Newport Into the 21st Century

What technological initiatives are underway and what ideas should Newport pursue? The Information Technology Working Group responds to these questions and welcomes public comment this Thursday night.

City Officials Sworn in During Inauguration Ceremony

The Newport City Council and School Committee members were officially sworn in during an inauguration ceremony on Wednesday night.

The Newport City Council and the Newport School Committee were both sworn in during a joint inauguration ceremony at the O’Hare Academic Center at Salve Regina University on Wednesday night.  School committee members took the oath first. All members are returning, except for former Chairman Patrick Kelley, who seat has been taken over by newcomer Robert Power. Congressman David Cicilline administered the oath to Rebecca Bolan, Sandra J. Flowers, Power, JoEva Gaines, Robert Leary and Charles Shoemaker. Thomas Phalen was not in attendance.  Shoemaker and Gaines were elected as Chairman and Vice-Chair, respectively. The City Council also received their oath from Cicilline. Henry Winthrop was elected as Chairman of the Council and Mayor of …

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ALN Surveys Public on Important City Issues

Topics include the Sakonnet River Bridge tolls, Broadway redesign plans and wind turbines.

The Alliance for a Livable Newport wants to know what YOU think.  The ALN has released a survey, billed as “3 Questions, 3 Minutes” for the community to respond to the Sakonnet River Bridge, Broadway Streetscape Project and wind turbine issues. Questions include: Do you favor tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge? Is the Broadway redesign “worth the turmoil” in a highly trafficked area during the tourist season? Would suspending the project over the summer months in 2013 be beneficial? Would you want a wind turbine on your property? On a neighbor’s property? Tell them your thoughts and take the survey here.

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City Finance Director Reviews School Department's Business Office

Finance Director Laura Sitrin presented her findings after evaluated the Newport School Department's business office.

City Finance Manager Laura Sitrin presented her findings regarding an evaluation of the school department's business office during a joint workshop between the Newport School Committee and the Newport City Council on Wednesday night. The evaluation was at the request of the School Committee and the City Council after questions about the efficiency of the school's business office arose earlier this year. The report included observations and recommendations from Sitrin to address process issues in the business office. Sitrin stated in the report that the evaluation was not directed at specific personnel. “They [personnel] have all suffered through constant turnover and turmoil in the school business office in the last couple of years, and …

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Council Votes to Lower Maximum Noise Allowance

The council voted 6-0 to draft an amendment lowering the maximum permissible sound levels in residential neighborhoods.

The Newport City Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday night allowing the city administration to draft an amendment to Newport’s noise ordinance, which will lower the maximum permissible sound level in residential areas. Currently, the maximum level in residential zones and noise sensitive areas is 65 during 7 a.m. and 9:59 p.m. It is then lowered to 55 decibles until 6:59 a.m. The reduction calls for a maximum level of 55 between 8:59 p.m. and 7 a.m. in residential zones and noise sensitive areas, which would “greatly contribute to our residents’ peaceful enjoyment of their homes.” The amendment will be up for consideration at the Sept. 26 council meeting.   Councilor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano said she was concerned about more…

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City Rolls Out BigBelly Solar-Powered Recycling Compactors

Five recycling compactors will accompany existing BigBelly trash compactors along Thames Street

Newport Mayor Harry F. Winthrop and the Newport Public Services Department’s Clean City Program would like to announce the placement of 5 BigBelly solar-powered recycling compactors in downtown Newport. Mayor Winthrop will unveil the BigBelly recycling compactor located at the Armory, 365 Thames Street, on Wednesday, September 5 at 3 p.m. “The placement of five BigBelly recycling stations here in Newport goes hand-in-hand with our environmental goals and will boost our recycling rate,” said Mayor Harry F. Winthrop. The BigBelly recycling compactors will be paired with existing BigBelly trash compactors along Thames Street at Long Wharf Mall at Washington Square and Brick Market, the Armory, the Post Office and at Howard Wharf. The …

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Council Awards Bid for Bellevue Restoration Project

The bid award from a Pawtucket company was approved 5-1 for the Bellevue Avenue Concrete Restoration project.

After a lengthy debate at the end of Wednesday night's Newport City Council meeting, the council approved a bid award for the Bellevue Avenue Concrete Restoration 5-1, with Council Kate Leonard opposing. Councilor Jeanne Marie Napolitano was absent from Wednesday night's meeting. Leonard opposed awarding the bid on Wednesday because she said she would like to ensure that “repairs that are being suggested are fully understood. . .and why the failure has occurred.”  Leonard was referring the last repairs made to fix the joints on Bellevue Avenue. She said she would like to see the bid award continued until the next meeting to allow further analysis on the current bid and reasons for the shortcomings in past projects. “It wasn't long ago that…

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Stephen Coyne Sworn in to Newport City Council

Coyne was administered the oath of office during Wednesday night's council meeting.

Stephen Coyne was sworn in to the Newport City Council by City Clerk Kathy Silvia during Wednesday night's brief council meeting. The meeting was the first under the leadership of newly elected mayor Harry Winthrop. Coyne was appointed to serve on the City Council after Mayor Stephen Waluk stepped down to assume his new position as Chief Clerk of Rhode Island District Court. Coyne last sat on the council in 2010 and was the next highest vote-getter during the 2010 election, coming in eighth, coming within less than 2% of Naomi Neville. He had served on the council for six years prior to 2010.

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Waluk Resigns, Winthrop Elected Mayor of Newport

The City Council unanimously elected Henry Winthrop as Newport's Mayor and Chairman of the City Council.

Councilor Henry Winthrop was sworn in as Mayor of Newport and Chairman of the Newport City Council on Wednesday evening after being unanimously elected by his fellow councilors. Just before Winthrop was sworn in, Mayor Stephen C. Waluk had offered his resignation to the council due to a policy conflict with his newly accepted position of Chief Clerk of Rhode Island District Court. Waluk gave an emotional speech at the end of the council meeting, thanking several friends and colleagues, as well as his grandparents and mother. "My love for Newport will never diminish," he said. "I will remain active as possible because this city is so great and it’s been so  great to me." His fellow councilors offered their well wishes, as well as thanks for…

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Tom

6:18 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

Thats why I truly believe it is time to vote carpetbaggers into office because all of these favors are just getting out of control.   more ›

POLL: Who Should Be Newport's Next Mayor?

The City Council will decide Newport's next mayor during the council meeting on July 25.

Due to a policy conflict with his new position as Chief Clerk of Rhode Island District Court, Newport Mayor Stephen C. Waluk will be stepping down during next Wednesday's City Council meeting.  According to the policy, Waluk cannot hold public office as Chief Clerk.  The City of Newport's charter states that the remaining city councilors will vote to decide who will step in as Mayor.  The open seat will go to last election's next highest vote-getter, Stephen Coyne.  Who do you want to see as Newport's next Mayor?

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