Happy 2026.

It's been a while.

So we'll start off.

Uh Madam Clerk, can you take a roll, please?

David Carlin.

Here.

Charlie Holder.

Here.

Side Council Varavan.

Here.

Jean Marie DePolitano.

Alan Pinnock.

Yeah.

Stephanie Smythe.

There is a quorum present, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Please stand.

Legislature.

Under God.

Liberty justice for all.

Uh, Madam Clerk, uh, before we get to the citizens forum, um, I do have a uh some personal and also uh uh citywide item of business, uh, a proclamation that we're gonna read here uh tonight.

Uh on December twelfth, uh a great New Porter, a great Rhode Islander and the father of our well renowned councilman David Carlin, uh, passed away.

Um I knew Mr.

Carlin since I was a young kid growing up on Thurston Avenue, and they just grew up the uh street over from me, and I uh I remember him from days of uh Little League and running around the neighborhood and uh was always a well respected man.

Um great to the community, great to uh the kids in the community, and um what he did for for the city of Newport and the state of Rhode Island will won't be forgotten and shouldn't be forgotten.

Um so in that regard, I want to read this proclamation from the city of Newport.

Uh the city of Newport pays tribute and recognizes former state senator David R.

Carlin, Jr.

as a lifelong resident and devoted servant of the city of Newport in the state of Rhode Island.

Mr.

Carlin was born on April 9th, 1938, in Petsucket, Rhode Island, and exemplified a lifelong commitment to learning, graduating from St.

Ray's Academy, Providence College, and earning an advanced degrees in philosophy and sociology from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Rhode Island.

He dedicated more than four decades to higher education as a respected professor at the community college of Rhode Island, inspiring generations of students through his intellect, compassion, and unwavering belief in the power of education, retiring only after his eighty third day.

Mr.

Carlin served the public with distinction for more than three decades, beginning as a member of the Newport School Committee in 1975, later representing Newport and surrounding communities in the Rhode Island Senate, beginning in 1980, and elected as Senate Majority Leader from 1988 to 1990.

He continues dedication to Democratic ideals as a Democratic Party's nominee for the Rhode Island's first congressional district in 1992, and sub subsequently resumed public service through his tenure on the Newport School Committee from 2001 until 2009, where he was chair of the Newport Democratic City Committee from 1995 to 2005.

Guided by a deep and abiding Catholic faith, Mr.

Carlin devoted his public his life to public service and private action to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, consistently giving voice to those without one.

And he was an accomplished author and writer, publishing seven books and numerous articles, earning multiple writing awards, and leaving behind a legacy of thoughtful scholarship and discourse reflected in his extensive personal library.

But above all, Mr.

Carlin was a devout husband to his beloved wife of more than 55 years, Maureen, a loving father to his children, David Carlin, Joshua Carlin, and Margaret Carlin, and a proud grandfather whose family stood at the center of his life.

Now, therefore, be it that I, Charles Holder, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, January 14th, 2026, as David R.

Carlin Jr.

Day in the city of Newport, and call upon the citizens to join me with my fellow city councillors.

Carlin's dedication, intellect, and compassion.

Thank you to my colleagues, the city administration, to the people of Newport.

Who here thinks of me as a person who is at a loss for words?

Probably nobody.

Certainly myself.

I learned uh something very powerful in the last four plus weeks.

Many people talked to me, my mother and my brother, my sister, about my father.

And they didn't say, boy, he was a powerful man.

They didn't say, boy, you know, he was a popular man.

And they didn't say, boy, he received accolades and awards.

Isn't that great?

Well, that all that is great, but they said to me and to my family members.

Your father was a good man.

Your father was a kind man.

Your father helped me.

He helped my family member.

He helped people I had no idea.

He even knew who my father was.

Mr.

Chairman.

I will try an awfully difficult task for the remainder of my life.

I will try to be half the man my father was.

And if I succeed, I will have lived a good life myself.

My father was the greatest person I've ever met in my life.

And never will meet.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Ms.

Carlin.

All right.

Madam Clerk, anyone sign up for the citizens form?

No, they have not.

Okay.

Motion uh to approve the consent calendar.

Oh, uh motion to enter to the board of licensed commissioners.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Motion to approve the consent calendar for the board of licensed commissioners in its entirety.

Second.

Motion and second.

Any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Under licenses and permits, uh, motion to approve an application of Boru Noodles, LLC doing business as Borel Noodle Bar.

36 Broadway, holder of a class VL alcoholic beverage license to transfer ownership and location to 181 Bellevue Beverage Manager, LLC.

Elizabeth Prokachanti, 100% doing business as TBD at 181 Bellevue Avenue.

This is a hearing, Mr.

Chair.

Second.

All right, we have a motion and a second.

Um is there anyone in the public to uh here to make a comment?

Mr.

Reed.

Thank you.

Mayor members from Council Peter Regan, representing the applicant, uh 181 Bellby manager.

And Tanner Jackson and Miller Scott Holbrook and Jackson on behalf of Baruch Noodles.

So this is an application to essentially convert an existing license to a DT or tavern license for use at the new hotel that was recently approved for the Bellevue Garden Shopping Plaza at 181 Bellevue.

And what we are asking the council to do is to accept the surrender of the Baruch Noodles license because right now there are no BT licenses available.

Uh, and do that subject to the issuance of a new DT license to the applicant here.

This is the same process that was followed.

Uh when BC licenses were issued to Amits War and Brenton Hotels.

Uh specifically, what we're asking you to do is to accept the surrender of the VL license held by Baruch, subject to the issuance of a new license.

My client lower the number of DL licenses from 11 to 10, increase the BL license number from 15 to 16, and then issue a new BT license to Michael.

How to answer any questions that you might have.

Once again, following the same process that uh has been followed over the most recent BT issuances in the city.

Great.

Um add a condition to this.

Um later on in the meeting, we will uh get an ordinance where we're gonna just want to make this subject to the passage of the ordinance to change um the the BT license to or the BL license to a BT license, which will take two readings to do so because it's an ordinance change.

All right, uh so I make a um I'm sorry, any discussion, any further discussion on this from anyone on the council?

No.

All right.

So uh all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I have it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um motion to approve an application of a quencher Newport LLC doing business as the quencher Newport 95 Long Wharf holder of a class B V alcoholic beverage license to transfer ownership to uh Quench uh opco LLC Heritage Restaurant Holdings LLC, wholly owned by Bellevue Capital Partners LLC, Nicholas Sorsch, 90%, and Edward V Weill, 10% doing business as the Quencher Newport at the same premises.

This is a hearing again, Mr.

Chair.

Second.

All right, we have a motion and a second.

Is there anyone uh in the public that wants to make comment or anyone representing uh any of the two firms here tonight?

Good evening, council.

Uh Matt Lyons 513 Broadway on behalf of the applicant.

Um I am here to answer any questions, but uh essentially um current operations at the quencher will remain the same.

Simply change of ownership situation.

Thank you.

Uh any discussion on the council.

Any questions?

Um, Mr.

Chair, I made a motion to approve, but I'm gonna make a motion to close the public hearing by the second.

Second.

Motion second, all those in favor.

Aye.

Right.

We could vote on the application.

Right.

No other discussion.

All right.

Uh all in favor on the uh transfer of the license, say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Motion to adjourn as board of licensed commissioners and convene as counsel.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve the consent calendar in its entirety with the exception of uh letter I second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

Um sorry, Mr.

Chair.

I just happen to see Jimmy Winters here.

Okay.

On the first item, the NAACP MLK Day program.

All right, can then we uh just change that motion to we'll uh sure.

We will um take out what is what number is that uh B1 and I.

Okay.

Um in favor say aye.

Aye.

I have it.

So you want to do B1?

Sure.

Okay, oops, sorry.

All right, so uh B1 is a special event for the NAACP, Newport County doing business as MLK Day program, Thompson Middle School, January 19th, 2026 from 8 a.m.

to 1130 a.m.

And we have Mr.

Winters.

Mr.

Winters, you want to um come up?

So you said that's in a motion, so I'll second.

Yeah, motion and second.

Okay, I'm up seconds.

Sorry.

That's okay.

Second.

Good evening.

Mr.

Winters.

Yes, we have a uh full day program from the torch run to Thompson at 9:30.

We go to the Green Valley Country Club at 12.

Three o'clock, we go to the annex at community after search, and then at five o'clock at the Monthly King Center for Keoples of a Dream.

All right.

So we have a program all day.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Very much any questions from the or comments from the uh council?

That's a smooth coat you got on, Jimmy.

Thank you.

What else is new?

All right.

Um discussion on the council.

No.

Um in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Motion to uh receive the 2025 annual report, green and complete streets policy.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

Uh Mr.

Uh, yeah, I just wanted to um thank our city administration and those that worked really hard on this and give them an opportunity to maybe say a few words.

Director Reynolds in the house.

Good evening, and thank you very much.

So, in compliance with our city's green and complete street policy, um, the planning department developed a roadway project evaluation and exceptions application.

This is gonna be a very valuable tool as we work to implement the city safety action plan, the city's transportation plan, keep Newport moving, the CIP funded projects, and in constructing infrastructure that will be funded by the recently received Save Streets for All grants.

I would like to specifically thank planner Hayden McDermott for all of their outstanding work in creating this process and application.

And I'd also like to thank the council for their ongoing support of transportation initiatives and for helping to keep Newport moving.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any questions or discussion from the council?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have motion to approve the Blue Horizon Racing LLC doing business as Newport Sprint to Triathlon, Fort Adams State Park and City Streets, June 14th, 2026 from 7 a.m.

to 11 a.m.

with a partial road closure requested for a bike course.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any discussion.

And do we have anyone from uh Blue Verizon Racing?

Uh just say your name and address.

Meeting, Council uh Walter May, 170 Compton V Drive, Middletown.

Um, yeah, I'm here representing uh with Blue Horizon the event on June 14th.

Um we have approval from the state um DEM as well as Fort Adam support from the Harbormaster and our obstruction permit.

Um so the last piece is to get uh city approval in the event will be held from 7 to 11, primarily taking place within the fort, but there will be a partial road closure um within an hour to an hour and a half of the event for the bike portion, and this is where um we need support of the city and it will take place um down Harrison Ave, Ocean Ave, Brenton Road as a double loop and safety is our number one priority.

Um my partner plan to have um multiple volunteers on site first for the swim for the run and then phones put up and obviously a direction from the Newport Police once approved to um set up caution at each intersection.

I'm happy to answer any questions you have regarding the event.

Uh about what time do you think you'll be out on the on the the bike portion uh of the event on the road?

Um from 7 30 to 9 9 a.m.

the swim will be done.

Last finisher for the swim should probably take 30 minutes and then it'll be on to the bike and bike courses 11 and a half miles.

So we estimate our last finisher cutoff time to be an hour and a half.

So hopefully have everyone off the road by 9, 9.15 the latest.

Okay.

Uh any questions from council?

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

May.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Council.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Motion to approve Bailey's speech club doing business as Bailey's Beach Club Fireworks Barge off of Bailey's Beach, July 3rd, 2026, 10 minute display beginning at 9 o'clock p.m.

Eight fireworks displays permitted per calendar year.

This is the first of eight.

Do I have a second?

Second.

All right.

We have a motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Uh motion to approve Newport Festivals Foundation doing business as Newport Festival Foundation, Fort Adams State Park, July 24, 25, 26 of 2026 from 10 a.m.

to 8 p.m.

This is continued from December the 10th, 2025.

Do you have a second?

Second.

Motion and second.

Uh question for the uh solicitor.

Would it be would it be uh appropriate to take four and five together or do we cap the key them separate?

No, I think so.

We can do the folk and the jazz.

They don't involve a uh public hearing, so it's fine to treat them though at the same time.

Okay.

So um, and then and motion to approve the Newport Jazz Festival July 31, August 1, and August 2 of 2026 from 10 a.m.

to 8 p.m.

Also continued from December 10th.

Second.

All right, motion and second.

Um any discussion on the council.

All right, um, so this is continued uh because we have some questions on traffic uh uh doing a traffic study.

Uh this is usually brought up each each year by our uh residents in the third ward that um that have some issues uh getting to and from their house um be due to the road closures.

Um we have asked the uh representatives from the FESL Foundation to uh talk with the city, uh the administration, the police department um uh to come up with it with a plan.

So uh we have a representative wants to come up.

Come on, sir.

Thank you.

Uh Jennifer Reber, 71 Ballahack Road in East Adam, Connecticut.

Um, thanks for the opportunity to speak.

Um, so I'm just gonna talk a little bit about really what we do and what transportation looks like at the festival, um, just to give a little bit of context for how we handle things.

Um we really have a couple different transportation levers.

Uh the first one being our bike program, which is a really robust, you know, people bring their bikes in for the day, and that's a really robust program that is run through the very hard work of bike newport.

On average, we have somewhere in the neighborhood of about a thousand people a day that are biking in.

For folk, it can be as high as 16, 1700 people.

Um so anywhere up to almost up to a fifth of our participants during folk at some point are potentially biking in.

Um, so that's a program that we worked really hard for, and festival obviously supports Bike Newport and operationally, we make sure that that's something that we're welcoming and supporting.

In addition to the bike program, we work with the different ferry groups.

Um, again, through the very hard work of the Queenstown Ferry and very hard work of Old Port and through Stevens' work.

We have anywhere from three, four thousand people a day that are taking ferries.

So when you combine our bike, the people coming in on bikes and people coming in on ferries on any given day.

We can have almost up to half of our participants that are coming in through alternate transportation methods.

Um, that does the vehicles that are coming on site, as everybody knows.

Fort Adams has ample parking, and we do take advantage of that parking.

We have somewhere in the neighborhood of about 2,000 cars that come on site each day.

Again, it varies based on the day, it varies based, it's slightly different between well, it's different between folk and jazz, but we're in the neighborhood of about 2,000 cars a day that we have on site.

And that is actually by design.

Um, there's a number of different reasons that we have cars on site.

Some of it has to do with just convenience for the people that are coming in, but really the foundational element of that program has to do with critical safety requirements.

Um, and to talk about that a little bit more, I'm gonna ask John Evans, who is our director of public safety, to come up and just talk a little bit about our public safety plan and how on-site vehicles are a component of that plan.

John Evans, uh 135 Town Woods Road in Lyme, Connecticut.

Good evening, council members.

I want to provide a little bit of background.

I've worked closely over many years with the city of Newport, state and federal agencies, and helped the PGA with their initial pre-planning visits and assessments.

Support the U.S.

Navy at Naval Station Newport and Newark, and have staff based there.

Along with my professional background, I'm also a municipal fire chief and public safety director and a retired emergency manager, managing hazards and mitigations regularly for my own community, one within the EPZ of a nuclear power plant.

So I want to provide a little bit of background on my experience.

I'm well versed in local concerns and hazards, such as active shooter response, shelter in place planning and execution.

It was part of the unified command last summer when we sheltered the entire attendance of the Newport Folk Festival due to severe weather, proving that the state and local safety plan work for such an isolated site with limited egress places to shelter effectively.

Regarding the Fort Adams emergency plan, I work closely with DEM and REMA on the initial plan and the first implementation of it in 2018 for the Volva Ocean race, the 2023 ocean race afterwards, and the adoption of the Newport Festivals and other events for that site.

Why is shelter in place a necessity?

We all know that Fort Adams is a difficult site, and with limited access from the state park onto Harrison, you have to manage protecting the public on site.

And why is this difficult?

On site infrastructure, it does not provide enough covered and secured shelters for the attendees, volunteers, staff, and local vendors.

Vehicles needed as shelters.

This is how we make up for the lack of shelter space.

This includes personal vehicles, shuttle buses, tour buses, and vehicles of opportunity.

Last summer we used the Sheriff's Department's prisoner transport bus as an improvised shelter, much to the joy of families that were able to be accommodated in it.

Last year's full shelter in place, a lot of photographs of that.

Last year's full shelter in place and previous ones are a testament that all the pre planning and the use of vehicles actually works.

And many residents and attendees remembered last year's immersive measures as the festival storm of 2025 with positive feedback to all the public safety agencies and staff that made the plan work and casting a lasting positive impression beyond the limits of the Ford Adams State Park.

Newport got it right and not universal in the festival world at other locations.

Lastly, collaboration, very important through analysis, lessons learned, knowing the community.

We've worked closely with the Newport Police Department to fine-tune the on-site and off-site transition and even shared knowledge of technology, such as the Ways Navigation Event Portal that allows municipalities to manage and deter automatic rerouting of traffic into sensitive areas and neighborhoods, thus reducing the impacts to Newport residents.

What does this mean is when you use a Ways app and it sees traffic, it'll automatically reroute you, and in many cases, it'll actually send those cars into the areas that you don't want them in.

So it's very important, and this is something we've worked closely with the police department.

We continue to strive to evolve and adjust as necessary to improve the experience on-site and off, and how we handle the public is a reflection of the greater Newport community and the continued partnership.

Thank you.

So as Sean mentioned, the vehicles on site are a huge component of our public safety plan, uh, necessary for when we shelter in place and so on.

I think I've been here four years and we've sheltered in place on two of those years.

So it helped it it's happening more frequently, and it's an integral part of our public safety plan.

Um, and just in addition to that, there are some other limiting factors, you know, fan habits for our festival.

We have families, we have people bringing chairs, shade tents, blankets.

Um, you know, these people are coming for nine or ten hours.

They're often coming with small children, or they're coming with their elderly parents.

They're bringing a lot of stuff with them.

Um, and the ability to park on site is something that's really helpful to some of those folks.

We have contractual obligations because we're on state property.

We have to allow in poolers, we have to allow in beverages, we have to allow in food.

Again, people are bringing a lot of beer with them.

Um, the demographics of our festival, we've got a lot of young children, a lot of families.

We have a lot of elderly people, we have a growing accessibility community that's taking advantage of our festival.

And so being able to provide those people with close parking so that it's convenient for them is really important to the experience for those people.

And we want our festival to continue being friendly to older folks, to younger families, to people who are um that it might be a little harder for them to get around.

We want to be a welcoming festival.

Um, and then lastly, just the volume of bands.

The cadence of arrival and departure for our festival necessitates that we have people using different avenues of getting out of there.

Again, the boats, the bikes, the cars.

Everybody was parked off-site, and we're shuttling everybody off site.

We would need hundreds of buses at the end of the night, literally hundreds and hundreds of buses at the end of the night to get everybody out of there.

Um, so those are just some of the limiting factors that make you know um that have you know had us set up the transportation plan the way that it is now.

Um there are a couple things that we can do, I think, to continue communications, um, and just make sure that we're really working with the community as best as possible.

We'll set out a residential communication letter, which will just again to people in the area, reiterate the dates of the festival, giving some them some maps of traffic, letting them know when there's high traffic times, and just making sure that they know and they have all the information that they need so that they can plan accordingly, and also know that they can reach out to the Newport police if they have any concerns or questions.

Um, and then just us internally festival communications.

We're gonna continue to push out messages of, you know, take a bike, um, you know, take a ferry.

We do have some room for growth there, particularly at the jazz festival.

Those those alternate forms of transportation tend to be used a little bit less.

We're seeing that change.

We're seeing bikes grow, we're seeing fair usage grow during a jazz festival, and we're gonna continue to push that.

Um, so those are two things that the festival is going to do to continue to make some small improvements.

And then I know the Newport police have some ideas relative to the traffic management on Harrison and that area.

They want to get up and speak to that at all.

Um, but thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Uh Sergeant Jason, Newport Police Traffic Supervisor.

As Jen and John were saying, um far as the outside, that's where the police department really controls as far as uh the traffic management.

Uh with that we um there is no road closure of Harrison.

People can come and go through that area.

There is a restriction of one of the lanes um as far as for bikes.

We found over the years uh worked this for over 20 years uh over the years that this past two three years of or two years of changing this to a bike lane only they have per day it's roughly 1700 bikes that come in that we have to manage before we would have to have them merge within traffic which was extremely dangerous because they were coming down the same side as the right lane of the uh the roadway and this way actually is a it's safer was the most important but B was uh it's actually more much more efficient cars have their own area bikes have their own area they get in and out the change of the uh roadway is to use that section of Harrison Ave is north south uh southbound traffic towards the fort from edge hill or beacon road uh beacon hill is cars only the northbound lane on that same direction to um uh to um fortun is bikes and bikes only they can go back back and forth there is a slide I can better describe it to you if you'd like or I can just keep you know just uh talking to you about it cars can go by the fort they can keep going to wherever their destination is that there's no restriction at all just a maybe a brief hold up for a minute for them to keep going by the fort that's night and day the bike lane uh does shut down uh as far as uh stop when all the bikes come in and we open it up with two way traffic roughly around 3 30 just it depends on how many bikes get in there with that we open up two way normal traffic comes up and down Harrison Ave uh that way to roughly around 7 p.m then it shuts down for about a couple more hours and then back to regular two-way traffic going the other way from Ridge Road that is two-way traffic up to the fort people who live on and that's where the residents are uh there too they can come and go as they please we've helped people move in and out of uh horse trailers in and out of uh the uh uh hammer farm there the other uh over the uh last uh time and it runs uh very smoothly the problem I think that did come up was a communication issue uh the we have our officers posted at the point of Ridge Road in Harrison and um they're managing throughout the whole day thousands of cars and with that if you stop and ask everybody where you're going it would hold up a lot of traffic we depend on the people to either a put on blinkers believe it or not they don't do that that well and uh B point and say where they're going.

And if they don't do that the officers have to make that decision and shuttle in one way.

It may be a miscommunication to help that miscommunication uh we've come up with a a system for those residents and more or less it's it's not a pass it's just a notification where we put on a color piece of paper for them the residents in that area so we can see where they're going and they then that officer can see them they can hold it up and then we can move them along much more efficiently and they can go where they are uh want to go if they have guests or something like that they can have they can print out more and have more color paper but uh the the object of that for us is uh to help move the traffic along more efficiently to to not bog down the system we've had great success uh uh and compliments to uh people who live right in the right next to the fort actually said last year was his best uh traffic uh in that area in a long time uh we have VMS trailers that we put out there for notification for direction to help uh the public social media and press releases for the traffic pattern um also um uh for these passes or notifications i uh we will mail them out or speak with those residents uh directly for them and um i have no problem if we have a want to have the public meeting if they want to have uh a further discussion with about it uh but uh the the method is there's no closure of Harrison people can come and go up so if they need there's just a little bit of a detour that they can get around do we have a uh a schedule of when we're gonna start reaching out to the residents to to let them know what what the plan in place is going to be uh we don't push our traffic one out till you know a couple weeks prior to it but we can do it earlier uh to help out and how the residents gonna get these passes so uh we'll there's not that many uh residents that would be affected the only uh the real residents that would be affected is the ones from Fort Adams entrance to Ridge Road because that's the two-way traffic the uh residents in between uh Beacon Hill and Fort Adams can only go one direction so they'll only be going that way that the cars will go that way anyway so it's only a few residents we will reach out to them whether it's either by mail or physically going out there and knocking on their door.

The cars will go that way anyway.

So it's only a few residents we will reach out to them, whether it's either by mailer or physically going out there and knocking on their door.

All right.

Uh any comments or questions, Council Carlin.

Thank you.

Appreciate it, Sarge.

Uh Sergeant.

Um I certainly don't want to uh correct your great work.

I'll reserve my comments uh for the trust foundation or for the festival foundation after this.

But uh that I believe there's 157 affected residents.

Um, and that is to say, from the areas that you discussed to, of course, Ocean A.

It's it's not just Harrison, I understand exactly what you're talking about with respect to those most directly affected.

Uh, but I include also uh Oceanav.

You mentioned Brenton Beacon Hill, there's Ridge, uh, and there's we include, or at least I include Moreland Farms, uh, the entirety of Moreland Farms is is uh close to 60 residents now, north of 55 uh units residents could be um could be far more than than that.

Uh there's rarely only one resident per unit.

So um I appreciate all the hard work you've put into this.

Uh this this was a headache last year for those 157 plus, and it wasn't because of you or the Newport Police Department.

Um I reserve my comments for the foundation.

Thank you, Sarge.

Uh any other questions for Sergeant Ed?

Not questions, but I do think there's probably plenty of ways that we can put information out, particularly on the website.

Um I do believe that you know, anything that would improve the area as far as transportation, letting the people know ahead of time.

You know, that's that's really kind of what they expect.

So I think that would be uh, you know, I appreciate uh work that the police do there for both the uh festivals.

Yeah, that's our our outlook to get more communication out there, more information so they can help understand where and how this will work out.

Yeah.

Thanks, Sergeant.

Thank you.

Uh Jenny wanna come back up.

I guess uh Council Carlin has some council.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you again uh for being here and thank you for putting the extra work in this year.

It was my suggestion to the council at the last meeting that we continue this until we get some further items.

Uh and I have not, I I apologize to my colleagues.

I have not put enough work into it in the last uh five weeks that I should have, but I do trust the administration and uh I trust uh the Newport Police Department.

We're getting to know each other.

Maybe I'll trust you guys someday.

I'm kidding.

Uh it's a wonderful event that the entirety of Newport benefits from.

Uh and the entirety of Newport also sacrifices in some way.

But those who are sacrificing the most, no question about it, to my colleagues, are those 157 that I mentioned, plus additional residents of the southern end of Newport in my ward, the third ward.

And can we work together as we talk about No, absolutely not.

I won't do that.

Of course.

Thank you.

Uh the main concern that I have, and Sergeant had addressed it very uh efficiently.

The main concern I have, and I want to thank the mayor for informing me about these uh developments or about these uh the steps that have been put in place to alleviate some of the pain, some of the concern that the residents uh in the area have had or had specifically last year.

This is an event that has been occurring in Newport for dozens of years, as folks know, and it's a great event, as I said a few minutes ago.

But the mayor mentioned to me and the Sarge Sergeant uh head uh reiterated that there will be passes so that my call uh my constituents, the residents, my friends, my neighbors, our friends, our neighbors, and to my at-large colleagues, your constituents as well, of course, can simply get through to where they are.

Yeah.

The number one complaint I received last year from countless, countless residents of the area is I couldn't get to my own house.

I had to travel 16 miles, sarcasm.

Yeah.

To get what is my house, my driveway, 40 yards in front of where I was.

And a lot of that, I believe, is because the city administration wanted to rightfully so be as welcoming as we could, which includes welcoming the biking community.

But what we need to keep in mind always when we do business as a city council is we love visitors in the city of Newport.

We want them to come back time and time and time again.

We appreciate them.

But we have to put the needs, the concerns of our residents front and center as it relates to especially conveniences like accessing their own property.

These are folks who have an enormous amount of patience.

And if I do one thing on this city council, I hope it is to represent the concerns of residents in the third ward.

They don't complain.

They offer suggestions for help or offer suggestions as to how to do things better.

Some of these folks you'll never hear from them.

So when you do hear from them about an issue like this, you know, my colleagues, that it's it's serious.

So thank you again.

Have a great festival this year.

Festivals.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Councilor.

Maybe we offer them complimentary tickets to the festivals.

That might take care of this.

All right.

And any further discussion?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Any opposed?

I seven.

Uh motion to approve a bittling license, new quencher, opco LLC doing business as the Quencher Newport, 95 Long Wharf in conjunction with a liquor license transfer.

Second.

I motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion to approve a bittling license, new owner extended hours, Lola Donuts LLC doing business as Dunkin' Donuts 194, Connell Highway to have extended hours between 4 30 a.m.

and 6 a.m.

This is a hearing, Mr.

Chair.

Second.

Motion and second.

Do we have any represent representatives from uh Lola Donuts LLC?

Uh any uh questions, uh comments from the council.

I I don't think there's a change in the um hours that they have been operating.

Yeah, it it's the hours they've had for the last few years.

Yeah.

Motion to close the public hearing.

Second.

We're motion and second.

Any discussion?

Aye.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion approved.

Uh motion to approve the uh extended hours.

Second.

Second.

Any discussion?

Those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve a bittling license, new owner extended hours, Bowtie Donuts LLC doing business as Duncan Donuts 7 Memorial Boulevard to have extended hours between 5 a.m.

and 6 a.m.

This is a hearing, Mr.

Chair.

Second.

All right, we have a motion and second.

Is anyone any representatives from uh Bowtie Donuts?

No.

All right.

Any questions or comments from the council?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I saved it.

Motion to approve an annual entertainment license, new class A indoor Newport Protective Club doing business as the Protective Club 596 Thames Street.

You have entertainment Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.

to one o'clock a.m.

and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.

to 1 a.m.

This is the second hearing, Mr.

Chair.

Second.

Motion and second.

Do we have any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman, Council Carlin.

Just to remind the council and the public that we do have an oral understanding from the management and from the club ownership that uh they will respect and uh act upon the concerns that were brought up by uh our residents in the surrounding area.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Uh any other comments, questions, anyone from the public.

Linda Stevenson, Dixon Street, could you share what those actions are that they're going to change?

Sure.

I certainly don't speak for the club, but if my memory serves me correct, at the last council meeting several weeks ago, uh their intent was not to have entertainment until 1 a.m.

They simply asked for the standard license, which is operating hours of the establishment, 11 a.m.

to 1 a.m.

They also ensured that the windows or the outside uh barriers, if you will, be it windows, doors, what have you, uh, would be secured so that uh the music or entertainment would be kept uh inside that is to say to the best of their ability, it would not be a bar uh burden uh from a sound perspective to the neighbors uh and third, perhaps most importantly, they're uh as I understand they're not bringing the Rolling Stones in.

Uh this is for um jukebox music, uh music on what is it, uh Mr.

Mayor Mote.

You know more about this than I do, Spotify or one of those.

Apparently you have to have licenses to do these things.

I don't know anything about it, but I I do uh trust when they tell me uh that their intent is not X but Y.

Uh this ran some in amplified um music till 1 a.m.

So that's why we were going to request, and we did last time, and I'm speaking on behalf of several other residents, some who couldn't be here this evening because of illness, um, that the amplified music number one, we would prefer it wasn't amplified, the place is quite small, but two that it be limited um till 10 p.m.

Which I mean you have on your own agenda here.

Um other establishments that are in the general business zone that are going to have restricted hours.

I don't understand why live music couldn't be restricted in a limited business zone, which is in particular supposed to be um adapting to nearby residential needs rather than those citywide.

So that again is our request this evening that the council limit any live music to end by 10 p.m.

Thank you.

Do we have anyone here from uh representing uh Newport Protector Club?

No.

All right.

Um, just uh for since we do have uh a resident here, I I would I'm gonna make it make a motion that we continue this second to the next meeting so they can have uh so the newport technical can have some uh representation and answer any questions.

All right, we have a motion and a second.

Uh any further discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve an annual entertainment license, new class A indoor 527 Thames Opco LLC doing business as scales and shells restaurant 527 to 537 Thames Street to have entertainment daily from noon to 11 p.m.

This is the second hearing.

All right, we have motion and second.

Um any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman, Count Scarlett.

Virtually the same commentary that I made on the previous item.

Uh Mr.

Shea at the last meeting speaking for the neighborhood, I believe was satisfied with uh the testimony of the applicant.

And as a result, I'm satisfied as well.

Thank you.

Uh anyone from the public wish to make a comment.

Well, all right.

Uh no more discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Motion to approve an annual entertainment license, new class A indoor 24 Memorial Opco LLC doing businesses, Joe's American Beastro, 24 Memorial Boulevard, West to have entertainment daily from 6 p.m.

to six to 10 p.m.

This is a second hearing.

All right.

Uh motion and second uh in discussion from the council.

Uh any comments from the public?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Uh an annual entertainment license expansion class B outdoor fast net uh doing business as fast net pub one to three Broadway to have outdoor entertainment daily from 10 a.m.

to 11 p.m.

on the rear patio.

This is a hearing, Mr.

Chair.

Move approval.

Uh we have a motion and a second.

Uh do we have uh representation from uh FastNet?

Uh good evening, Mayor, Council, everybody.

Uh my name is Finn Bar Murray, and I'm the owner of the Fastnet pub for since the 2006.

And um I'm trying to get three TVs out in the back area, the outside of the bar.

And I also I'm trying to add speakers for the TVs.

Uh I've already met the neighborhood, the neighbors, and we had a very good meeting.

It was very productive because they were having issues over the summer with loud volume from coming from the bar.

And I figure I know what I knew what the problem was and I solved it.

I'm pretty sure I've solved it because we had a speaker that was facing out, and I basically moved the speaker inside the bar.

And I just talked to Jim recently, and just and he said that it's a hell of a lot better.

It's I don't know how better it is.

But I kind of need speakers for events like the World Cup, Soccer, World Cup that's coming up in the summertime.

There's probably 30, 40 games on most of the games, 90% of the games are over by 11 o'clock.

That probably, you know, will be over 11:30.

But it's not just for the soccer.

Uh, for example, if the Super Bowl, if we wanted to have the volume for the Super Bowl game outside, uh, we I would like to be able to do that.

Now you can all you can watch the game without the sound, but it's you know, it ain't the same.

So um I I just saw the gym there and Amy and my neighbors.

Um they're gonna object to the to all of this, I think.

Um I think we're gonna have to get together again with them before the end of the month for the next hearing because uh they said it was okay if I just put TVs with no speakers, but I would like to know how what they think about like having just the speakers on the TVs, not like separate speakers that are you know, they have an amplifier and um they are obviously louder than the regular TV speakers, but I'm willing to compromise.

I'm willing to um you know do whatever it takes.

Uh we don't have a lot of people in general out there watching sports games like night.

Most of the time the sound is off an away, and most of the time the games are on.

Most games are on during the day.

There's very few sporting events that go on after 11 o'clock.

Um, we do not play music on the speakers that are outside.

Uh we do just they're just for the TVs.

Uh so um I don't know.

I'd like to think that at the very least we can put TVs out the back.

Um, and if we can compromise not have speakers and just use the speakers from the TV, TVs are one TV at least, just so it's not silence when you're out there looking at a game, and you know, you might be able to hear it from the inside of the bar.

Uh, but it's just it's not the same experience watching a game without volume or some kind of volume.

Now, a lot of the times there's so many people like watching these games, you can't hear the volume anyway.

It's just it's just there, and it creates an extra bit of atmosphere.

So um that's about it, really.

Um that's what I'm asking for.

Um questions from the council for Mr.

Murray.

Um, is this gonna be a seasonal?

I imagine for the outside or really, you know, like for example, like you know, another event, maybe there's like the Super Bowl, just that's another event that would be you know, it's not just soccer, there's also rugby games, as you know, soccer mainly.

You know, we saw a lot of soccer, but um there's a there is also other sports, so I wouldn't be seasonal, it would be all year round.

Okay, councilman Paul Town.

Yeah, yeah, is um the person you're referring to that you had spoken to, is he here tonight?

Yeah, Jim.

Oh I believe you know it would be important for us to hear from him, maybe.

Mr.

Chair, can I just have a question from Mr.

Murray?

Have you ever had a noise violation?

I have never um I've had uh people call the city to say uh you know there's loud last night or something like that, but I've never called up you've never been you've never been sighted or decided enough.

Thank you.

Okay, uh no further questions for Mr.

Murray.

Um thanks, Miss Murray.

We'll ask uh Jim to come up.

Good evening, everyone.

Jim Simmons.

I'm here with my wife Amy.

We live at 26 Spring Street, which is directly behind um the establishment.

Um we have a good relationship with Butch.

Um we want his business to thrive.

Um we patronize it from time to time, but it does get very loud.

And with the existing license, it's already quite loud.

The particularly at night, you know, the base can feel it in our house, and and as do the other neighbors.

We did meet with Butch.

We discussed this as other some other potential expansion plans he's considering.

Um that we expressed our concerns about the noise.

Um, I don't know that they were resolved.

He did move the speaker he spoke of, so that has been a considerable improvement because it they used to point out the door that would be open, literally outside.

So that's been cured, but now he's asking for outside speakers.

So I feel like it's a horse trade that we're gonna be on the wrong side of again.

And so it's it's it's very especially at night in the summertime, it gets crowded on that patio, just the human noise.

The the drinking, the ping-pong, the it gets loud, you know, and um we don't feel like we should have to call and complain.

When we do, they generally respond.

Oftentimes we don't, even though we're frustrated by it.

I know other neighbors have called and complained to the police.

Um we hope that he's you know, we can have a additional conversation, and maybe there's a compromise that the neighborhood could come to with him over this issue.

But as uh as he's applied for it, we are objecting, and I know other neighbors have the same concern.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um any questions?

Yeah, please.

Mr.

Mayor, uh City Council, my name is Sam Lazarus.

My wife and I and our one-year-old live at 20 Spring Street.

Um, and I'll just make two very quick points uh about the the FastNet.

We are huge fans of the FastNet.

We move here, we're year-round residents.

We moved into that home specifically because of the energy of our neighborhood.

We love the FastNet.

It's the first place we went, we moved in.

And so the energy that that place creates, the energy that the current owner is proposing with this permit are great.

We're actually big fans of that.

We also have a one-year-old.

And I'm very concerned about the extent of the permit till 11 p.m.

seven days a week as you know to not sneeze and also 12 months a year.

Every week when they have their disco night on Tuesday night, we can feel the base in our old home.

We're living a Newport home.

And so our baby struggles to sleep on those nights.

I've actually been out in front of the pub on those nights, and I've measured the decibel when the windows and doors swing open.

It's way past the sound limit.

We've looked, we've talked to local business owners who've put in complaints with the police.

And so I'm surprised that the owner has said that they have not had a citation.

That would very, very, very much surprised me.

I I say all that knowing that if I wanted a quiet neighborhood, we wouldn't live on Spring Street.

We specifically moved in for the kinds of efforts that the FastNet is promoting.

And in our experience so far, there hasn't been enough collaboration.

The meeting that the owner spoke of, we were given notice of about three hours, four hours before that meeting was occurring.

So I wasn't able to attend.

And so sometimes I feel like that collaboration feels more performative than actually productive.

And so I think that there's a lot more that can be done to try to work with folks who not only live in close proximity but also have like young children.

Because if you're approving a seven-day-a-week 12 months a year, outdoor noise format up until 11 p.m.

You're you're you're essentially gonna include a lot of young families from moving in to our neighborhood.

Uh happy to answer any additional.

Mr.

Chair.

Why have you not called the police?

Uh we have.

I've called in three times.

And were they cited?

As far as I never followed through with the citations, I'm more concerned with whether or not my one-year-old is sleeping.

I look a little glassy-eyed.

He was up till 3:30.

Okay.

We we have spoken to additional business owners on Broadway who've had issues with the noise, and I'm happy to bring them to the next meeting to make sure at least have them submit a letter for the 28th to the second hearing.

Again, my goal is to compromise here.

I I would love to have live sporting events in our neighborhood.

That adds character and color to our neighborhood.

Those are good things.

But it it's the all-encompassing of the permit that I worry about.

I guess um my concern um, I mean, this is an outdoor entertainment license.

So could you just give us Mr.

Bean um a little primer on outdoor entertainment licenses and what uh being different from the indoor ones?

Well, the yeah, the the indoor um by its nature is going to be treated a little bit different than the outdoor.

Um you have to again, as I suggested at the last um times when we had entertainment licenses that um indoor is more likely where you're going to have more or less not entirely uniform um restrictions because it's indoor outdoors when you will have differing circumstances.

Where is it located?

For example, you take this business, it's located in a general business zone.

So and there is residential bordering it.

So you might have one that's located in a limited business or a residential, you know, it's non-conforming.

So there's gonna be with outdoor, there's gonna be a little difference in terms of the ability for the licensing to impose what they call reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.

Again, I caution this council that you cannot get into prior restraint because there are concerns that something could happen.

There has to be a basis based on the entertainment that's being proposed.

So and you look at the nature of it.

So for example, this is TVs, it's borderline whether in terms of entertainment, I would say a series of TVs out on a patio is probably getting into the nature of entertainment.

But I think we sometimes we're overbroad in what's entertainment, having a TV on in a in a bar, and maybe some background information, uh uh background um music may not be the entertainment that the licensing is really targeted at.

Then again, it can get into a situation where it maybe it is.

But yes, outdoor, you can be I would say a little bit more restrictive based on the the idea that it is outdoor and it's not indoor, so you can have a you can treat them differently, but I just want you to be careful about the prior restraint.

So it's uh 75 decibels outdoor, right?

Is it 75?

I can't remember.

Okay.

Um so would your recommendation be to I'm sorry?

No, then it goes down after what 11 o'clock.

After 11, it goes down to 65.

Oh, yeah, after 11.

Right, yeah.

Um would your recommendation be that if they feel that the it is louder than 75 or 65 after um 11 o'clock, if that's to call the police, and then and then and then there's a justification for limiting the license.

There's definitely if there is if there's evidence that the entertainment that you have license in this case, what's being asked for ends up being disturbing, then that prior restraint doesn't apply anymore.

Right, but you have to you have to build a case.

Right.

We've also been again, we've been we've been uh informed by well directed by federal courts and state courts that you know we have to look at primarily our noise ordinance first, and you know, an objective measurement that that is a way to address all this.

So I know you know it's tough for some of the residents to hear, but it is a it's a form of free speech.

It's commercial free speech, so it's not as protected as regular uh free speech, but it is it's entertainment.

So um, you know, I I think you can address the time here, but I think the overall uh saying you can't do it based on concerns about the residents what this will what will happen with this entertainment.

Uh and I'm not hearing a lot about the overall operations there.

And uh so just watch the prior restraint.

Council Paul Tong.

Um, yeah, Mr.

Chairman, can I suggest that maybe we allow this second meeting to occur and to continue uh this item?

And the reason being I see an owner that you know wants to explore the idea.

I see the neighbors that are have indicated they're fans of the place.

And I I think people want to be reasonable, and maybe if they can arrive at some sort of reasonable um agreement uh by continuing this till our next meeting, and they can come forward in Do I have a second?

Uh motion of second, Mr.

Chairman, Council Carlin.

Sorry.

Uh I'll take some liberty on the motion, please.

Yep.

Uh Mr.

Bean.

Prior restraint, you say, yes.

Uh prior restraint is directly applicable to the proposal in front of us.

That is to say we cannot say as a body that we anticipate there to be violations of the 75 decibel limit.

But does prior restraint encompass what the gentleman said uh with debate with the youngster?

Oh, he's right there.

Good to see you.

Does uh prior restraint uh encompass or prohibit in any way this this council uh from taking into consideration what is not being uh the disturbance so to speak that is not being caused by the uh request before us but the disturbance that is being caused by other noise uh at the establishment.

Can the council considered disturbance as a reason for denying the license?

First of all, you don't have that before.

Second of all, the establishment would have a process right to rebuke that.

So you just can't somebody gets up and says there's been disturbances, it needs to be it needs it needs to be addressed in the proper form in that way.

So what you can consider uh council called is yes, this is out the law.

Yes, you could objectively possibly uh if this was if they were gonna have beings out there with amplified music and all that, and they wanted to do it till 12 o'clock at night, that that would be that would be prior restrained from you to say no, that would be too much, need to end it earlier.

Yeah, you have uh situation you're talking about TVs and that.

So I think in this particular page, you have to look at look at the time location where it's gonna happen, but you also have to look at what is being the votes.

Thank you.

The fast net is not in the third ward, it's in the second ward.

But the homes described.

It's a funny way we draw these maps.

The homes described are in the third ward.

Um it ends in a funky way.

If you look across the street to the park, the spring park, which was converted, that's in the third ward as well.

Uh it's it's too complicated for even me to understand or explain.

But uh the council as an alternative, and I believe I will support either council Napolitanos or Mayor Holders, whoever made the motion, uh, I believe I will support the the motion to continue so that perhaps we can work something else out.

But the council could simply remain silent on its reasoning, Mr.

Bean, for denying the license.

We do not have to say we are denying the license for XYZ reason or the request for XYZ reason, thereby putting us in a potential uh legal conundrum with respect to what you warned us about.

We could simply stay silent and say we deny the license.

The courts in that case and they in the cases to show it that they're gonna assume it was based on prior restraint because there was no reason given why you did it before it even occurred.

As a uh alternative, which no one is considering uh if we are that subject in terms of precedent by the court, etc.

We could simply say all bars with regard to outside music amplification of any sort as shut down at six o'clock at night.

Again, nobody's nobody's attempting to do that, but uh surely the court would not trample on uh the home rule charter in that sense and say you can't do that.

Of course we can.

Right, but but the first amendment does not guarantee uh as you very well know, and I don't want to argue constitutional issues, and I trust Mr.

B in 100%.

Uh, but the first amendment does not guarantee uh a uh commercial entity, especially as Mr.

B noted, or an individual, uh the right to do such past a certain amount of time, especially a commercial entity.

Uh in my opinion.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thanks, Mr.

Chairman.

Mr.

Chair, Carl.

Uh Council Smith.

Um I have a lot of concern because this this keeps coming up where we're seeing um that delicate balance between being able to support our local businesses, our local economy, but also support our residents when they come before us with a quality of life issue.

Um, I I know that it's tough when it's a mixed use type of neighborhood.

And so I really think that maybe we need to take a look at our noise ordinance and if it in fact reflects what our current day in Newport looks like.

Um, you know, because we're also advocating for more people to live in Newport.

You know, we we have a housing issue, and and how do how do we find that um support of tourism, our business economy, and our residents.

And so I I would just like to recommend that maybe that's something that we need to take a stronger look at.

Um how that all plays out just to make sure that we are supporting everybody involved.

Yeah, thank you.

Well, I think what what you're getting at there though, this is getting out of the realm of the entertainment license per se.

You're you're gonna get more and involved of like a zoning ordinance change as opposed to noise ordinance.

You know what I mean?

Well, I mean, I think that we need to look at those places are look at all of it.

But but yeah, I mean the entertainment licenses, I think that that also plays into it that if we're gonna take a look at maybe the hours that are being requested and have something more standard across the board instead of you know, see seeing different hours here, there and everywhere.

I I just think that we need to have a little bit more cohesion with the process.

Sure.

Uh council say this very short.

These are very difficult conversations, and we have them over and over again at councils.

And I just want to commend each of the parties that have come forth.

I know it's tough coming out in the evening after working all day with kids, uh, which I know you're trying to run a great business.

The civility with which you have all come to the table this evening is refreshing.

Um and it makes me very proud to be a council in this city.

So thank you so much for the approach you're taking.

I'm gonna be supporting the motion to continue because I think it reinforces residents and businesses trying to work together on finding a solution here.

Any further discussion?

All right, so we have a motion to continue this matter.

Um as long as the two parties continue to uh work out in in agreement or not work out on agreement, how it may.

Uh and so we'll continue, we'll take a vote to continue this to our next meeting on January twenty-eighth.

Motion to close the public hearing and continue.

Second vote.

Uh motion and second, all those in favor.

I need posed.

Motion to approve an annual entertainment license, new class A indoor and class B outdoor quench opco LLC doing business as the quencher, Newport 95 Long Wharf to have entertainment indoors daily from 12 p.m.

to 1230 a.m.

and outdoors Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m.

to 5 p.m.

This is a hearing again.

Once again, all right.

Uh we have a motion and second.

Do we have any um any representation from the the quencher?

Hello again, Matt Lyons, 513 probably.

All right.

Uh this is a hearing.

Is there uh any question?

Uh any comments from the council?

Uh anyone from the public looking to make a comment or question.

No.

All right.

Motion to close the public hearing.

Second.

Motion is like close public hearing.

All those in favor.

I mean opposed.

All right.

And motion to approve.

Second.

Well, we already have the motion.

You just said to close the public hearing.

I know, but I made the motion before to the annual.

So we're moving on.

Uh motion to approve the 2025-26 fitting license renewals for A1 Pizza and Kilwyn's chocolates.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Motion and second.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Next we're on to communications from the city manager.

Um, it is recommended that the council consider the attached petition.

Uh staff has reviewed a petition and have not um identified any issues with a new poll location.

Um the attached is a petition from Rhode Island Energy to install two poles south of existing poll 11 on Lawrence Avenue in order for the customer to install electric conduit to transformers on private property.

The polls are required to provide power to Salva Regina University dorm dormitory building being constructed at 51 Shepherd Avenue.

I move approval.

Second.

All right, motion and second, any discussion, Mr.

Chairman, Council Carlin.

Thank you.

Uh there was several months ago a request uh from Rhode Island Energy Verizon to install a new poll on uh wasn't on Bellevue, but it was Kitty Corner to Bellevue on Ruggles.

Uh and there were objections from the neighbors, and we met with variety we met with Rhode Island Energy uh with the folks who needed the upgraded poll uh and everything was taken care of.

It was in my opinion, it was uh a great demonstration of uh giving a little and taking a little, if you will.

I'm just uh concerned I'm not concerned at all.

I intend to vote for this if there's no issue.

Were there any concerns from neighbors?

And Lawrence is I mean it's primarily uh the salvay area, of course, but that there's a butting residential concerns.

Yes, Mr.

Carl.

When this uh these two new polls uh proposed are for the new uh residential dorm that's being built there at 51 Shepherd Avenue.

Yeah, um, all abutting uh properties within that uh within that entire block are owned by Salva Regina University uh along that stretch on Lawrence Avenue.

Um these two poles are to support underground conduit to avoid overhead lines, um, as was approved uh in the planning in TRC stages um in the conditions of the of the approvals for that project.

So um Salva Regina um the uh in Rhode Island Energy are the requesters as well as uh the abutters to that entire area.

We are we thinking the same place, yes, this deputy manager, is it across from the salvae baseball field?

Uh this is on on Lawrence Avenue.

Yeah, physically on Lawrence, yeah.

Right on Lawrence Avenue between um between Shepherd Avenue and Victoria Avenue.

Yeah.

Next to the Chancellor's House there.

That's all that's all Salva Regina property right there.

But aren't aren't there two or three residents that that live there?

Mike?

No, they're the cottages, uh to the chancellor's house.

Yeah.

Um, and then um down to Greystone.

Perfect.

Um, and everything, everything within that block um is all university property.

I don't suppose they'll object to their own request.

I I know the campus pretty well.

Any further discussion?

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Action item six five four three.

It is recommended that the city council award a contract for the 2026 required statistical update to real property values to Tyler technologies in the amount of 219,000 and authorize the council chair to sign the contract on behalf of the city.

This is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

All right, motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Action item six five four four.

The police department recommends awarding a contract to Coltmasters of Cranston, Rhode Island for the purpose of replacing the HVAC system at the police substation at 514 Fame Street in the total amount of $13,300.

This is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Action item 6545.

The Harbor Division recommends awarding the mooring maintenance contract for city-owned moorings under RFP number 2026, March 001 to a Quidnick Mooring Company to ensure rental moorings are in safe working condition for boaters visiting Newport Harbor.

Mooring gear and tackle will be up to city standards located in city ordinance on C channel uh CH 12.28.077.

This is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

Chapter.

It's chapter.

Thank you.

I just know that.

Motion and second.

Any discussion.

No.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item 6546.

Uh, the grants office of the Department of Resilience and Sustainability in collaboration with the Division of Parks, Grounds, and Forestry within the Department of Public Services recommends accepting a 150,000 dollar grant award from the Van Buren Chapel Charitable Foundation for a comprehensive management and master plan for the cliffwalk.

This there's no fiscal impact.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second.

Do we have any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Action item 6547.

The grants office of the Department of Resilience and Sustainability in collaboration with the Division of Parks, Grounds, and Forestry within the Department of Public Services recommends accepting a $50,000 grant award from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank's Community Project Assistance Fund.

The grant award provides the city of Newport with the opportunity to explore the feasibility of design and permitting for a salt marsh restoration project along Hazard Road at Gooseneck Cove.

The project represents a high impact ecological intervention, and this project would expand the efforts previously completed in adjacent salt marshes by Save the Bay, working with the city of Newport.

I move approval.

Councilor um had to recuse himself.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion.

Action item 646548.

The grants uh office and department of resilience and sustainability uh recommends acceptance of a 100,000 dollar grant award from the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Opioid Municipal Incentives Fund.

The grant award provides the city of Newport with resources to support crisis intervention and connect individuals facing addiction, homelessness, mental health challenges, substance abuse disorders, and other complex needs with a whole person approach to education prevention recovery and treatment.

I move approval.

Second.

Motion and second.

We have any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Action item 6549.

Uh the grants office within the Department of Resilience and Sustainability in coordination with the city manager and the director of finance recommend adoption of a formal policy governing financial thresholds and approval processes for the future grant-seeking activities undertaken by the city of Newport.

Uh this has no fiscal impact.

I move approval.

Second.

All right.

Motion and second.

Any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Um action item six five four six five five zero.

The city of Newport Department of Utilities recommends authorization for the mayor to sign a contract amendment with Viola Water Services Newport LLC for the primary clarifier capital improvements at the Newport Water Pollution Control Facility and to authorize Robert Schultz, General Manager and Chief Engineer to execute all related documents subject to final funding determination and compliance with applicable procurement and financing requirements.

This action is requested at this time to preserve construction pricing and vendor commitments and to mitigate regulatory operational and fiscal risk associated with the delay.

I move um approval.

Second.

Motion and second.

We have any discussion.

Um Mr.

Chair, I'm second.

I want to thank you so much for all the work you've done on all those grants.

I mean, that was fantastic.

So thank you very much.

I I should have mentioned it, but I didn't.

So now I did.

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh any other discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to amend uh 4.08.120 of the codified ordinances entitled Property Tax Classification, Section 4.08.120A2C1.

First reading continued from December 20 uh December 10th, 2025, 4.08.120A2A and A4.

This is the second reading, Mr.

Chair.

Um Mr.

Second.

Second.

All right.

We have a motion and a second uh discussion on the council.

Mr.

Council Carlin.

I will do something now that I have not done, or I'll do something soon that I have not done on my time since my time on the city council began.

And that is to say I will reverse my vote on the ordinance.

The last council meeting, I I voted in favor of the ordinance.

Uh but I have subsequently been convinced by uh councillor Kamza Vorovank's very good arguments against making the change.

And I intend to vote no.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

City Manager, would you mind explaining what we're doing here, please?

I'll separate them into the two parts.

The the article the item that was passed on first reading at the previous meeting was the truncation of the end date, not the beginning date.

That didn't change, but the end date for the annual uh uh two-tier tax application program.

It uh used to be March 15th and it still is, pending uh ordinance amendment.

The proposal was to bring that back to the last business day in February, and the reason the rationale for that was to give more time for the for the tax assessor in the city uh finance department to determine what the levy needs to be, because we need that to finalize the proposed budget, which has a downstream effect of giving the council more time to review that information so that we have a chance to make more uh meaningful decisions based on that material.

So that's that's the reason for it.

It's it's responding to council uh feedback during the last budget process about wishing for more time to have a chance to look through and really parse through the budget document prior to its public release and its public hearings.

And at the last meeting we broke these up into three separate we did category.

So the uh the second item was a change in the uh uh change to eliminate the uh use of voter register registration as an acceptable form of ID when applying for the two-tier tax, and the third item was withdrawn altogether at the administration's request, which the council accepted.

So we're left with those two items.

The first that I mentioned was passed on first reading.

The second, the voter registration eligibility for for application was continued.

So this is the first reading of that uh measure.

All right.

Um so let's let's uh if we can.

I'll make a motion we take a vote for the uh the time the time change since it's a second reading and we approve it on the first vote.

Uh do we have a second to make that motion?

Second all right, motion and second any discussion.

Is this on the item itself or to split the two into two separate?

Split the two.

All is in favor.

I all right.

So if we take the um uh 4.08120, this is the second reading on changing the time frame to uh apply for the two-tier tax systems from uh January one to the last date in February.

Uh so um I make a motion to approve.

Second, motion and second, any discussion, Mr.

Chair, Council Side.

I appreciate the administration's efforts to get us the budget earlier, and that this is a major driving factor in ultimately figuring out what the impact of the expenditure side of the equation will be when it chews out to the revenues.

Okay, how much will we have to raise taxes to cover that?

What would that look like?

The nature of revenues in government, where we're budgeting for a fiscal year at this point that doesn't start for at least five months, um, almost half a year, is that additional revenues will come in, whether it's the hotel tax projections, whether it's state aid that comes in, and that's a rolling basis thing.

The same thing happens at the state level, right?

Revenue estimating conference, it's gonna happen again in May when they pass their budget in July.

So the modifications end up happening at the fringes.

Um the reason I'm not supporting this, and I have nothing but the highest level of appreciation and sympathy for the crunch that the finance team goes through, is what I'm weighing is that administrative crunch of an additional two weeks where we may need to tweak the budget numbers of the final end with residents' opportunity to take advantage of a program that is designed to make their lives more manageable to make living in this community more affordable.

And the nature of this program is it is specifically very focused on giving relief to middle class families.

These are renters and these are owners.

We're middle class families that really feel the benefit of that.

We've heard the positive feedback.

And so as we look at a time when we know that families are struggling with affordability, where there are an awful lot of changes flying around, whether it's trying to figure out what's going on with the utility bills that you're getting or what's going on with your property taxes.

I want to afford residents every opportunity to take advantage of a program that's helping them stay in their homes.

And so for that reason, while I'm sort of balancing the two purposes, I'm opposing this with complete respect for the administration because I believe that right now we should be doing everything we can to help middle class families in the city continue to call this place home.

Any other discussion?

Um so I uh I understand where you come from, counselor, and um I think the staff and I'll turn to uh city manager Kennedy.

The numbers that we've got from I don't know, I don't even know if it's even an official study from the couple years that we've had this in place now of the number of people who apply at the beginning, basically the middle and the end of this program is kind of the the basis behind uh why we want to make this change.

Is that correct?

I it's it's I wouldn't say it's a basis, but it uh it in our opinion it's a it's a supporting fact that the anecdotal observations from the first three years of the program uh indicate that wherever you place the deadline, human nature will take over.

There are some who are eager, like my wife would be, she'd be running to the mailbox on day one, uh, signing up on January 2nd.

And then there's procrastinators like me who would wait until whenever the deadline is, regardless of when it is.

Um, and so because of that, we felt as an administration that truncating the window would not have uh a meaningful impact on the the human nature of people to respond to initial opportunities and deadlines regardless of where they fall.

The main reason though I'll go back to is the ability to get more time to establish the levy math and provide a document to the council to review with with with due respect to councillor comps of organs, which I do respect as well.

And do we have uh any idea of because this one that's that's in place now, if we make this change, is just for new applications.

This this is yes, correct.

This is so we're not looking at every resident has the opportunity to apply because most of them are already involved in this program.

Correct.

Last year was was the first of our everybody needs to reapply years.

So we had a mass influx to the city hall.

This year is one of the two off years before we do that again.

And so we've seen a much lesser stream of of applicants, but that's because if you were already approved last year, you're good until 2022.

But I Mr.

Could I just say that um also though if you have a yearly lease on a rental property, you do have to come in with a new lease?

Thank you for that.

Thank you for that point.

That that's true.

What I was referring to was the owner-occupied residents, but those who use the lease option to take advantage of the program have to show that lease uh annually, correct?

Mr.

Chair, Council Smite.

Um, I guess my concern with this is that this cycle has already started.

I could see maybe changing it from March 15th to the last day of February to go into effect next year, because that gives us a full year to get the residents on board to get communication out to the residents that the time frame will be shortened for next year's cycle.

That asking asking for this time frame to be shortened now as we're already a few weeks into it.

Um, you know, I can see where counselor Comsey Boravang and Carlin are coming from.

So I'm just wondering is this something that can be proposed to start for next year, so that it's not kind of confusing to the residents, I guess.

I mean, it certainly absolutely could be.

I I think the administration's position is that we want this to be the long-term uh solution so that we have annually more time to put together a proposed budget and get it to council for review.

So waiting until next year to start would be, you know, refusing to accommodate that would be selfish on our part.

So we could certainly, as a matter of an oral amendment, figure it out how basically write that in to be effective for fiscal year 28, not fiscal year 27.

So by that I mean January to February of 2027 instead of 2026.

So we uh absolutely we would not we would not object to that because it would defeat the purpose of our overall aim to make this a sustainable process.

Right.

Okay, thank you.

I I mean I I would support it if that was the case, and that way it would give us a year to properly roll things out to the residents so that we're not shortchanging anybody.

Do you want to make uh an amendment?

Uh yeah, I'd like to make an motion to amend it to reflect that section.

Would be I think the best way to do it is section two um of this ordinance draft says it will take effect upon its passage.

We could amend that to say it will take effect um on January 1st of 2027.

Uh we have a second, Council Pinnock.

Second.

All right.

Uh so we have a uh motion and second on an amendment.

Uh any discussion.

All those in favor, say aye.

I opposed.

And then we'll vote on that uh that amended uh ordinance.

So um we have we are well, we already have the second on it.

So um all is in favor on the changing the date from to January 1st, 2027 through last day of February 2027.

Uh please raise your right hand.

All right, eyes have it.

Uh so now we're back to do we we have to vote on the we have to vote now on amending the chapter though.

But this yeah, okay.

Um all right, so now we're the property tax classification.

This is the first reading uh 4.08.120 of the quarterback ordinances titled entitled property tax classification.

Um do we have any discussion?

This was this is for the um uh right, but this is for the the dates again, right?

That we would be posted the dates.

Okay.

Now we're doing property tax.

Okay, okay.

All right.

So I'm just unclear also.

What is this vote on?

So this is the first reading of uh amending the section on property tax classification.

So but we would be voting on whether or not to uh the ability to use voter registration for no oh okay, so we're still on the dates.

No, no, we the dates are set now.

We've been okay.

So what do we want voting on?

So the property tax classification topics a system of classification of taxable property in the city of Newport at a rateable property in the city of Newport shall be classified by the assessor as follows.

And then we have the class one, class two.

Yeah, that's the same section.

Yeah, so the uh amendment to this um to the section is where uh I believe what you have I believe what you have in front of you is the provision in 4.08 point one two zero a two C1.

Correct, madam.

Yes, it's so this is regarding the use of voter IDs as an applicable correct yes, right.

And just keep in mind that in voting on this, we we amended the section two of this draft.

So say you approved you made this change would take effect on January 1st 2027, based on the amendment you did uh uh yes right before.

Okay.

So I'll I'll just read what the amended uh section is gonna be.

So the applicant applying for the owner occupied residential rate must be a resident of the city of Newport.

Resident means an individual whose principal residence and the residence at which the individual physically lives at for more than seven months of the year is the subject property to which property is also the place of domicile of the individual.

The only accepted proof of residency is a current Rhode Island driver's license or identification card issued by the state of Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles showing a residence address, which is the address of the property which the applicant resident is seeking the owner-occupied residential rate.

Uh an active duty uh military member may also show required proof of residency by way of military orders, assign the applicant for duty at military installations and facilities in the Newport, Rhode Island area.

A post office box is not a legal address for this uh purpose.

All right.

Well, I would like to hear from our canvassing um person who who you so that uh he can give us an idea of what why this changes uh necessary or seen as necessary.

It would it would be his pleasure.

Um and uh he regrets that he wasn't able to be at the last meeting, but uh I know there were several questions uh that were very legitimate from the last meeting that I could not answer with anywhere near the expertise of our subject matter expert.

So Hugh, over to you and thank you very much.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

Uh Hugh Moran, election administrator for the city.

Um, and I know there's were a lot of questions at the last meeting about the voter registration process.

Um so thank you for giving me the opportunity to take a few minutes to clarify some things.

Um, first you should know that we have very permissive voter registration laws in this country.

Um, that's because historically in certain parts of the country and in our not too distant past people in my position, the registrars, we're often the bad guy.

Um there was systematic discrimination, and it took federal intervention to change this so that eligible citizens could get on those voter rolls.

Because of the uh voting rights act of 1965, the help America vote act of 2002 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

We've corrected some of these wrongs.

As a result, it's very easy to register to vote, um, particularly in Rhode Island.

All you have to do is fill out a voter registration form.

Um when you do that, you do provide the uh last four digits of your social security number or a Rhode Island driver's license number or state ID number.

Um, and we have a uh way to tie into the DMV and the Social Security Administration's system to verify that identity.

From there, a new voter is placed on a 30-day pending period so that we can verify residency through the post office.

Um we send an acknowledgement letter out to the voter at their home address.

And then um if the post office is able to deliver that letter and the 30-day pending period passes, that voter is considered active and can vote in the next election.

Um we rely solely on the post office and the oath that the voter swears on their voter registration form to um verify that residency.

If that letter that we send out does not um get delivered and it gets returned to us as on deliverable, that's when we start to question things and we mark that voter as inactive.

We send a follow-up notice to them to confirm whether or not they they live at that address.

And it's up for the voter to respond and to clarify their information.

Um these inactive voters are still eligible to vote.

They just have to update their information in advance.

Um, you might see those pink affirmation forms at the polls, and and that's what they're doing uh during that process.

Um the reason we do this is to keep those voter rolls clean because um it's very easy to register to vote, but it's not so easy to get someone off of the voter rolls, and that's for good reason.

Um, unless we have direct evidence of a death, a move out of state, um, a move to another town.

We're not just gonna take someone off of the voter rolls.

So it's very easy to get on.

Rightfully difficult to get off those voter rolls.

I think the confusion here lies with um this this two-tiered tax program about the idea of photo identification.

Um I know that the intent to remove voter registrations because we only have this 30-day pending residency requirement, but the tax program has a seven-month um residency requirement.

So there's potential for someone to use the voter registration option for 30 days and not um meet that seven month requirement and then get that tax benefit as I understand it.

Um the other issue here, as I understand it, is that the um people applying for this program sometimes provide an out-of-state driver's license to the tax assessor and use the voter registration form.

We would not consider an out-of-state driver's license as sufficient proof of residency because you've gone to that other state and you've said and proved to them that you're a resident there.

So I think that's where the mismatch is here.

Whether you choose to keep voter registration as an option for the tax program or not, I believe you should be empowering the tax assessor to investigate when someone um brings an out-of-state driver's license to them.

I think the simple solution in this case is to let voter registration, if you choose to let it stand, to require that the registration date is seven months prior to the application date and empower the tax assessor to enforce that.

Um you could also go the other route and to remove it from the um the options, like the town of Middletown has done, like the tax assessor is requesting.

So sort of two different options there.

I think voter registration is less of the issue.

The bigger issue is when someone comes to the tax assessor with an out of state license and is trying to claim residency in Rhode Island and trying to get that tax benefit through this program.

But again, that's that's the sort of the tax side, which I'm not necessarily qualified to speak to.

Maybe Jim can help with that.

Don't say question on this.

So they need a Rhode Island driver's license to register to vote.

No, they don't.

No.

You can provide a Rhode Island driver's license number.

You can provide any other state ID number, or you can provide the last four digits for your social.

But you don't need any of that.

Um it is not a requirement under Rhode Island state law that you have any of those things in order to register.

I want to separate registration from the act of voting itself.

Registration, we're very permissive.

It's very easy, it's rightfully easy to get registered.

When you go to vote yourself in person, you need a photo ID.

That photo ID is identification of the person standing in front of the election official, that they are who they say they are.

But what it is not is identification of any form of residency.

It's just identifying the person in front of them.

It does not establish that they live in any particular area.

All of that is done for election purposes through the oath that they put on the form and through the post office.

So separating identity and residency is two separate concepts within the right to vote.

Well, our objective here is residency, right?

And so in order to register to vote, they do have to prove that they are in fact a resident.

Yes.

Um for 30 days, they they do have to prove that.

But when we say prove, what we're what we're saying is that I've been able to successfully mail them a letter.

That's that's the only proving aspect that takes place.

What is somebody attesting to when they register to vote in terms of their residency, that this is their permanent residence?

That they intend it to be their permanent residence, or that they um they are here present for the moment in time.

It's it's the um but that that is their residence for voting purposes, um, that that is their permanent residence for voting purposes.

So hypothetically, let's say um, let's say I loaded up a school bus with like 50 people, brought them down here, rented 50 apartments, or at least gave them a mailing address, said, All right, for the next 30 days, you're to consider Newport your home, go register to vote.

Could they do that?

Yes.

If they've established residency for 30 days and they come to my office and they fill out that paperwork, because we have very permissive voter registration laws, I can't question the circumstances sort of beyond what the person is telling me.

And if they've been here for 30 days and they can receive that confirmation letter through the post office, they will be registered to vote here.

And then once they're registered to vote here, if they come to my office and ask for proof of their registration, it's their information, it's also a public record, and I have to give it to them.

They could then take that and walk next door to the tax assessor's office.

And if they were if they had purchased that property and were trying to apply for the tax program, they could then use that registration as as proof for the tax program.

I'm satisfied.

I'll support this.

Yes, Mr.

Chairman, thank you.

Hugh.

When you attest to living in the state of Rhode Island, notwithstanding that it's a 30-day uh or more attestment.

If you are in fact knowingly lying about that, what is the penalty state law-wise, or what ramifications does that person face with the municipality if the municipality has any power at all over such?

So I'm not sure on the municipality part.

Um, but I believe the penalty in Title 17 of Rhode Island General Law for a violation of that oath on the voter registration form is um I want to say it's up to $5,000 and 10 years of prison.

So violating that oath, and there's more to that oath other than just you know where you live.

It's that you're a citizen, that you're not judged by a court to be unable to vote.

There's there's other aspects of that oath as well.

Um but that that is the oath of the voter swearing, and there's penalty in 17.

But we're getting a little bit, or I'm getting a little bit beyond the scope of the uh discussion that's before us or the item that's before us.

But uh that's astonishing because it seems to me that that is ripe for voter fraud in a situation where an individual can say, well, I intended uh to be here for 30 days, and any politician crooked could simply register 500 individuals who intend to be here for 30 days, but because of circumstances, we're not able to.

But yet they were conveniently able to vote in the election.

No, to clarify.

It's not that they intend to be here for 30 days, it's that they have been here for 30 days.

By proof of a mailer which you send out to the residents that they say they intend to be at for 30 days.

Correct.

So and so I could have 500 people living in counselor Smythe's house.

Uh that's right.

That's not a uh that's not that's not a uh a reasonable example to use, but I think you know what I'm getting at, and it's it's not something that we have control over.

It's just it's completely and totally ripe uh for criminal activity.

That that 30-day uh pending period, that 30-day residency rule comes straight out of the Rhode Island state constitution.

Um, and so that's not changing anytime soon.

Um that's where that comes from.

And then again, we have these permissive laws because we don't want to prevent anyone who is rightfully a citizen and a resident to get on the voter polls.

The issue is when you then take those voter rolls and try and use them as justification for the tax program for something else.

Last question.

When I go to actually vote, and you distinguish the registration process versus the voting process, when I go to actually vote, must I show you a document of some sort that matches where you sent that letter?

No.

So what am I showing you?

Showing a photo ID that is either state issued, so a Rhode Island driver's license or a Rhode Island uh state photo ID, um, a photo ID like a ripta bus pass or a uh med state Medicaid card that serves as photo identification that you, Dave Carlin, are standing before me and not some other person pretending to be Dave Carlin.

But what it doesn't say is that you know, your address on that card is the voting address.

That is a separate uh issue that is is not used with a photo ID.

The photo ID is photo identification for the person who is in front of us.

Mr.

Chair.

But I just uh I don't want people going out of here thinking, oh, there's all this fraud because the the evidence of of any kind of vote of fraud is extremely low.

Agreed, and I very much do not like the use of the word fraud in this situation, because this is the system that is set up, it it's functioning correctly, it keeps eligible citizens on those voter rolls, and there's a tedious but uh legally approved process to get those voters off using these letters.

Um it's how we ensure that we don't accidentally disenfranchise people ahead of an election.

But when it comes to the actual act of voting, we're much, much, much more stringent.

And Rhode Island is more stringent than our neighbors in Massachusetts who don't require any photo ID.

Rhode Island takes that extra step.

We have a strict photo ID law.

Um But when you say that there's very little evidence of voter fraud, that is based on, I assume, uh prosecutable voter fraud.

That is that the state law enforcement has taken the opportunity to prosecute you for voter fraud.

For example, to say there's there's very little evidence of theft in convenience stores in Newport, uh that may or may not be true.

I'm using it as an example.

The police department or the law enforcement officials may have a different opinion than the owners of the convenience stores.

The owners of the convenience stores may say, well, of course there's there's a ton of fraud happening here.

People are stealing left, right, and center because I'm losing inventory and not getting paid for it.

And then you say, Well, how many of those have been prosecuted?

Well, not too many because we don't we don't catch them.

I separate the obvious fact.

Well, it might not be an obvious fact to everybody, but I separate to me what is obvious that there is it's not rampant voter fraud, but there is voter fraud in the United States of America.

And believe it or not, here in Rhode Island and in the city of Newport as well, versus prosecutable or versus prosecution for voter fraud.

Well, I'm gonna I'm gonna um hold this here right here because now we're getting off topic of what we're actually voting on, but I understand where Council Carlin's coming from.

So is there any further discussion on the amended uh ordinance?

Okay.

So all those in favor of amending section 4.08.120 quotified ordinances entitled property tax classification.

Uh please raise your right hand.

Any opposed?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh motion to amend section 5.12.040 of the codified ordinance is entitled number of licenses permitted to increase the number of BT licenses by one and reduce the number of BL licenses by one.

This is a first reading.

This is in conjunction with a liquor license transfer of Bowro Noodles.

Second.

We have a motion and second.

We have any discussion.

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

Just a uh clarification, please.

I think for Mr.

B and clarification for me.

Is this a standard operating procedure uh with respect to a proposed hotel that does not have uh a license that we simply add to the amount of licenses which are permitted in the city?

Yes, done at Hammett's and done at uh thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Chris.

Yeah.

Thank you.

All right.

Any more discussion?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

All right.

Uh next we're on to resolutions.

Uh the relocation of the carousel.

Uh Councilor Smythe.

Thank you.

I'll just read the resolve.

Um, resolved that Newport City Council directs the city manager to one identify for council consideration of a potential location within the city for relocation of the carousel.

Two, obtain and develop a cost estimate for the design and construction of a new structure to house the carousel.

Three, identify legal mechanisms for securing private charitable funding for this project.

Did I have a second?

Second.

All right, we have a motion and a second.

We have any discussion?

Question.

Council Cy.

Um how does this differ from the 2024 resolution?

It it it doesn't significantly.

The 2024 resolution once once received, uh, I had a discussion with the tree and open space commission.

That's what led to their inquiry about uh locations and possible placements uh uh for the carousel.

Uh once they completed that process, they made a recommendation to the council, which unfortunately uh well, I shouldn't say that.

I they made a recommendation to the council uh that no lo no suitable locations were becoming available.

Uh at this point, uh it it you know, I accept the resolution at face value.

I will say the last time there's this a similar resolution crossed uh crossed into my lap, uh the phone did not ring.

Um I'm hoping that's different.

This time I I've heard some outreach about potential public private partnerships to make this work, and I'm excited about that.

But um uh at the time I pushed that to the tree and open space commission to hope that their expertise could help lead us to uh to a ultimately a solution for where to place the carousel, and and that unfortunately just did not work out.

Just to follow up on that.

Two of the resolves from the original resolution were obtain and develop a cost estimate for design construction as well as restoration and identify legal mechanisms for securing charitable mech funding.

So not to secure charitable funding, but identify legal mechanisms.

Can you give us an update on the progress on those two?

I I I cannot, I'm I'm not prepared to speak to that tonight.

I I think this is great resolution.

I'm gonna support it because I introduced the last one and supported that, but it kind of feels like we're on a proverbial merry-go-round.

Right?

We're we're going around around.

It's a groundhog day.

It's the same thing again.

And love resolutions, but they're not worth the paper written on them if administration isn't following through and we're at we're requesting.

I realize there's a lot going on, but um it can feel like I said, groundhog day up here sometimes.

I'm hoping we get this done.

I'm hoping Lean and finish this, but um it's a little frustrating that those two issues haven't been resolved.

I appreciate the work that was done by Tree and Open Space looking at locations.

I realize that's where a lot of the focus went, but on these other two pieces that are lower hanging fruit, I hope we can make more progress this time.

Understood.

Thanks for your efforts.

Uh any other comments or discussion?

Um, I also uh support this resolution.

I think this is actually giving us um be because of the last resolution where we couldn't find basically city property to put this on and have it have it all be on the city itself to fund and and and run for that matter.

Um we have potential for some um uh a private uh public partnership that we can get uh we have some people that have funds that are actually interested in making sure that the carousel um we keep it in Newport and actually get it back up and running without all the burden going on the city of Newport.

So I think it's worthwhile, which is why I sign on onto this resolution to uh to have the administration you know continue to pursue this.

Um and then uh there's also the the the great possibility of um not paying for the storage uh year after year until we find a place for it.

So um all right, so uh any without any further oh, Council Napolitano?

Yeah, I don't want to prolong this discussion.

I I love the carousel, but the practicality of it, the cost of renovation for just the horses, and then the thought of having to build a building to contain it, and how often would it be open?

And we'd have to hire somebody to be there or have it open on certain times.

Uh it would be nice if somebody came to us offering to uh perhaps support some sort of organization to make this happen, but I think to put it on to the city, um, it is a daunting, daunting task.

I will support it, however, I'd like some answers on the true cost of bringing this to fruition.

Uh all in favor say aye.

Aye, any opposed?

I have it.

Next resolution, the regional academic integration advisory committee.

Uh Councillor Pinnock.

Thank you.

So I'm just gonna read the last few resolves.

This has been updated um to include language about the um committee being formed between Newport and Middletown.

So resolved that the Newport City Council supports the formation of an academic integration advisory committee to advise on ways Newport and Middletown can collaborate to provide fair access and improve student outcomes and respectfully request that the Middletown Town Council join in the formation of the same and be it for the resolved that the AIAC shall be comprised of 12 total members, with each council to appoint six of these members.

Members shall include educational experts from both communities, including superintendents or their advisors on curriculum and academic success, representatives from parent teacher organizations, public school educators, and a designee from each school committee, representatives from community-based educational support programs such as each community's learn three six five programs and other individuals with demonstrated experience in educational integration, school finance, and school real regionalization.

And be it further resolved that the AIAC's work will be supported by a consultant selected from firms approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education for such work agreed to, hired and compensated as mutually agreed by the Newport City Council and the Middletown Town Council.

And be it further resolved that the AIAC shall pursue a proposed action plan to identify the existence and adequacy of opportunities for educational improvement through integration across Newport and Middletown public schools.

And by May 31st, 2026, the committee shall prepare a comprehensive report detailing such opportunities and the governance and funding mechanisms necessary to pursue such opportunities to improve educational opportunities and equitable access to such.

And be it further resolved that this report may be used as a guide for current and any future efforts regarding educational regionalization under the present council.

The report's findings shall be reviewed prior to the Newport Council seeking to put forth to the voters any matter of regionalization.

Um second, uh any discussion from the council might I I received an email right before our meeting tonight that was asking how the designee from each school committee is appointed to to the school committee members that want to serve on this board apply as all the other residents are doing, or is there a different process?

Do to the school committee members that want to serve on this board apply as all the other residents are doing, or is there a different process?

Um as it stands right now, it's the application process.

It's the application.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um I just add though, these are public meetings, however, so anyone can participate essentially.

So I just got that off.

Ms.

Can I just it has come to my attention several times?

And I really think either it's been misinterpreted or people don't realize um there is there are people out there saying that they don't want to assume the responsibility for the middle town school and vice versa.

Middletown residents saying they don't want to assume the responsibility payments for Newport schools.

That can't happen.

The schools are owned by the city of Newport and the town of Middletown and the taxpayers.

They are not owned by the school department.

The only money that we're providing to the school department is for their budgeting, for their teachers, for their programs, all of those things.

It has nothing to do with the school buildings.

We will never assume the responsibility for Middletown school buildings, nor will they assume responsibility for Newports.

I wanted to make that clarification tonight because it's been out there and it's not true.

Um, all right.

Any uh anyone else any further discussion?

All right.

All those in favor, uh, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Aye so next resolution, the north end appraisal.

Council Comse Garabon.

We'll stick the resolves.

Resolved by the city council and the city administration is hereby authorized and directed to solicit proposals to engage a qualified appraisal vendor to perform a land appraisal of said designated north end parcels and be it further resolved, total cost of such appraisal services shall not exceed $25,000.

So move approval.

Second.

All right, motion and second, any discussion?

Just very briefly, uh, Mr.

We know that the surplus parcels are going to be going through the property disposition process, fancy word for sale process uh by the state's DOT.

Uh the way that the law plays out in very simple language is you have right of first refusal for prior owners, but then the city has a similar type of right.

It's not technically a right of first refusal, but it's very similar.

After that, it would go to sale uh as is required per uh federal regulations.

And so if Newport wants the opportunity to dictate what the potential future is of these parcels of land, they first need to at least have the ability to assert control over these parcels.

This was the recommendation of the ad hoc bridge realignment commission.

Um, I think it's a wise recommendation from him.

And I uh I put this forth to get the ball rolling on this, so we at least under the understand the cost of exercising such an option and then consider and consider uh whether that is uh the best pathway forward for the city.

Thank you for your consideration.

All right, any any further discussion?

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Next resolution, the public health vending machine program, Councilor Smythe.

Thank you.

I'll read the resolves.

Resolve that the city council will establish a pilot public health vending machine program to support the health, safety, and well-being of homeless individuals and individuals suffering with substance abuse disorders, and be it further resolved that the public health vending machine will be stocked with a range of health, hygiene, and harm reduction products, such as the following examples: personal hygiene items, soap, shampoo, conditioners, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, hand sanitizers, sanitary wipes, health essentials, first aid kits, band-aids, and antiseptic wipes, cold weather and comfort items, socks, gloves, blankets, scarfs, rain ponchos, and other seasonal essentials, harm reduction tools, narcan, a life-saving medication to reverse opioid overdoses, fentanyl testing strips to help individuals test substances for the presence of fentanyl, reducing the risk of overdose, educational materials related to overdose prevention, treatment, and recovery services, and the items will be determined by city administration who will consult and work with the following organizations to identify and address the most pressing health and wellness needs of the homeless and substance abuse disorder populations, AIDS Care Ocean State, the organization that will supply and stock the vending machine, the Newport Fire Department, the Newport Police Department, the Newport Prevention Coalition, and other community organizations as deem necessary, and be it further resolved that the city administration, along with the Newport Fire Department and Newport Police Department will determine the best location of the vending machine.

AIDS Care Ocean State, the organization that will supply and stock the vending machine, the Newport Fire Department, the Newport Police Department, the Newport Prevention Coalition, and other community organizations as deem necessary.

And be it further resolved that the city administration, along with the Newport Fire Department and Newport Police Department will determine the best location of the vending machine.

And be it further resolved, the program will include provisions for regular monitoring and maintenance of the public health vending machine, including routine restocking of products based on demand, regular servicing to ensure the vending machines remain operational, collection of feedback from individuals using the machines to ensure the program is meeting their needs, and be it further resolved that the city will evaluate the effectiveness of the public health vending machine after one year using both quantitative data and qualitative feedback from community partners to assess the impact on the health and safety of the community.

Do I have a second?

We have a motion, a second, any discussion.

Mr.

Chair.

Council Smythe.

Thank the Newport Prevention Coalition, ACOS for bringing this action forward.

I take being a council liaison to the commissions and the organizations that I work with very seriously.

So any time any of them come to me with a potential opportunity for Newport to think outside the box and helping the community that we should at least entertain the idea and the coalition and ACOS have done a wonderful job with their research and really pulling together the data that we needed.

And I also want to just correct some information that has circulated throughout the community that number one, the location has already been determined to be Mary Street parking lot.

That is not the case.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, I second everything Steph just said.

Typically, I refrain from engaging under articles on social media that have to do with anything in politics.

But I've been fighting for my life for the last two days trying to get the right information out to people.

Like someone will say something and then someone will take that and run within before you know it.

You've got hundreds of people in your email, texting you, making comments, um, all sharing that misinformation.

So I appreciate Steph for correcting that.

Um, and this is, I believe, a necessary um step to help mitigate some harm for some really vulnerable individuals in our community.

And as someone that has had to administer Narcan to a 19-year-old in a car in a stop and shop parking lot.

Um, I I can't, I don't need to tell you like how important it is to have access to that stuff because it really is life and death.

Um, for some people, and that is something that will stay with me probably for the rest of my life.

Um, and I don't wish that on anybody.

Um, but I am grateful that those things exist.

It's not up for me or for any of us really to judge what is going on in another's life, but if we can intervene in some way and be helpful, I think that's what we need to do.

So I'm really grateful that we do have you folks from prevention coalition out advocating for um people who are often in the shadows.

So I think you um, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh I'm gonna support this as well.

I um I do feel that it this vending machine should be near the fire department um on America's Cup.

Uh I it is important to me.

I believe that it is a safe space.

Um there's it's of course there are people there 24 hours a day.

I think it just makes sense to have to have it there.

Uh thank you for clearing up all of the the misinformation that happens, um, which it can be rampant.

Um and um so thank you.

I I I just you know, some people say, well, why don't you put it in a building while buildings close?

So these are this is 24 hour access.

And you know, we can say that we don't want to have something like this or see something like this, but the fact of the matter is this the reality of the situation is that there are people out there who need help.

Absolutely.

Mr.

Chairman, Council Carlin.

I want to thank uh councillor Smythe and Councillor Segley and Councillor Pinnock for their comments.

Uh though I will be voting against this, and I'll be brief.

Uh I think uh my colleagues that this sends colleagues that this sends the wrong message uh with regard to though the underlying concerns as have been stated uh are quite reasonable and uh are appreciated.

Um it would perhaps be a different different discussion if there were no alternatives for providing support to the best of my understanding, both the Newport Fire Department, various locations as well as the Newport Police Department and apparatus that each owns carry Narcamp.

Am I correct, Chiefs?

If something's not available in another community or in another setting readily, and I'll use the example of gambling.

If a gambling machine, vending machine, is not available in another community, but the city of Newport decides to make it available.

Who will be attracted to that machine?

Same thing for a tobacco machine or a machine silly as it might sound because it's against the law in the state that dispenses alcohol, nips, any other type of alcohol.

We are creating what I fear is a situation where we will be providing something that prior to now or prior to in the near future if this passes was never available.

And by doing so, uh we again will be sending the wrong message.

And I'll close with a comment that I asked in the form of a question at the last council meeting.

Why is it, my friends, that the city of Newport is in my opinion, but seemingly from others, always the community that has to provide, provide, provide.

What we do in many instances is very good providing.

I'm very proud of the city of Newport and what we have done uh certainly since I've been here, but many years before that as well.

However, at a certain point, we have to ask our friends and neighbors in Middletown, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverdon, even across the bridge in Jamestown.

How about you put the vending machine in your community?

Mr.

Chairman, I yield.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chair, John Sagan.

I just want to um uh um you have to be in a specific program in order to access this.

You have a special code.

This is not for the general public that can just go up to a vending machine and throw in some money and and then right.

So I mean, you have to be in a program.

Yes.

Um, and how many vending machines are there in the state presently?

Yeah, you come up, Ray.

Yep.

Maybe Joseph with AIDS care of the state.

Uh currently we have seven harm reduction vending machines and seven public health vending machines.

The public health vending machines are co-located with Department of Corrections facilities.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other discussion?

So I understand the sensitivity of this of this issue for sure.

I see I see these things firsthand on a daily basis.

Between where I I go in the city through my job is uh no in the hospitality industry, and I know I know the the experiences I have.

Um something like this putting a a vending machine uh of this nature uh in the city of Newport.

I uh I understand the the the reasoning behind it, but I can't back that reasoning.

Um to me, it's just it and the the harm reduction part of it just encourages and I I've done probably more research on this than I have on many things in this uh that that we go through here on the council and trying to find something that that would definitely determine to tell me that you know this thing is gonna is gonna be a a lifesaver, definitely I have not come across I've done I've gotten opinions on it, and I understand people's opinions from and a lot of it depends on their background and who they deal with.

I don't see it enough for me to uh to vote on this to have it, you know, in in our city.

Um I uh I wouldn't have a problem if it was just a personal hygiene items, health essential items, cold weather items, I get that.

Those things are gonna be getting anyway.

Those things you could put in a vending machine that anyone that can get that wants them at any time that doesn't have to be in a certain program can access.

Um, but when you're getting into fentanyl strips, when you're getting into syringes, whether or not they're gonna be in this vending machine or um the Narcan, that to me just encourages more drug use.

If you walk down it used to be just Broadway.

You used to just walk down Broadway and yeah, there's there's we have a lot of homeless, and a lot of those people have have addictions, whether it's alcohol, drugs, what have you.

Now you start going down Thame Street, you go down America's Cup, you go and down uh down to the fifth ward, you go down by the beach, you see more and more people that are uh that are affected with the with these drugs.

I don't think this having a vending machine in Newport is helping those people as a whole, as a whole group.

If there might be one or two, and and I understand if we can just say one person, that's it.

But you know what?

We have a growing problem here in Newport.

It's continually growing.

And I know the police department does the best they can with and the fire department, they do the best they can, you know, to help some of these people.

But it's getting to the point now where residents are being affected.

Businesses are being affected, and the more we allow this to happen, the worse this problem is gonna get.

You know, I don't like like to see it, and I'm not saying we, you know, you you try to just kick anyone.

I want to help people.

I I do want to help people.

But by allowing allowing the continued use, whether whether it's drugs, whether it's alcohol, whether it's uh any other addiction you you can think of by allowing that to happen is not is not helping these people in the long run.

So um I'm not gonna support this uh resolution as it stands.

Mr.

Chair, Council Smythe.

Um, I just want to point out that the resolution provides examples of what can go into the vending machine.

But it also calls out a number of individuals, um, city administration to work with the Newport Fire Department, Newport Police Department, and those that are putting forth this idea to determine the items that should go in there.

Now it's quite possible that when these individuals get together to discuss this, that they could determine that maybe those items aren't needed right now.

Or maybe it's needed somewhere down the road.

But I think that that should be up to the individuals that especially deal with this on a daily basis with which is our Newport Fire Department and police departments to determine if there is a need for this additional help of public safety, um to help the situation.

I mean, even if we can save one life with this, I think it is worth it than saying, well, you know, it might save a life, but but we don't know, so so why bother pursuing it?

Um I don't think that that is helping the situation.

Not to mention that as some potential products that can be included in the vending machine, is some material that can point individuals who are either um don't know where to go for help, are embarrassed to ask for help, but may provide them with some points of contact that they might not have obtained any other way because they're too afraid to ask for it.

Um, when it comes to addiction, there is some shame, there is some guilt that goes along with it, and that in some ways enables people to not get the help that they that they need.

Um so I just wanted to to kind of throw throw a little bit of that out there um just to see what anybody from the public or or even um uh chief Donley might might have to say to to add to it any concerns or thoughts on that.

Thank you.

Uh Carl Spalzano.

Yes.

Um while I had mixed feelings initially, I have checked around with various um groups, and it's not a vending machine for everybody, you have to have a card from the state to access it.

You know, there are people and I'm sure we all know people that have died as the result of drugs, especially young people, and they need they need somebody to hand them something, even if it's the fentanyl strip or the the narcon or something, and right next to the fire station, I think it would be well positioned, it's not something that's gonna be vandalized, and it's not for everybody, but it's for those who need it in our community, and we already have talked about the need.

It is on Broadway, it is on Thame Street.

Yeah, we've all seen it.

Why not put out our hand?

Why not try it for a year?

If it doesn't work, we'll know.

But if it does work, maybe we've accomplished something really good with the people that needed it.

Thank you.

Then why not?

And I'll get you one sec, Dr.

Black, then why not have it an open machine for everyone then?

Why do you need why does it need to be for somebody that has to have a code to go do it?

Because that's taken away the the entire social aspect of people that have drug addiction.

I know more people than I care to know that have died from uh phenolaced cocaine because obviously they didn't get a strip, but if they didn't have they're not at the point of addiction where they need to go to help to get a code so they can go get a fentanyl strip, so every time they want to go do a line in the bathroom, they go get it tested.

So if this if this is so important that we're gonna help so many people, why is it just to uh a few that have uh that are in a program that have a code that open it up?

You don't know when your numbers up, mister Mr.

Chair, I believe ACOS can speak to that.

But I don't know Dr.

Flowers first.

Good.

Thank you.

Sandra Flowers, member of the Newport School Committee, and in that capacity, I am school committee's representative to the Newport Prevention Goal.

Just a few responses I'd like to make.

Um yes, in Newport, we do give, we provide school system is a perfect example, police protection, fire protection, and so forth.

We we try to reach out to everyone in an equitable fashion.

Doesn't say equal, because that wouldn't be fair in a certain sense, but in an equitable fashion, addictions to various substances, misuse of various substances affects families and individuals from every walk of life and every economic situation.

Probably a lot of us know a number of people who are pretty well off.

So they can keep their problem hidden, go somewhere, and that can be handled.

But there's a significant population that does not have that privilege.

And one of the lines in this resolution, which as I think I said before was very user-friendly and go right to the point and a lot of details here.

And that's to me, that really hit home because if we do not try to enable folks to have a sense of self-worth and dignity.

One small step that just may get some people to say, hey, there are folks out there who care about my well-being.

And everything that's listed that would be provided is certainly would not offend anyone.

There are items that would be available to just the average person.

There's nothing that would uh be called amoral or immoral, all the everyday items.

The uh sub the providing uh knock in, that's been going on for quite a while.

It's a because anyone could possibly be taking something that that had to have to step in to save them.

Educational materials, need I say more, because there are probably a lot of folks that wouldn't fall into this category who would need a lot of educational materials too.

The fact that the city of Newport would be taking a step that other communities may not have thought of or considered, or maybe looking to see if this is possibly going to be a turnaround um means even a few folks at first to change their way and really work very hard to get away from misuse of certain substances, and even if it means they know to go to and who to ask for for help.

So I just urge people to think very carefully, man.

I hope you support this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Bowers.

You want to come up again.

Uh just to address the issue of um accessibility on this.

Um we have a number of different vending machines, and for the ones that have syringes in them, we do uh require our clients to have a code with us.

So we don't have just a 13-year-old or six-year-old walking to the vending machine getting anything.

But um, with the addition of making it a public health vending machine, we do have the option to make it a generic code, one, two, three, four, able to get it, uh, whatever they need out this out the machine.

And to reiterate what Councilman Smite has said, working with the um chief of police, chief of fire, um, and uh new poor prevention coalition to figure out what's needed in the machine if it's something that we decide that only we want to have staff codes for, or only have the fire department if we were to place it there, the firefighters have codes for, that's something that we can do too.

So we could think of it as more or less a locker for them to engage with the clientele that they see.

But um, we do have the ability to make it as restricted or as open as we deem fit.

Yeah.

Um let me ask a question.

One second.

So uh what goes into figuring out where these vending machines are placed?

Uh the vending machine that we have placed throughout the state, not no, just in particular, so so you say for Newport, what would go into figuring out what would be the best place for a vending machine?

Uh I would believe a place that has good traffic, uh places that have uh good foot traffic that's easily accessible, and places that um would be welcoming to it.

I mean, I wouldn't uh want to put it at the police station if they're not welcome to it, but if the fire station's welcome to it, um I'll be able to do that.

But they're usually uh at like a uh uh a public building, like a police station or fire station, or is it by a hospital, or do you put it by uh 7-Eleven?

Oh, the ones that we have in place currently, we have them with uh and at the Dome Clinics, we have them at Federal Qualified Health Centers, we have them at my building, which is uh clinic per se.

Um we have them at Kennedy Plaza, which is our other municipal uh location, and uh public health vending machines are co-located within probation and parole offices as well as men's and women's intake on the ACI grounds, so so it's fair to say that these are pretty much located where the um the majority of the people that need it are frequent, yes, frequent, right?

Right.

Not just on a random street or where yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Mr.

Shadji, I just want to say, you know, the Kodak building is pretty much across the street from the fire department.

So but and I'm sure that would have been a perfect place to put it, but there's really no place to put it in than that location, right?

So it seems to me that the fire department being across the street from that location is sort of you know the more um logical solution.

Yes, we we did think of the the Kodak building, and to your point, there's really no um place on the exterior that it would really um fit.

And I do want to emphasize the collaborative nature of this project that um with Chief Donnelly and Chief Duffy, that the location would also be a collaborative decision as well with with partners.

Right.

Mr.

Chair, uh thanks.

Mel, just how so overdoses aren't typically something that people plan for, right?

They're usually accidental.

Um like to be able to obtain something to help someone who has overdosed accidentally, I'd say is a pretty valuable aspect of this, right?

Like and the other thing, and I said it last time, and I'll say it again.

Not all of our unhoused residents have addiction issues, and I feel like that is something that is being said in a variety of ways.

But the young lady that I helped was a college student who lived at home with two parents in a nice home.

So it's addiction touches all people from all walks of lives.

So I understand that we have the issue here with some of our in-house, but it's not everyone.

So this is something that could benefit a variety of people in a variety of ways.

Yes, absolutely.

And in addition, the vending machine is not intended to work in a vacuum, as I mentioned at the last presentation, that the vending machine really is there to be a um a kind of first point of contact for someone who is experiencing um who is struggling with addiction uh or homelessness.

Um that uh it must be in tandem with other services as well, that it is not intended to we we do not expect this to solve all of the problems of Newport, um, and all addiction problems at all.

And I if it would, I would definitely vote for it.

I can't guarantee that.

I'm sorry.

Um I wish it could.

Um, but this this would be a really big step for Newport um to to sort of pave the way for Equinneck Island to address um addiction issues um that are pretty um pervasive here.

So thank you.

Um hi Christine Sullivan, 26th Admiral Calpus Road.

Um I have a lot to say on this topic, but I'll try to be brief.

It's late.

I used to be the director of an act team, and I also worked with the street homeless in Florida and also New York City for over 10 10 years.

And in my opinion, what I'll call the metal box of neglect should not be the first point of contact for someone.

Um a vending machine of this nature cannot take vital signs if someone's coding.

Like I think homeless people, people with mental illnesses, people who have drug addictions or possibly overdose need immediate medical attention.

Like many of us in the room, I know people personally that have died of drug overdoses.

I've seen people overdose it.

Um I've also seen homeless people that have maggots living in their legs.

Um, and I've helped transport them to the hospital.

Um, so I I also thought of the case of, for example, what what what happened at our Providence College where there were six kids that I guess went to a party, got some drugs, ended up being laced with fentanyl.

Fortunately, they were all able to be saved.

In my mind, it's one o'clock in the morning, right?

Maybe a bunch of people scored some drugs, did some drugs, the vending machine, you have to have a code, you have to be in the program.

Maybe there's more people than there are test strips.

You can only hit the machine three times.

Like this is where my head is going.

I've seen people die of overdoses.

I mean, I feel like the police, the ante, the caseworkers, social workers.

We have wonderful programs here in Newport.

We have Kodak, we have East Bay Community Action, we have the Housing Hotline, we have outreach teams, we have our police and fire.

I think it's very depersonalizing and inappropriate to have vending machines.

And if you are going to have vending machines, they should be on private property.

You know, the file need to sleep too.

I know they work 20 24 hours a day.

We've heard a lot of residents tonight talk about noise and just quietude and needing to sleep.

Do we really want people?

We already see it downtown.

I agree completely with uh Charlie's comments.

You know, I saw like 30 homeless people just coming in here.

I mean, it's really I'm not blaming the homeless people for being homeless.

We want to help them, but we want to connect them with people, not metal boxes.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Council Sorry.

The highest level of respect to those who have commented and my colleagues.

I believe that we've exhausted debate on this item this time.

Most of our positions are made.

I'd like to uh move to vote.

All right.

Uh all those in favor uh for the resolution, uh establishing a public health vending machine program.

Please raise your right hand.

All is opposed.

It's five two.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Motion and second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oh my god, that was a yeah.