Newport City Council Meeting Summary - November 12, 2025

The Newport City Council convened on November 12, 2025, to conduct routine business, hear public testimony on controversial zoning and licensing issues, and deliberate on critical infrastructure and housing initiatives. Key topics included the controversial relocation of the city carousel, a continued hearing on entertainment licenses, a contentious motion to fund a traffic engineering study, and emergency financing for water utility repairs.

Consent Calendar

• The Council unanimously approved the consent calendar in its entirety, excluding item regarding the Jay license (which was not part of the final agenda) and the traffic study, which required separate deliberation.
• Approved: 2025-26 Fitting License renewals (liquor and non-liquor establishments).
• Approved: Contract extension with Capital Communications Group LLC for government relations.
• Approved: Bulk rock salt purchase (Eastern Salt Company).
• Approved: Auto lift equipment purchase (Snap-on).
• Approved: ESRI ArcGIS licensing agreement.
• Approved: Additional allocation for four Leaf Inc. building official services.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Maureen Cronin (Tree and Open Space Commission): Stated that selling the carousel is the recommended path because it does not qualify for historic grants, requires significant capital for operation, and faces community opposition regarding noise and parking. She confirmed that no individual or organization has stepped forward to purchase the carousel, and locations like Easton's Beach are impractical due to climate resiliency requirements.
• Councilor David Carlin: Expressed strong opposition to selling the carousel, arguing the city has already given up too many youth amenities (like the snack shack) and that a solution exists to keep it.
• Councilor Charlie Holder: Expressed opposition to selling the carousel, citing concerns about the loss of Newport's charm and the enjoyment it brings to children and families.
• Hamza Yaqit (Broadway Mini Mart): Stated support for the proposed extended hours (4 a.m. to 6 a.m.), citing customer demand from landscapers and the logistical necessity of early morning deliveries.
• Chuck Bolduck: Expressed opposition to the new Class A entertainment license for the Protective Club, citing the limited business nature of the zone, the addition of glass walls which amplify sound, and the transfer of ownership to an Airbnb system.
• Matt Goldsmith: Expressed concern that adding live bands until 1 a.m. to an already loud area with many student rentals would create unbearable noise levels for neighbors.
• Gail Holmes: Expressed strong opposition to the entertainment license and the club's zoning request to expand with glass, stating it would cause unbearable noise reverberation for residents and that the new ownership does not respect the neighborhood.
• Paul Donovan: Expressed support for the ITC proposal to prohibit parking on the east side of Broadway, but argued that the 525 Broadway apartment project has insufficient on-site parking, creating a safety hazard for pedestrians crossing busy traffic to reach overflow parking.
• Councilor Patrick Pinnock: Expressed concern that the "no truck" ordinance on Bedloe Avenue will be difficult to enforce but noted it is a necessary step.
• Jessica Choi (Hammond Street Resident): Urged the Council to approve the traffic study immediately, stating residents face daily safety risks from speeding and cut-through traffic due to the recent intersection closure.
• Mr. Royce: Expressed strong opposition to the scope and cost of the traffic study, arguing it is a way to postpone decisions and that the boundaries are arbitrarily drawn.
• Jack Grant: Expressed opposition to the proposed insurance requirements for seasonal mooring permit holders, noting it creates a dual-coverage burden for small-scale holders and increases harbor costs.
• Penny Fitch: Expressed support for the Revolutionary Hydrants project, highlighting it as a volunteer initiative to educate the public on local history without city cost.

Discussion Items

• Carousel Relocation: Councilor Smythe requested the administration investigate relocating the carousel to the Gateway Center near the Aquarium. The Tree and Open Space Commission responded that while they considered it, the area suffers from flooding and requires an elevated site; they also noted that adding a parking garage level is a major undertaking and that funds would be better spent upgrading the Martin Recreation Center, which emerged as a public priority.
• Protective Club License (Continued): Following public testimony regarding noise and ownership concerns, Councilor Segley moved to continue the hearing to December. The motion to continue passed 4-3 (Counselors Smythe, Segley, Pinck, and Holder voted to continue; Carlin, Pinnock, and Camps voted against). The Council agreed to revisit the matter with more information after the owner and neighbors meet separately.
• Traffic Study (Item 651): Councilor Carlin proposed using the Regular Request for Proposal (RFP) process instead of the Master Price Agreement (MPA) to lower the estimated $199,600 cost. The City Manager argued the MPA process is standard for professional services and provided data showing comparable studies cost between $180,000 and $250,000. Despite the Councilor's concerns about the price and process handling, the urgency expressed by Hammond Street residents and the potential difficulty of getting bids lower via RFP led the Council to approve the study via the MPA.
• Water Utility Financing (Items 6522 & 6521): The City Manager presented two options for the $20 million clarifier replacement project: Revenue Pledged Borrowing through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIB) or reallocation of existing General Obligation (GO) Bond funds. Councilor Carlin stated he would vote against the RIB option, preferring to use the GO bonds. Despite the friction, the Council approved the pursuit of the RIB loan. However, the Council tabled the motion to reallocate the existing $10.6 million GO bond funds to avoid committing the money before the financing path is fully finalized.

Key Outcomes

• Carousel: No final vote on sale was taken; the Council deferred to the Tree and Open Space Commission's recommendation to sell, though Councilors Carlin and Holder voiced strong disagreement with the sale.
• Traffic Study: Approved contract with Bowman Consulting for $199,600 to study 11-13 streets, with Councilor Carlin noting the administrative handling was flawed but voting in favor to address resident safety needs.
• Water Utilities: Approved the resolution to pursue financing through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. The related resolution to reallocate GO bond funds was tabled pending clarification on the final financing structure.
• Parking Ordinances: Approved ordinance amendments to prohibit parking on the east side of Broadway (near 525 Broadway) and to designate a 1-hour/30-minute parking limit on Lee's Wharf. Both Lee's Wharf parking amendments were approved after public comment, though Councilor Carlin and others expressed strong reservations and attempted to continue/reject them, but the votes proceeded as scheduled.
• Mooring Ordinance: Approved first reading of the amendment to modify insurance requirements for commercial mooring permit holders, extending the compliance deadline to February 28, 2026, for certain permit types.
• Revolutionary Hydrants: Approved resolution supporting the "Revolutionary Hydrants Project" by Edward King Senior Center; the project will paint select hydrants with historical figures, coordinated with the city and the Newport 250 committee.
• Adjournment: The Council moved to adjourn and convene as the Board of License Commissioners, where they unanimously approved the consent calendar.