The Newport City Council met on March 25, 2026, at 11:45 AM (UTC) to address a wide-ranging agenda. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for longtime community member Charlie and a proclamation declaring March 25, 2026 as Greek Independence Day. The Council then heard public testimony and considered consent calendar items, several special event licenses, appointments to boards and commissions, multiple ordinances (including the second reading of the residential parking program), and several resolutions. Key outcomes included approval of the parking program with amendments, passage of resolutions supporting Fort Adams funding and a bilingual education act, and continuation of a controversial “Cars and Coffee” special event license to allow further neighborhood consultation.
Long time uh New Porter, uh born and raised, graduated class of 1953 Rogers High School. Um, he was a man that was a devoted educator, uh, especially with the uh the Newport Vocational Technical Program, now called NAT Tech, as most people know. Um, but he's also a man I was proud of his community, very civic-minded and oriented. Uh served on the Waterfront Commission, the housing authority, and most people know recently as the Miyan's uh Miantonomy Park uh commission. And for those people who knew Charlie, you knew he was a bulldog. He was feisty. He did not stop for anything. He was uh a wonderful man. He was uh I remember him for just as again his spiciness and his devotion to his to his community, and uh he will be missed. And uh, we just want to take a moment of silence for him. Thank you. And then uh before we get to the citizens forum, uh I do have a proclamation uh that I would like to read. Uh today is Greek Independence Day. And uh this afternoon we had a ceremony uh with the Greek community um where I read a proclamation and I'm gonna read uh tonight for you for you all you all. Um whereas the nation of Greece, through his 5,000 year history, has produced some of the world's greatest philosophers, poets, mathematicians, statesmen, political uh medical practitioners and mayors of Newport. And whereas no other nation like Greece, I'm Greek, it's whereas no other nation like Greece has contributed to the formation of our culture and heritage, and whereas the Greek people have endured persecution, oppression, and bigotry, yet have steadfastly remained a free nation since 1821. And whereas sons and daughters of this nation emigrated to the United States, making it their home country, defending it in conflict and contributing significantly to the quality of American life. And whereas the city of Newport celebrates its 30th sister city twinning anniversary with Skiatos, Greece in 2026. And whereas many of the descendants of the original immigrants from Skiatos were instrumental in the founding of St. Spiriton's Greek Orthodox Church, which annually hosts a Greek feast festival, which celebrates Greek food and culture and attracts numerous visitors to the city. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Charles Holder, may of the city of Newport and the state of Rhode Island, do hereby proclaim March 25th, 2026 as an observance of the 2005th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, and call upon all citizens to join me to pay honor to the country of Greece by acknowledging their civic, governmental, athletic, charitable contributions, and extend our congratulations to the people of Greece on their 205th anniversary of independence. The City of Newport will display the national flag of Greece from the mayor's balcony at City Hall from today, Wednesday, March 25th through March 31st, 2026. Thank you. All right. All right. Uh Madam Clerk. Do we have anyone for the Citizens Forum? Yes. Nora Eschenheimer. Um just before we get going, Nora and anyone else comes up. You have three minutes, just so you know, and you'll hear the buzzer. Hello, and thank you so much for your time. Uh, my name is Nora Eschenheimer. My address is 18 Melbourne Road. I am a Newport resident, born and raised. I'm a local captain, and have spent my life connected to Narragansett Bay and the little city-owned lighthouse that sits in the middle of it. The lighthouse is embedded in the hearts of this entire community. And we are asking the city to restore the community's voice. In 1984, the city of Newport received the Rose Island Light Station at no cost to the government and entrusted its care to a nonprofit with a clear purpose to preserve and operate it with the public and for the public good. From its founding, the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation was membership-based by design. This nonprofit structure was deliberately chosen by its incorporators, including city staff who were serving on the board at that time, so that a publicly owned historic property would be governed democratically by the community that supports it through annual meetings and importantly, voting rights to elect the board. This model remains standard among many successful Rhode Island peer organizations, such as Save the Bay, Autobond Society chapters, and the Norman Bird Sanctuary. But 32 years after the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation was formed, all of this changed. In 2016, without notice to the members, Article II, members of the corporation was deleted from the bylaws, disenfranchising the membership. Annual membership meetings disappeared that following year. This was a massive change to the structure of Rose Island's governance and transformed the nonprofit from being member driven to one with a self-electing board. In recent months, interest in Rose Island's future has grown, along with the concern about its direction. There's been high staff turnover since 2016, and the lighthouse previously open year round, has been closed the past five months, left to weather the harsh winter alone without heat and without a keeper's daily care. In seeking a way to support Rose Island's long-term success last month, supporters formally asked the board to restore member voting rights in annual meetings. A petition was shared to better understand the level of interest.