David Carlin.

Here.

Lynn Underwood Segui.

Here.

Carly Holder.

Here.

Mike Hamza Horovan.

Gene Marina Politano?

Here.

Ellen Pinoff?

Here.

Stephanie Smith.

There's a quorum present, Mr.

Chair.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Yes, John Cook.

Mr.

Cook, please state your name and address.

Name is John Cook, 42 Golden Hill Street, Newport, Rhode Island.

Resident for 16 years.

My wife and I live on Golden Hill.

And I'm addressing the lack of parking that my wife and I have living where we do in the neighborhood that we live in.

And as you know, Golden Hill is across the street from the library.

And about five years ago, I addressed the situation after my wife had an accident actually trying to park the car.

She hurt herself.

And we got as far as it looks like you guys can park in the library if you wish to, but someone in that meeting after three meetings said, what happens if you go to Florida for six months and leave your car there, which is, you know, not our lifestyle.

And they got vetoed.

So our situation is that King Street is open for parking if we wish to, and that is being inundated right now because of the construction that's going on at Bellevue.

And William Street is restricted to two cars.

Thomas Street is two cars.

Not that I think that Thomas is a good place to park as you come around the corner.

It's very dangerous.

Golden Hill has no parking.

So the library has 60 spaces.

Twenty of those spaces are for librarian, 10 of them are library employees, and 10 are park people.

Usually you can find a space in the library.

I've never not found a space in the library in the 16 years I've been here.

You might have to drive around twice or three times.

Problem is you only get three hours to park there as a citizen of Newport.

So we currently have zero parking, and King Street is no longer an option because of the construction going on at Bellevue.

They took out all the Jones parking, as you probably know.

In King Street currently, is the employees of the plaza park on King Street, and of course there's tennis players, etc.

And even the King House is lacking parking for the as many people participate there.

So there is a serious logger jam with no parking if you are a citizen.

So I've been I've been to the police department, I've talked to you know to uh city hall here, they said well just go air it out, and my recommendation is that you know I I do the museum, I have a little sticker for I go to the museum, I do sell Regina classes for elders, you give her a sticker, and just have a sticker that says Golden Hill, and that would not give you a parking ticket.

But by the way, I've gotten four in the last couple weeks because they're really really vigilant about it this year.

So I love Newport.

Um, I like being a citizen here.

I was here when I was a young man with my wife, and we're back here permanently year-round.

We cannot park our car.

And by the way, a side note on King Street this winter, our brand new vehicle got totaled in the middle of the night by a drunk driver, so that gets me very leery about parking on King Street.

So the library becomes the obvious choice.

Now, who have I I've talked to Father Mark at St.

Mary's, he was almost on board with it until the prisoner said, you know, you don't go to church here.

So that didn't work out.

And he's a fairly nice person.

He's also getting inundated by the plaza right now for them to leave.

Mr.

Cook.

Your time is up, unfortunately.

So I gotta cut you off, but uh I yeah, we'll uh something we'll have to take a look at with administration.

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Crawling.

Question for the city administration, please.

The gentleman who is a constituent of mine referenced that Jones Street was closed to parking.

Is that accurate?

And why, if so?

Not all of it.

Some of it, some of it has been restricted as part of the development plan.

Some of it is not restricted outside worker.

I believe there's an AM or something.

No, so uh yes, partially some of the some of those spaces in the west end of Jones needed to be removed for turning radius of emergency vehicles, but not all of them.

And so many of them remain available during outside of those weekday hours, Monday, and so Mr.

Chairman.

My colleagues site translate that as uh Jones Street, which was previously uh allowed for Newport residents and others to park on uh is now apparently shut down at some point uh for the convenience of a developer at the expense of Newport residents and others.

Uh that I find unacceptable.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Um, not talking about this.

I just wanted to take a second to um thank our city management director Rob Schultz um and anybody else, especially the Newport Fire Department who is involved with setting up that awesome sprinkler system kind of in my antinomi park during the heat wave.

There was about 200 kids and families um that showed up.

And I I just think it was really awesome.

I appreciate the fact that you guys recognize that not everyone has access to the water, regardless of us living on an island.

So good job.

Thank you very much.

Yeah, thank you, Council.

Um, and then us before we start too.

I also want to give a um a thank you out to uh everyone involved with the the fireworks on uh this past Saturday.

Um why we all know there wasn't the a perfect scenario uh with the the weather the coming in as it did, but I just want to give a um a big thank you and uh and uh salute to the the fire department, the police department, all the public works uh and city administration for working together and making sure that that got done because if we had to postpone it, you know, come to find out Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, where it's gonna work out.

So um, I just want to give a thanks to uh to everyone in the city that was involved with that.

So thank you.

All right, like another nature.

Or father time.

Is there anyone else signed up?

No, okay.

Um this is uh public hearing action item 6641 community development block grant CDBG application from Mumford Manor 39 Farewell Street.

Um I move uh that we open the public hearing second.

Motion and second any discussion, those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Um next, um, we will consider the action item 6641 community development block grant for Mumford Manor.

Right.

I think it's your name and number shareholder and counselors and staff and members of the public.

I'm Bob Plain.

I work for church community housing.

I'm your trustee CDBG correspondent.

We're here tonight to have a public hearing.

Church community housing would like to apply for $750,000 in CDBG funds during the affordable housing round.

This is the affordable housing round.

Typically, I come to you when it's the competitive round.

That's when you can apply for either public service or public facility projects, and this round of funding is non-competitive and it's rolling and it's open whenever the competitive round isn't open, and it's it's strictly for housing related purposes.

Church community housing is as you said Councillor Segley applying for uh uh Mumford Manor at 39 Farewell Street, they'd like to apply for $750,000 in funds.

Uh I think the project is gonna cost a total of in excess of sixteen million dollars.

Um, as you said, there's also uh a resolution that's part of the application that after we close the public hearing.

Um, you know, the the resolution just says that the city supports this application and it empowers the city staff to kind of manage the application and and and the administration of the grant.

If anyone has any CDBG community development block grant related questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them.

And if anyone has any questions about the project itself, Steph Booker and Lizzie Hoole and Steve Osteguy are all here to answer any of those questions that you may have.

So if anyone has any questions, fire away, please.

Mr.

Chairman, Council Crown.

Bob, thanks very much for meeting with me recently and uh for spending far too much of your time.

Uh you're super welcome.

Indulging my questions any time.

Appreciate everything you do.

Awesome.

Uh and uh thank you very much uh for not only this application but extended applications past years, yeah, future years I'm sure.

Um tell me what I didn't take away from that meeting, which I'm sure you did tell me.

Yeah, uh, does church community housing um how can I put this?

Does church community housing write on behalf of any CDBG applicant anywhere in the city, or simply on behalf of projects that uh CCH oversees in any anyone so one thing I like to say um is I get my paycheck from church community housing, but I actually work for you, the city, right?

So whoever that you want to apply for a CDBG award, we're more than happy to help with that.

Sure.

So it's it's coincidental that Mumford Manor is in fact run by uh CCH, but in fact, you through the federal government, the state to a certain extent, and the city uh have that overall responsibility.

That's right.

My colleagues and friends get no special treatment from me.

I thought that I thought that that's what you you told me, and in fact, the extent of your work uh can be reimbursed by Uncle Sam.

It all is actually appreciate you, Bob.

Thank you very much.

You're very welcome.

Uh Mr.

Chair Council Segur.

Just a quick question.

Well, where is the 16 million going to come from and how long is that going to take to get it?

And um how long will the project take?

That is a great question.

And to answer that, I'm gonna turn the microphone over to someone from our development team.

Good evening.

Uh Steve Ostegai with Church Community Housing.

Um this is a process we go through.

We've applied for funding.

Um, 16 million dollars is actually um part of the cost of construction, and it's a low-income housing tax credit project.

It's also a historic project, so we get historic tax credits and we get low-income housing tax credits.

There's a variety of different funding sources that Rhode Island Housing Administers.

Um, there's active uh debt that we uh get for the amortizing debt, and they have several soft other soft second debts.

So we're currently our application's been submitted, and we're waiting to hear on that.

Um we applied actually in um February.

Um they ran out of money and they chose us to reapply, and we expect to get the funding this fall.

Okay, so the work would probably begin um after the first of the year.

Uh, this is a preservation project, so there's 34 units there of senior housing, all affordable and remain that.

It's just we're addressing issues that were from the original uh renovations that took place in 1982.

Um, got um safety issues with fire and safety, expending extending sprinkler systems, replacing plumbing, um, and uh roofs and envelope issues on the bill.

There's solar panels on there, right?

Yeah, and actually those are 20 years old too, so we're gonna be updating those as well.

Great, Chair.

Thank you.

Um, thanks for this.

Um, my Mumphrey Manor is near and dear to my heart.

My great grandfather lived there until he was 106 years old and went on to glory.

So I really appreciate the um I don't know that he would have been 106 had it not been for that community there.

So thank you very much.

Um, just curious if any of the residents would be displaced during the redevelopment or revoidalization.

No, thank you.

Any other questions?

No.

Thanks, Steve.

Anyone else from the public has any comments or questions?

No.

Motion of close the public hearing, that approved.

Motion and second close the public hearing.

Any discussion?

All is in favor, say aye.

Um motion to approve the consent calendar in its Mr.

Mr.

Chair.

I'm sorry, to adopt the accompanying resolution.

Oh, yes, motion to adopt the accompanying resolution.

Second, second.

We have a motion and second.

Any discussion?

All is in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve the consent calendar in its entirety.

Second.

All right, we're motion and second and discussion.

Council Carlin.

May I please pull to B number eight?

With the exception of.

I'm sorry, say that which one is it?

2B number 8.

2B number 8.

Item two on the agenda is the consent calendar, so I should the global summit.

Uh actually it said B eight.

The Newport Global Summit.

Oh, okay.

Thank you.

Okay, got it.

Thank you.

Okay, uh, so uh with the exception of the uh Newport Global Summit uh Incorporated uh 76 Bellevue Avenue August 18th from 12 p.m.

to 5 p.m.

and August 19th, 2026 from 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m.

Second.

I motion and second, any discussion.

This is just to approve the consent calendar, right?

All is in favor say aye.

I motion to approve the the um Newport Global Summit, Newport Global Summit 76 Bellevue Avenue, August 18th, 12 to 5 p.m.

August 19th, 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m.

So, motion and second, any discussion, chairman, thank you.

Is there a representative from the Newport Global Summit with us this evening?

There was, but she uh didn't think she had to stay because there wasn't anyone that he thought was gonna pull this from the consent calendar.

Well, it's a public hearing.

She actually works for the art museum, but yeah, that's alright.

It's a public hearing.

My question uh of the organizers does not relate to uh the Newport Art Museum, it relates to Belcourt Castle.

When I looked up uh online, the Newport Global Summit Incorporated.

Uh it advertises itself as a summit being held at uh the Newport Art Museum and Bellcourt Castle.

Uh now this will be the third time in a row, city council meetings-wise, that I have come to you and express my concern to you, my colleagues, that Bellcourt Castle is not meant for this type of an event.

So I would like an explanation as to why uh the organizers feel that Belcourt Castle can be used outside of the parameters which it was clearly approved for.

Newport art museum is Belcourt Castle in a residential neighborhood is not.

I'm afraid we don't have anybody here, as the mayor just mentioned.

So uh I am not prepared to approve this.

Perhaps my information is wrong.

Uh, but if so, then the website is inaccurate.

The website for the Newport Global Summit incorporated.

Yeah, it doesn't look like there's any mention of Belcourt Castle in the application that we have.

No, I think that's what we can go by.

Can the city administration tell me if the Newport Global Summit Incorporated intends to use Bell Court Castle as a part of this event?

Um it's not listed on their application council.

I'm just on the website right now for the global summit.

Just seeing if they have something.

Oh, I do see closing dinner and liberty reception, which would be August 19th at Belle Court of Newport.

This is on the website for the Newport Global Summit.

That is not what Bell Court Castle is intended for by proving this.

We are setting a precedent.

Um which I cautioned my colleagues several meetings ago not to do.

Could I just ask a question?

You said it's a dinner in the evening.

So does it say what time that's supposed to start?

No, it does not say.

But again, it's not on the application that's before you.

Right.

And this only goes till five o'clock.

So if that's a dinner, I would expect that to be later.

So maybe they are planning on um.

Submitting another either that or I don't know.

Maybe they are could say it's not open to the public, but clearly you can buy tickets for day one and day two, right?

That includes everything.

Mr.

Chair?

Council Swife.

Um so the website does say that the morning summit sessions, keynote lunch, afternoon summit sessions for uh August 19th is going to be held at the Newport Art Museum.

The only thing that's being held, it looks like at Bell Court is the closing reception.

And then what time is that at?

No, it says full agenda and speaker list coming soon.

Okay.

So what we're only approving is until five o'clock that evening.

So I think that we need to ask the question about the um the evening reception.

Oh, I'm sorry, I stand corrected.

It does have a uh schedule overview that 5 30 to 7 30 is going to be at Bell Court of Castle.

Okay.

So we're only approving till 5 p.m.

at the um the art museum.

At the art museum.

Okay.

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carl.

Solicitor B and would they be in violation of city ordinances if they held that without the council's permission?

Council, I held what portion of it.

The portion that step uh councillor Smythe and Council of Council Vice Chair Segley just mentioned.

I mean it I asked this question in the context that it is clear that Bellcourt Castle is not made for events like this when we set precedence as a council for giving permission for such uh we are effectively granting uh permission going forward.

Folks to do this.

Well, the but the a lot of it would have to depend on the nature of it.

So if it was something open to the public and qualified as a special event and they did not get a license for it.

Yes, it would violate our.

Excuse me, Mr.

Bean.

I'm sorry, and I thank you for that.

Uh Ms.

Swisteck, sorry, City Clerk Swiss tech.

Is this a public event?

It would appear that way.

Okay, thank you very much.

But listen again, I I understand, especially Council Carl, I understand your your issue with this.

But we're not voting on the the Bell Court Castle portion.

And I would say suggest that we vote on this and then we can talk to the global summit, make sure that if they need an application to put in for that, because there's you know they have plenty of time to get that done, so that they can put in.

I don't want to, I'm not sure if it's a public or private event.

Um the dinner portion from what I understand it is private, but I I don't know that for sure.

But we've done this.

This is the third year that they've been in front of us uh for this event.

So Mr.

Chairman, I thank you for that, and I ask uh both the city solicitor and the uh city clerk.

Uh is there evidence that this event at Bell Court is being offered to the public?

Is there evidence, for example, uh that they are asking for sponsorships and the purchase of tickets for attendance at the event?

I I don't know.

I just we just heard that was uh rhetorical question.

I apologize.

Yeah, counselor, it's it's you know that you you suggested that this information came from a website, it's at another property, the application before you deals with the newborn art museum.

That's what you would be dealing with there.

So you're right.

Rhetorical question is if this event takes place that um at Bell Court Castle.

First thing we'd have to look at, was it a zoning violation?

The zoning office that would look at that, and second, did they need a special event license?

So I in terms of evidence, the clerk believes that there is some indication based on what you read and what she's reviewed at the uh off the website.

Thank you.

Uh Madam Clerk, Mr.

Solicitor, and thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

And any other discussion?

It's all those in favor uh of approval say yes.

Uh yeah, see aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Okay.

So moving on to licenses and permits.

Uh motion to approve a special event license.

Ron Kitt doing business as Newport Kite Festival, Brenton Point State Park, July 11th through the 12th, 2026 from 12 p.m.

to 4 p.m.

Do we have a second?

Okay.

Motion and second, any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

Thank you.

Uh Sarge.

Would you keep no no no?

You don't have to.

Would you keep an eye on this thing for us, please?

Uh we're packed down in that area, and folks park in front of my constituents' driveways so they can't exit.

And folks uh folks park on uh areas that are no parking areas.

I'm gonna call you all once I'm Sergeant.

Would you mind coming up front?

So just so we have it's all on record.

I know it's been a while since you've been up here, so I figure through guessing.

Thank you, Sergeant.

Um there are two thousand expected attendees.

Uh that parking lot holds far less.

Now, granted, all two thousand aren't taking cars, uh, but we can assume that even if we say four people per car, five hundred spots will be needed.

We don't have 500 spots at the park.

Can we please keep an eye on that uh with regard to what I mentioned about my constituents' driveways being blocked uh by cars who are attending a great event and folks parking in areas that are off limits?

Grass, sides of street.

We have emergency vehicle issues and others.

All I'm asking for as I intend to vote for this is that Newport Police Department uh keeps an eye on on this as you all always do with the issues uh that we're concerned about.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Yeah, uh Sergeant, so there's been communication with you and the the uh the company, the people are putting the kite festival on about the parking.

Yes, myself, uh Ron Kitt, the DEM and the parks.

We've all been uh met uh spoken together.

There is a uh plan where else we've already installed out there our VMS trailers to notify no parking towing enforced.

We're gonna supplement more, even though there's no parking signs, we're gonna supplement more no parking signs to make it a lot more obvious.

Uh we have re-details there uh for bundling traffic around uh that area along with myself and traffic unit uh detectives will be out there to enforce any uh parking violations of there.

For both days, Mr.

Chair.

So what what's the um protocol with the uptick in no parking signs and all that?

Um the signage is people do end up parking there.

What's the what is this automatic ticket or how's that gonna work?

Uh out there, no, we'll we'll enforce the towing.

Uh, because it just the once one stock happens, it it just escalates and so we have to kind of get ahead of it.

Thank you, Council Eggman.

Mr.

Chairman, yeah.

Yeah, are there uh I I just have a question.

I I know that this um event is coming up quickly, so it's a little hard to plan, but I'm wondering if this is the type of event that would be good to advertise for parking at the inter-what do you call it, interlocator lot, um and and then saying, you know, seeing if we could get some public transportation down to that area.

Uh you know, that might be something to alleviate some of the issues down there.

So um I think that they had it took a while for them to get their DEM uh license, and that's why it's coming to us so late, but if maybe we could start strategizing something to that effect, it might um alleviate some of the issues down there.

Or if we come up with a better name for that lot, yeah.

I think what's coming up, as a matter of fact, I think it's coming up tonight, and it's jazzy.

It's really it's gonna be good.

It's gonna be good.

Council of the Palatino.

No, I was thinking the same thing.

If there's an alternative way for people to go to the event and not bring their cars and get back from the event, surely there there should be some charter buses or or you know, for nominal fee, and it would make it a lot easier.

Yeah, okay.

Any further questions for Sergeant Head?

Thanks, Arge.

Uh all is in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any pose?

Aye south.

Motion to approve an annual entertainment license renewal, class A indoors, Salvay Regina University doing business as casino theater nine freebies.

Second.

Second.

Motion and second, all uh any discussion.

Those in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve an annual entertainment license renewal.

Class A indoors, Diego's of Newport L C eleven Bowens Wharf.

Motion and second, any discussion.

Those in favor say aye.

I have to read faster.

Motion to approve an annual entertainment license renewal class A, the Wharf Pub Newport LLC, doing business as Wharf Southern Kitchen and Whiskey Bar, 37 Bowens Warfare.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve a fiddling license.

New UMI Asian Inc.

doing business as UMI Asian Cuisine, 82 Broadway.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Next uh appointments to boards and commissions, Mr.

Chair.

Uh we have a few coming up tonight.

So for the tree and open space commission, we have Ellen Rupert, three-year term expiring July eighth, twenty twenty-nine.

Second.

Got a motion and second, any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye, aye.

Uh we have two to the historic district commission.

Uh previously in our consent calendar, uh, we have two members that are um re resigning from the HDC, uh, which opened up two spaces.

So these two people are both currently alternates that would be moving up to a full seats.

Uh first is Dan.

Um Jan Dejremont.

Uh move from alternate to full for a three-year term expiring three twenty-five twenty-nine.

Second.

A motion of second, any discussion?

All in favor say aye.

I uh next is Benjamin Willett, also moving from alternate to full three-year term expiring three twenty-five twenty-nine.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

Well, Mr.

Willett is a fine man, and in fact, I've done business with him before.

Uh I do not believe that the historic district commission should have uh members who are full-time real estate agents on its body.

Uh as full voting members, not alternates.

Uh and I echoed this when the alternate position came up uh about a year or so ago.

Um Mr.

Willett is, as I said, a fine individual who has built up a tremendous business.

Uh and I know that is his heart is in the right place.

His intentions are in the right place, uh, but there are too many overlaps with regard to uh real estate agents and our boards and commissions, specifically historic district zoning and planning.

There is a property on Broadway uh next to Chump, which Mr.

Willard is now representing, uh, which will ultimately become a uh large scale short-term rental.

And I just don't believe that this is the type of representative though a fine man, as I said, no a fine professional, professional that we uh we want on the historic district commission.

The historic district commission, uh about a year plus ago, and we dealt with this in the public comment earlier regarding Jones Street and the CVS Plaza, had before it a uh a proposal with regard to the Bellevue Hotel.

Uh that has raised enormous issues for our residents, this council, and the administration, and I uh I think as you all know, that that has led to some very strong feelings with regard to what our boards and commissions do, and who in fact sits on our boards and commissions.

I think you understand what I'm saying.

Uh that's the reason I'm voting no, and I will stop talking.

Uh any other discussion, Mr.

Chair, Council Pennett.

Thank you.

Um I also just wanted to talk a little bit about Mr.

Willett.

I was part of the interview process for him when he first came through.

Interviewing for something else.

Um, so aside from his real estate work, he also does a lot of work in our community with youth.

Um he is uh volunteer um with kids who play baseball.

He also works for star kids.

Um so I think he is also very invested in our community and um believes that he has the wisdom and knowledge and understanding to be able to do this position justice.

So I am gonna vote for Mr.

Willett.

Okay, councilman.

All right, all right.

All in favor uh say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Aye south.

Next we have uh three appointments to the historic cemetery advisory commission.

Uh first is Teresa Stokes, our a Black Heritage Society representative, three-year term expiring 8 23 29.

Second, second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Uh Gary Ruff, Newport Preservation Society representative, three-year term expiring 823-29.

Second, second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, and then Bert Lippincott, Newport Historical Society, three-year term expiring 823-29.

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Um, and then finally, the sister city commission, uh, Mary Jameson, three-year term expiring 424 2029.

Second.

Motion second, any discussion.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Okay.

Next um motion to receive a communication from Colleen Burns Jermaine, superintendent notice of projected school budget deficit pursuant to um Rhode Island General Law 16-2-9 F second.

We have a motion and second, and this is again, we just are receiving this communication.

Um, necessary vote taking place for it.

Uh, so any discussion on the communication.

Mr.

Chairman, Council Carl.

On such uh this includes the memo from memorandum from Mr.

Nolan to the city administration, which was subsequently uh passed to the council, yes.

This is I think believe this is just a communication stating that the school's aware that the budget is gonna be uh a deficit budget for the next next year.

Appreciate it so it's absent that correct on the communication from Dr.

Jermaine, please.

Yes, sir.

Uh can anybody in the administration or or else wise elsewhere tell me what the vote was by the Newport City or by the Newport School Committee to adopt uh the fiscal twenty-seven budget?

Yeah, that we have two school committee members.

You want to come up from what I believe it was four to three, but I'll let you name names.

It was on a four to three vote, uh, and it passed.

And uh we were under pressure to get a budget in by July 1st, which is mandated by state law.

Oh, thank you, Becky.

And again, I've said this before, but uh, you know, I I thank you for for your many, many years.

So they're one of the finest people I've ever served with in uh or met in in public elected office.

So it sometimes pains me to have to uh be so outwardly critical of uh the Newport School Committee.

My question to you, Becky, and and I'll call uh Mr.

Nolan up as well, since I believe it's a public document that Mr.

Nolan sent for the members of the council regarding that memo to the administration that I referenced.

Ms.

Nolan and the administration or Ms.

Nolan believes, as do I, uh, that the council or that the school committee passed a irresponsible uh budget and did so simply for the purposes of balancing on paper said budget.

Do you want to speak about that?

So fulfilling the law, that's what we that's why it got passed.

We left it all in one category, so it was easily identifiable.

I mean, it was no surprise to anybody that we were running a 2.6 million dollar deficit at that point, and um we had to come up with the budget, and that's why you received the letter like July 1st, because we knew we had a deficit, and it's our duty within five days to notify the city and this and uh RI uh you know ride that we have a death, we anticipate a deficit.

Thank you, Becky.

Uh thank you, uh Ms.

Nolan.

I appreciate that answer.

The letter that was addressed to the Newport City Council or to the mayor to the administration, uh was in fact prior to the start of the fiscal 27 year.

So one might argue that there was still time to adjust your budget.

I don't think you, as the commissioner of education, commissioner at Ride, through her attorneys and staff, told the Newport School Committee and Newport City Council.

I don't think you are entitled to suggest that help is necessary potentially through a currulo act or otherwise before a fiscal year starts.

It must be rather obvious that you are in fact uh falling short of what is expected to finance the operations during the fiscal year in question to say ahead of time that we are going to be off budget and have a shortfall is is inappropriate.

What you do ahead of time is you make the necessary adjustments to your budget.

So would you have wanted us to wait until we are 2.6 million dollars away from not being able to pay our bills?

We knew that the law reads that you as soon as you know you have a deficit, an impending deficit that you let everyone know.

And maybe you got it on July 30th or I mean June 30th, but that's only because we had an outgoing superintendent, and part of the motion that was passed said that we had to notify you that um we knew that there was a deficit.

That was our way of some of us not feeling comfortable about passing the budget, but knowing that was part of our job to have something in by July 1st.

No, I certainly would not have Becky Ms.

Bowling wanted you to wait five months, uh, just like I did not want the school committee to wait nine months, 10 and a half months actually, to tell us about the fiscal 26 shortfall.

Uh but if you look at the entirety of the of the legislation of the statute, though it does not very specifically reference uh what could be a shortcut, which the school committee is attempting to do.

It does talk about the existing existing budget, and you are not yet when you wrote that letter to Ride dealing with an existing budget.

What you're saying is uh we would like to abandon our responsibilities and give it over to the council, give it over to the taxpayers of the city of Newport to deal with what could be and should be dealt with the existing school department, school committee.

That is to say, tough budgets are a fact of life.

Mr.

Nolan and his predecessor, Ms.

Citron have done a tremendous job the last arguably what gene, 12 to 15 years, building up a surplus for us, and getting our numbers to where we should be and where we arguably are one of the best in the in the state.

The Newport School Committee, I'm sorry to say, has done no such thing and has abandoned, as I said, its responsibility and is trying to turn it over to the council, which is irresponsible.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Council.

I just wanted to add that until we write the ship and make up for what we haven't gotten in many years.

We've gotten an average of 1.6% over the last I think it's either 10 or 15 years.

That you you cannot make up for a um structural deficit.

And once you start using one-time money, this is what happens, and uh, and that's what we started to do, and there were years that you told us to use our one-time money to balance the budget.

So anyway, we are where we are right now, and um, you know, we did what we did, we ordered it, and we thought that's what we were supposed to do.

We are told by our lawyer to do it, and so um we all want to work together though.

None of us want to do well, no one does, and our new superintendent is committed.

We had a meeting with them yesterday to see what we can do to make as many more cuts and you know, and be fiscally responsible.

And I'm hoping that a lot of that comes out of it.

All right, all right.

Council Smith.

Um, can you explain?

I I know the letter says that it's uh the projected reductions and out-of-district special education expenditures.

Um can you speak to that a little bit?

Because I know that that unfortunately is special education is is usually the the first to get hit at the federal, state, local level.

Can can you speak to that a little bit?

This year we have 39 students at the end of the year.

We had 39 students in out of district placements that and I I think that we are anticipating that that will be like 2.8 million to pay for those students, which we're legally responsible to do.

And so there were some suggestions that we take it out of 20 25 accounts, you know, like just go through, cut everything back to where it was last year or the year before, and we thought that that was irresponsible and that you couldn't go back and trace it all.

It's gonna look like you know, oh, you mess this, you know, this count up, this one, that one.

By taking it out of one, right?

It's just easier to track it.

That's all.

And what services would these students lose?

They're not gonna lose they're not gonna lose.

There's no we we're legally obligated.

We have to we have to make pay for these students.

So, okay, thank you.

Mr.

Chair, sorry.

Uh, I think that there's the rub is that uh the school department has to take everyone, and that the you really don't know when a student is going to come in who is going to cost the district a lot of money.

And um, and we I think the city has much more stability in that way than the school department does.

Um, one of the things that's mentioned in this letter is about additional operational funding that uh could possibly help with some of the the costs, um, which of course is something that I think that the you know the city must look at and in order to help you with all of that.

So um I uh I'm willing to work on that with you, and I of course I think the education is important, and you know, I'm gonna admit I I believe that the schools have been underfunded over the years, and I'm um it's we've given a lot of money, but for things that are not part of the maintenance of effort, and so we can say, you know, but it's the maintenance of effort that keeps the structural framework of a of a budget.

So um we've tried to kind of fill the holes, and uh unfortunately I think that we need to do more.

When we do have a uh audit gonna be starting here very soon, both uh fiscally and the staffing audit, and so that'll help all of us see, you know, if we are overstaffed in any areas.

Um we did our own internal audits this year and came up with many staff, you know, and some of them have been called back because they contractually we needed these people and we were obligated to them, but um there are still some out on uh that were let go.

So Mr.

Chair, sorry, we've got this and thank you.

First, thank you very much for all your years of service to our kids in our community.

You are appreciated.

Um, and regardless of whatever conversation, just want to make sure you realize that your your work has been um appreciative by many of us.

So thank you very much for everything that you have done.

Um I agree with counselor Sagley.

I we're this is a systemic issue.

The funding issue is systemic, so of course this is where we are.

It's like any systemic issue in this country when it just builds up and builds up and builds up eventually, it's gonna crumble.

Um, and I do agree that I think we can we have done a lot.

No one is saying that the city has not stepped in and contributed when necessary, um, but our schools have been underfunded, and that's on paper.

That's a fact.

Um, and that's probably that's part of the issue.

There are many components to what's happening in in Newport public schools with the budget deficit and the way that things are being operated right now, but the underfunding is a huge part of that, and I will um also do everything that I possibly can to work with Newport public schools.

Considering 74% of those kids in Newport Public Schools are in my ward.

And I said the one thing we need to do is we need a one-time right the ship, and I think we'll be able to, you know, keep keep it to a budget after that.

I agree with you.

I'm at Newport Public Schools every day.

I was there yesterday reading to kids.

I'm there every single day.

So I see the need um in the schools, and I also see what the educators and so the administrators that are left um are going through in the schools.

So we need to do more for our kids.

We we pour money into the things that are important to us.

So thank you very much for everything you've done, Becky.

Ms.

Colin, you want to come up?

Chairman.

Council Colin.

Um thank you.

I apologize.

Uh Ms.

Cullen before uh she addresses everybody.

Quick question for Mr.

Nolan.

Uh Mr.

Nolan, what what is the um regarding Council of Pinnock's commentary?

What is the maximum percentage amount that the Newport School Committee can ask of the council to fund year over year in terms of an increase?

That's four percent.

What did the council fund in percentage terms for the fiscal twenty-seven budget?

Four percent.

Thank you very much.

Hi, Beth Cullen.

Uh 19 Bayside Avenue, Newport School Committee.

I just want to clarify a couple things.

We did have a vote of four to three to approve that budget a couple weeks ago.

There was no camera present, and I asked that it be continued so that the public could see what we were discussing of that 50 million dollar budget.

I was appalled that a line item was zeroed out to solve the problem.

So we my colleagues passed a budget, four of them, that was really a mockery of accounting practices.

So that said, I think it's time that we start talking more as a body, as as both the school committee and the and the municipal government together to figure this out.

And the one thing we can do together that we've been lopsided about is regionalization.

We just don't have the critical mass anymore to cover these costs.

Our schools are shrinking enrollment-wise, but they're very large.

We have huge utility bills, and our kids are not getting the courses they deserve because of critical mass, the lack of.

So the advanced kids aren't getting the AP classes that they really need and want.

The kids that have learning disabilities and problems that are behind aren't getting the attention they deserve.

So in order to solve these problems, it's not necessarily more money, it's more critical mass.

So I'm I really hope that all of you here will work with the school committee harder to get regionalization back on the table.

It's the only way forward.

I know there's a lot of nostalgia that comes with being a Viking.

I get it.

My dad graduated in 39, although he didn't live his life saying he was a Viking.

Um I just think we have to put the nostalgia aside and start thinking practically about the future of our children and our economy and how we're educating these kids.

None of our kids are getting a quality education, and money's not going to solve that.

What's going to solve that is critical mass.

I'll keep saying it.

We need to have more kids to do the advanced classes, more kids to do the ramp up, and we need to start processing it so that we're working together fiscally.

I know later you're going to talk about the audit.

Becky mentioned it.

That audit needs to be done in tandem.

It needs to be done with both the municipal government and the school department.

The taxpayers pay one tax bill.

We don't have a separate school district.

Um other states have like a separate school bill.

We have one bill for our taxes, one pot of money.

So that money needs to be managed properly, and it's not being, we're not collaborating now.

So every year, the school committee comes back and says, Give me money.

They don't tell you why.

You guys don't know what's going on day to day, and our finance departments are not, they're in sync, but they're they could be a lot more in sync.

Middletown has has it figured out.

I know Jim Nolan has a lot figured out, but we as a body as the school committee, and you as the council need to really push for fiscal responsibility for both bodies.

It's not two separate things for one city.

So thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I just want to make one comment that Newport is not unique in its um reduction of students in the schools either.

So, you know, you look at Middletown, you look at Tiverton, you look at there are many communities that are going through the same thing, and you know, I think it would just really behoove the state if they were more proactive in uh making regionalization happen uh within the communities because um every community is suffering, um, and and it's it's shocking because people aren't having the kids they had, and it's just it's not it's not the same as it was.

Mr.

Chairman.

You know, after all these years, I am so upset with the schools.

I really am.

It's not like the performances there, it's not, and it's not because the teachers don't teach it, it's because the lack of staffing and the appropriateness of the number of students.

I mean, regionalization, we've been at this, I've been at this for four years.

I just put together all my stuff with the regionalization.

I had a box, and it was this high, this high.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out when you have less kids in a classroom, and your bills are going up and up, that we shouldn't regionalize and and give the benefit to the students and give the benefit to the teachers that are teaching them.

It's not happening, I'm disappointed.

We've given a lot of money to the schools.

We came up with the premium bond, we didn't, um, finance department came up with a premium bond.

14 million dollars that we had given, and on top of that, we continued to give and give and give.

And guess what?

The performance of our students are down, and I mean way down.

It's about time we shake this thing up, we truly have to look at it from the standpoint of families.

They want their kids to succeed.

I want my grandkids to succeed.

But it ain't happening.

It's not happening because they don't have the resources.

They don't have the teachers for certain things, including AP, including language, including a lot of things.

And they don't have the appropriate.

Well, Mr.

Chair.

Less money is not going to fix the problem either.

So I, you know, I I guess I don't like or agree with the idea that there are no children in the Newport public schools who are thriving.

There is there they don't have any.

We have students who do very well in the Newport public schools.

We have teachers who are very dedicated.

I don't want to paint a the full paint full paintbrush of this.

This is just a terrible school district because when you look at the top 10 students, when you look at the students who graduated uh from Rogers, I mean, there these are people who you cannot keep disparaging something.

We need to work together.

I'm I just the more disparagement from the council, it makes it even worse.

And I listen, and I know the realities, but the fact of the matter is we have some great dedicated teachers, we have great dedicated administrators, and we have kids who want to learn, and we have kids who are succeeding, and they play sports, and then they're in the theater, and it breaks my heart because I went to see the the the kids in the theater pro production, and they were fantastic.

And it's like so if you when you put a face on them, it's different.

That's a joint Middletown Newport drama call.

So that's a gold star.

I just want to make sure.

First of all, I didn't call you up.

I'm sorry to speak.

Um, are you gonna say anything about the budget because that's what we're talking about?

I don't want to get off.

So um money is not going to solve our quality of education problems, and and and I don't know how, yes, 10% of our kids do just fine.

50% of our kids graduate without a plan, that means no skill school, no tech school, no CCRI, no military, nothing.

So we need to start getting really serious and stop kidding ourselves about such a great school system.

We have that's a that's a mirage.

Yes, the kids are great.

I can I can tell you that, all of them.

Teachers are working hard.

We've had some real trouble with administration, real trouble.

So we have to start working together and being honest with ourselves, the solutions are there.

We just have to stop the opaqueness and the candy coding.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Council Smythe.

Um, you know, I have I know we have this communication before us.

Um I I do not believe that this is a one-off situation that is going to be solved with just handing over money.

Um I believe that that this is a multifaceted issue, um, broader issue that that it has has a ripple effect to a number of things that that you can see that was presented here tonight.

I would like to recommend.

I mean, we have two school committee members here tonight, the superintendent is not here, the finance director is not here.

I I would hope that the intent of council is going to be to meet with the school committee and those individuals to have a more broader discussion of what the issues actually are.

We just keep bandaging random things in the process and not actually addressing the real issues, and I just think that that is going to be a larger discussion to have.

Thank you, Councilman.

Yeah, no, and I I what's on the unless you have a question for them.

I mean, I agree with Councilor Smythe, but no, we're talking about this communication of this budget that we got.

And the only thing I can look at when I see this was or is we have six council uh school committee members that are aren't coming back, right?

Four of those voted for this budget.

This budget that we got is not even worth the piece of paper was written on.

It was it's terrible.

And the fact there was only a four to three for it is this thing should have been shot down at the school committee level, but it wasn't.

So it was again it's gonna be put on the city to try to fix this problem.

And that's fine because I think we have the people that can do it.

But again, I'm I'm extremely disappointed that we you came back.

This is almost the same budget as last year, and we know where that got us.

So as much as I know you weren't at the gun to legally to put this to put this out there, but I I just think it's just it was just with an outgoing school superintendent, six outgoing school committee members, multiple administrators not coming back.

You know, I I think that I'm hoping that this is this might be a a blessing in disguise in the long run.

But you know, there's a lot of work to be done.

I'm just disappointed that this is put put in front of us as a city because if I was on a school committee and I I hate to no hurt anyone's feelings, but I'd be embarrassed.

That's all I can say about that.

So um that being said, we're gonna vote to receive the communication.

Aye, all those in favor say aye.

Aye, aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Aye seven.

Okay.

Uh action item six six four two.

The ITC recommends adding to chapter 10.24 of the City of Newport's codified ordinance as follows.

Um parking prohibited at all times in designated places.

No person shall park a vehicle at any time upon the following streets.

Add South Baptist Street beginning 201 feet west of Spring Street and proceeding west a distance of 26 feet.

Do I have a second?

Second.

We have motion and second.

Any discussion?

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carlin.

I originally supported the designation back in February of 2024.

Uh it has had a travel route, which is very interesting since then.

I'll get into it.

But as I'm sure my colleagues have seen, there are many objections to what is before us now from South Baptist Street residents.

So I am afraid that I will have to uh reverse what I originally supported and vote no on this in support of uh the many residents of South Baptist in nearby Thames who would like to see it defeated.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Councilor.

Any other discussion?

Uh, all right.

Again, this is just a first reading of uh first reading of an ordinance change.

So is there anyone in the audience that wants to do that?

I was just gonna get the vote.

Is there anyone uh in the public that'd like to comment on this?

No, okay.

All right, uh let's go to vote.

Uh all in favor uh of this uh parking uh prohibition say aye.

All is opposed, say nay.

Nay.

Action item six six four three, the ITC recommends adding to chapter 10.56 one-way streets of the city of Newport's codified ordinance as follows.

Um, one way street designated sign required.

This would be add bridge street westbound from Thame Street to America's Cup Avenue.

Second.

We have motion and second, any discussion, Mr.

Chairman, Council Carl.

First of all, I'd like to thank my colleagues uh counselor Smythe, Councillor Pinnock, and Councillor Comsovorovank for uh some 17 months ago agreeing to change the designation on Bridge Street.

I actually need to give particular credit to Councillor Smythe, who in campaigning door to door in 2024 listened to the voters of Bridge Street and nearby.

Uh and this was a serious concern of theirs, particularly as there was a playground nearby and a number of other issues that uh because of time we won't get into tonight.

But councillor Smythe passed it on to me as a FYI since I was and is and am, I should say.

Uh the counselor uh for Bridge Street, and she recommended that uh when she was sworn in as a member of the city council in December of 2024.

We look as soon as possible at making the changes, and it did we did so, as I mentioned, uh back many many months ago.

I also want to thank uh the administration, the Newport Police Department, and the state of Rhode Island for their assistance in this long travel, and I would ask my colleagues to support this communication from the city manager.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Mr.

Chair, Council Smythe.

Um, I I do want to thank Councillor Carlin uh because he he did immediately contact the residents and speak with them as to what would help improve their quality of life.

Um they were really struggling as far as their cars getting hit and uh you know not having a safe sidewalk to walk on uh the the lane of traffic um was just very invasive.

And uh speaking with the residents over the past couple of weeks, they are absolutely overjoyed for this change.

So I just want to thank everybody involved in making this happen.

Any other discussion?

Um I'm just gonna add that I was uh against this because uh we didn't take the right avenues uh to go about getting a change.

Um it was uh you know, I think Council Carl, we was your resolution that called for this, so and uh and you obviously you garnered the votes to get some, but um I will vote for this because now it's it's too far down the road.

But uh the way we go about these things, you know, we have you know, we have the ITC that you go they go through, and just like the the previous request that we just had, it may not always work out that way, but there are ways to go about it that are correct.

This wasn't one of those, which is why I voted against in the first place, but I will vote for this.

Um, as like I said, it's already been it's already done, and we've gone through uh ride out to get it to get it taken care of.

So um that being said, uh all is in favor uh of the stream say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I have it.

Action item 6644 from Jim Nolan, Director of Finance.

It is recommended that the City Council approve a distribution of $50,000 from the Henderson Home Trust to fund immediate maintenance projects at 14 Clark Street and provide cash reserves for future programmatic needs.

This is currently budgeted I move approval.

Motion and second, any discussion, Chairman, Council Carlin.

Trying to be as brief tonight as possible, but uh I do want to thank Jack Brant, who is a member of the commission here in the audience and who typically comes to city council meetings.

Uh what you do, Jack, uh, is is certainly not recognized by the citizens overall, and what your commissioners here colleagues do is not recognized.

We have a difficult problem here.

Appreciate your outline to me uh as the liaison to the Henderson Home Commission.

And again, I appreciate what you and your colleagues do.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh any more discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Aye seven, action item 6645.

Uh, the multimodal pillar community recommends that the city council pass a resolution officially naming designating and publicly referring to the new parking lot established by the bridge realignment project located at 80 JT Connell Highway as the Newport Access Hub.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Motion and second, any discussion?

That sounds jazzy, you think.

Um, it's called it could be called better nah.

Um, anyway, I do I do have a question for you though.

Um, are we going to put up signs from um will there be signage and is there any update on the signs for the um gateway building?

Just curious.

Hi, good evening.

Um Tully Martin, Planning Department, and also member of the multimodal uh pillar committee.

Um so we are um have already contacted some signing uh vendors to establish uh a planning budget estimate to go forward.

So if you like the name uh and we can uh you know officially designate it, then we can go forward, produce the signage, help people uh find their way downtown.

We're envisioning um a larger name sign, says you know, this is the address.

Um you can access downtown here by by biking um walking.

There's a bus stop, park here for free, uh free public parking, and then some vertical pull signs that are um located by the multi-use path that also give people that visual cue as you get out of your car or off the bus that you know this way is downtown, this way is is north end or my antinome part.

But do we know when the signage at the gateway will go up?

I unfortunately cannot answer that question.

Um, okay.

I'll find out.

It's okay.

I'm just curious because um I was hoping it'd be by July 4th, but that one didn't happen.

So thank you.

Oh, Council Napoleon.

Yeah, can I can I just mention the name is kind of long?

I mean, Newport Access Hub.

The nah.

It just did you call it before what's it called?

No, no.

What is it called right now?

Oh, it's called the interlocal local.

Well, that's the little burger.

I mean, it has to be something that people you know are attracted to.

I don't well, we thought about the beginning, but obviously that one's already taken.

Well, how about free parking?

I don't get people in the right.

Um, the only place you can get it.

I think it's as good as anything else as long as we have signage, but you know, you can always change it.

You know, I the I guess the only thing I don't mind Newport Hub, but Newport Access Hub.

I'm not sure what it is.

You know, I I Newport Hub would be fine.

All right, all is in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I have it.

Action item six six four six, the grants office within the Department of Resilience and Science Sustainability in collaboration with the Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Public Services recommends that the city council authorize acceptance of a 321,600 grant from the Federal Highway Administration of and Fiscal Year 24 safe streets and roadways for all.

That's SS4A grant program.

Uh this requires a 20% match, $80,400, which will be covered by the grant match reserve fund account.

Grant funding will support development of a supplemental neighborhood safety plan for the point, Carrie Hill, Van Zant, and the North End neighborhoods advancing implementation of Newport's Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

I move approval.

Second.

All right, motion and second any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Action item 6647.

Uh, the Department of Utilities recommends the award of contract 2026 UTL 004 station one drinking water treatment plant.

Uh S C A D A and S and P L C modernization of SOAP SCADA L LLC.

So Houston, Texas.

Um the proposals were due April 14th, and the responsive bids was $791,182.22 cents, which includes $150,000 in contingency allow allowable allowance controlled by the city.

This is currently budgeted.

I move approval.

Second.

Alright, motion is second.

Any discussion?

Uh Mr.

Chair, I just want to make one uh comment.

Mr.

Schultz, um, you had a Facebook post on about the wastewater treatment plant.

And it was a big hit.

And so I um I would like you know we had always talked about putting out more communication so people really understand the the difficulty and um the processes and keeping our water clean and our bay clean and I just really appreciated that post.

I thought it was excellent and I I would love to see more of that and I know that people were like wow this is behind the scenes stuff this is really cool.

So um I think that's successful.

We missed the crane by about 30 minutes.

Well I actually had uh the drone run over and try to wreck the crane lifting off the giant slabs but uh the pictures and stuff we had walking around with Tom and then some of the other sort of things they're really it's really it's really good and and the um you know taking the tour of that uh station the water treatment plant on Bliss mine road uh was such an eye opener that to have more of that type of communication going out I think people understand more about the difficulties of handling all of this infrastructure and all of this and the science behind it so yeah there's art and science to it we're definitely not a simple system and I uh get reminded routinely about uh stuff that doesn't shock me or seems normal so we're even reminding ourselves that so uh the hope is it's that we we get to do more of that we're trying to do more through the website different communications um but we share a communications bandwidth with the entire city so hopefully you'll see more great thank you all right uh all in favor say aye aye any opposed action item six six four eight the department of finance recommends approval to contract with constellation energy for the fixing of per kilowatt uh KWH rates regarding the supply of electricity for the period of december 2026 through December 2020 2030 the new negotiated rate as of June 23rd 2026 subject to change daily based on market conditions is 0.1236 kilowatts the city's current fixed rate contract also with constellation energy is currently at a rate of 0.1138 kilowatts which is fixed through December 2026 negotiated rates are based on estimated annual consumption this new contracting period includes the addition of new Rogers high school meter account and a start date of the first billing in 2026 this is currently budgeted I move approval second motion and second any discussion chairman council thank you two questions first with regard to the Rogers high school portion of this contract as council of comza Baravan raised at the last city council meeting do we have any definitive explanation as to why rates for the high school differ from those with the city or other schools this is Kevin Cortez he's our purchasing agent he's taken an all on an awful lot of this uh project here.

Hi uh just a quick introduction Kevin Cortez purchasing agent like he said um for the Rogers High School uh utility account that changed when the new meter was put in after the construction um it was automatically enrolled in the community choice aggregation program um as is any new meter or any new insole in the city uh that was not caught or realized until excuse me one second.

Any new meter in the city with regard to government property or with regard to any residential, commercial, industrial, and government property?

Any commercial, residential, industrial inclusive all inclusive.

Unless you opt it out uh correct.

Unless you have that one.

Keep going.

Sorry so um the that was automatically enrolled into the industrial community choice aggregation rate.

Um what we saw for the infamous bill that everyone was talking about, the sixty-five thousand dollar one uh was at a rate of sixteen point two cents per kilowatt hour.

Um we're looking to fix it to that 12 cents, which uh insulates from the energy markets and gives us budget predictability through 2030.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh, if we do in fact approve this matter this evening, will the rate at Rogers High School be consistent with the rate at the other entities that I've mentioned, including the city of Newport, or will we need to negotiate further?

If we agree to the contract this evening, uh negotiation is possible, but on the provider side, not necessary.

The provider can simply say, Well, you sign the contract, we'll charge you what we signed the contract for.

Does the contract include the same rate at Rogers as is provided for the rest of the entities in city government?

It it does include the same rate.

Thank you.

What's the rate again?

Uh as of June 23rd, it was 12.36 cents.

I've gotten updates since then because the market's so volatile it changes every day.

Of course.

Um the most recent rate I got, which was actually today, um, but this the contract is inclusive of variable changes, correct?

Correct.

All right.

And what approximately will this contract save for the Newport dollars-wise for the Newport School Department, specifically regarding Rogers or Pell and Thompson if applicable?

So Rogers, Pell, and Thompson are already fixed through 2028 at a rate of 10 and some change cents.

It's actually better than what the city gets.

Um they have their own contract uh for those entities.

The old Rogers High School meter was included in that, uh, but in the new construction, the new meter was put in and it was not carried over.

Um I wasn't part of that discussion, so I don't know what happened with that.

Um the savings for the Rogers High School account uh for the most recent rates uh would amount to about on average three thousand dollars a month.

So I'm sorry, uh I think either I misunderstood your explanation previously or what you just explained.

Um you said all three Newport school buildings are on subject to a contract which is uh tenant change per kilowatt hour, correct?

Correct.

But earlier you said that the Rogers contract uh was as per questions asked at prior council meetings, something at least to me, that sounded different than uh tenant change per kilowatt hour, so so it was on that same contract until the meter new meter was put in with the new construction of the building.

So the contract that includes all three schools now expires when 2028, end of the calendar year 2028.

The contract that's before us this evening begins when uh that would begin as soon as we sign the contract, but it would actually start billing uh for the Rogers High School account, the first bill in August of 2026, and then for the rest of the city accounts which are roped into the same contract, uh the first billing period in December of 2026.

So I think that's where I have a problem understanding.

How can the new contract supersede a contract in existence?

There is no contract for the current Rogers High School meter.

But you told me Rogers, Pell, and Thompson are on the same.

There's there's no contract, it's just the handshake type of thing.

No, no, no.

The Pell and Thompson, there's actually um two meters at Pell.

So um Rogers, Pell, and Thompson were on a contract, those utility meters.

When the new construction happened for the Rogers High School, a new meter and new account number was generated.

So it was dropped from that existing contract.

Understood.

So Rhode Island Energy or the presumed deliverer of and by deliverer, you can interpret however you want, the energy supply agreed to cut the contract short, which ended in 2028.

No, so we contract with a third party supplier, kind of in the same way the community choice aggregation program works.

So that contract's with a third party supplier, which they uh at the point of contract signing, um, you know, project the actual usage on an annual average basis for X number of accounts for these account numbers uh when the but that was for all three schools, correct?

And that was two end in 2028, correct?

So how did we get away with stopping what presumably again is you said there's no contract?

So what do we just pay them like as if you are renting your apartment month to month?

It's a completely separate supplier now for the Rogers High School.

So it's not part of the old contracts.

So are we are we not under any obligation when we previously signed a contract through 2028 to pay the previous provider?

We are not because it's a different meter and a different utility account number.

It's identified.

If we signed a contract with somebody, wouldn't that provider say, well, I don't care what you do, you still gotta pay us through 2028.

Um I'm hearing that there isn't one of those contracts that we can the new Rogers meter can now go on with this new contract.

We're gonna go on to if you approve this, we'll go under that at this.

My understanding of what I heard.

I I gotta be honest, counselor.

I mean, I haven't looked at this, I'm just getting the same information you're getting put down.

Thank you.

I appreciate the explanation.

I appreciate the savings.

The three thousand a month is something.

Uh it's more than something.

I think but I I just I'm still very confused as to how we can stop mid-contract from somebody or some entity providing something to us because simply because we say we've got a different way of calculating uh the electricity usage.

The moment that that new meter and account was put in, uh, the we're no longer being supplied by the old contract, supplied by a completely different supplier at that point.

I guess another way to look at this.

You've got a ghost meter at the old Roger.

That contract still applies, it's just not there's no electricity.

So zero read.

Yes.

Um Kevin, have we resolved the issue with the electricity?

The prior bills.

We have not.

We have not, no.

Okay.

Uh what this fix will do is just avoid that 16 cent or that that uh absorbent rate uh from happening any further.

What is the amount that is due from the school department?

Do you does anybody know?

That is due from that overage, yeah.

Yeah, I don't have that figure in front of me.

Okay.

It's four cents or so per kilowatt hour.

It's probably tens of thousands of dollars at least.

Yeah.

So that's still an outstanding issue.

It's Jim.

It is an outstanding issue.

I mean, it's the bills.

We we did not have that new meter under a contract.

Right.

So we went back to um the spire and said, is there anything that we can do?

There's really not much that we can go back retrospectively and adjust.

Um, but what we're looking to do here is really on a prospective basis.

Okay.

And that was my question.

Yeah.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Carl.

Outstanding question, Councilor Napolitano, exactly what I was thinking.

By approving this contract tonight, Kevin, our director Nolan.

Uh, do we lose our opportunity to negotiate for the savings that uh uh the discrepancy that Councilor Napolitano just mentioned?

In other words, uh, we are claiming, listen, we should be entitled to much less in terms of the total spending on our electric at Rogers.

By signing this contract, uh, are we in fact, and Ms.

Vin?

Uh, maybe you opine, are we in fact giving up our right to negotiate?

Once we sign the contract, they can say, Well, thanks for that opinion, but too bad you've signed the contract.

Does this contract include any negotiations between the city and uh the provider with regard to what Councilor Napolitano just mentioned?

The tens of thousands of dollars that we think were not overcharged, but that we think we should not have been charged because the electricity provider should have been charging us the same as other city entities.

If you know what I'm saying, very long explanation, very complex, I'm sorry, but I thank Councilor Napolitano for that question.

Retroactive.

What about the money?

That's the bottom line.

I don't think it removes the opportunity to go after that money.

I think we will be hard-pressed to get it.

Um, with the way these third-party supply contracts work, um, it gets even more complex because the school department is with a completely different company than what we are proposing here.

It's a separate third-party supplier.

Um, but there is information in the contracts themselves that basically say, um, you know, if if we at the city or the school department add a new meter or new account and we don't notify them of that, um, that they're not responsible for any overages that we would be charged.

So, thanks.

Thank you, Kevin.

Last question.

So, this entity that the contract, this entity uh which contract is before us, whose contract is before us, completely and totally separate than the prior contract or the prior understanding uh regarding providing energy to Rogers High School.

That is correct.

We are uh uh effectively looking to um extend our contract with Constellation, which is already underway now for all of the city accounts, and in order to uh afford those same savings for the over build Rogers High School account, add it to that citywide contract, um what may come into discussion uh later down the line.

Uh maybe when the rest of the schools come up for their third party supply rate at the end of 2028, we could do a two-year contract with them, um, extend those out to the end of the calendar year for 2030, and then think about doing something all-encompassing city and school into one like mega contract.

So we don't have this third-party supplier, this third party supplier, put it all under one umbrella.

Thank you, Kevin.

Sometimes I learn as I go, and I think what I learned is uh that despite our the city council school department school committee uh seeking to perhaps get back some of that money that we thought we overpaid, has nothing to do with this new provider.

Uh we would not be we we the question is moot with respect to negotiating with the new per uh provider.

It's the old provider we have to negotiate with, correct?

Correct, and I I did actually seek information from the old provider first for this new Rogers High School account.

What it would be if we did just the account alone with with the contract before us if we did just the account alone or if we added it to the city encompassing contract, um, and this is the the most favorable um contract that we could appreciate all the answers, and I I temporarily flipped to you when I said last question.

This will be my last question.

So, Councilor Kamsavaravan's question at the last council meeting.

If I were to see him tomorrow morning and report to him what we did at this evening's meeting, is it safe to say that we matched all of our rates at the schools.

Well, we matched all of what we pay rate-wise with the entities that the city governs, the school department, the city, etc.

It would just be Rogers and the city that is matched together in this.

Okay, because it's apps absent the time.

Okay, correct.

Appreciate it.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

Thanks, sir.

All right.

Council Smith.

Quick question.

Um, you know, I just want to echo what Councillor Carlin and Napolitano said.

And any I I work in government contracts.

So anytime I see fixed price, um, to me, that means that once the contract is put into place, there is no negotiating after that.

It is a fixed price.

So no matter what happens, that is what we owe the awardee.

Um can you just confirm that that whatever negotiations are going to happen is going to happen before this contract is finalized?

Yes.

Okay, okay, excellent.

Thank you.

We we get updated numbers on a daily basis.

Um, then we move from there.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

Uh all is in favor of uh the electricity supply fixed rate contract with constellation energy, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Nice.

Okay.

Moving on to ordinances, um, motion to amend section 10.24.010 of the codified ordinance entitled parking prohibited at all times in designated places.

Uh Russell Avenue.

This is a second reading.

So this would be to add Russell Avenue South Side from Malbone Road proceeding eastward, a distance of 50 feet.

Second.

Motion second, any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Motion to amend ordinance number 2025-77 approving the issuance of wastewater system revenue bonds.

This is a second reading.

Second.

Any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Uh next we have a resolution requesting a personal uh personnel audit.

This council Smith.

Uh I'll just read the resolved.

Resolve that adoption of any modifications to the organizational chart as published in the fiscal year 2027 budget shall be suspended pending completion of an objective personnel audit conducted by a qualified independent firm, the results of which may inform any proposed organizational changes and be it further resolved that the audit will include a process implementation plan of what it would look like to have the school's finance office realigned as part of the city's Department of Finance.

Do I have a second?

Motion and second, any discussion.

Mr.

Chair.

Council Smythe.

Uh I would like to um motion for some amendments for this resolution.

Uh the first is for the first resolved, that is amended to read resolve that the Newport City Council hereby directs that an objective personnel audit be conducted by a qualified independent firm to evaluate the city's organizational structure, staffing, reporting relationships, operational efficiencies, and management practices, the results of which may inform future organizational changes, and be it further resolved that the audit shall include a process implementation plan, evaluating the feasibility, operational considerations, benefits, challenges, and requirements associated with realigning the school's department, department finance office as part of the city's department of finance.

Do I have a second?

Second.

All right, we have a motion, motion and second, any discussion.

Well, what is different between this and it was a lot?

Yeah, can we do one resolve at a time?

Yep, I can do that.

That way you can kind of like shorten up a little bit.

Yep.

Yep.

Do you want me to read the amendment for the first?

Yeah, please.

Okay.

So resolve that the Newport City Council hereby directs that an objective personnel audit be conducted by a qualified independent firm to evaluate the city's organizational structure, staffing, reporting relationships, operational efficiencies, and management practices, the results of which may inform future organizational changes.

Second.

Alright, motion and second on that first uh amended resolve.

Any discussion.

But how is it different from the original one?

Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, go ahead, Council Smith.

Um it removes any mention of so if you're looking at the the resolution in front of you, that first resolve states adoption of any modifications to the organizational chart as published in the fiscal year 2027 budget.

Oh, got it.

Okay.

Sorry, I'm sorry, thank you.

It removes um mention of the 2027 budget.

Council Carlin?

No, no.

And the reason for that?

I'm sorry.

Uh no, I think it's fine fine amendment and I support it.

What was your question, Council?

I was just gonna say that what would is the reason for doing that?

Um so at the last meeting it was it was mentioned that if that wording was in there, then we would have to reopen the budget and the budget talks.

Ah, okay.

There we go.

Okay, thank you.

That's what I need to do.

Any other discussion on the amendment uh resolved?

All right, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right, and the second amendment.

So the second resolved, um, it just includes so resolved that the audit shall include a process implementation plan evaluating the feasibility, operational considerations, benefits, challenges, and requirements associated with realigning the school's department finance office as part of the city's department of finance.

Second.

All right, motion and second.

Any discussion?

Yes, Mr.

Just a quick question.

Uh do we know how much this study would cost?

The rough estimates by my research, and again, we're not committing, we're we're committing to the idea, but not appropriating any funds tonight, but somewhere be 200 and 300,000 would be like it's a full it'd be a full-scale organizational.

Okay, so that but that would come to us later.

This is more this is more of a conceptual thing.

This this enables the administration to go up with the request for qualifications.

Uh, and and hopefully we get several uh I shouldn't say bidders, not bidders, but several proposals that we can then score independent price and then open the envelope for price and fourth.

Okay.

Thank you.

Ms.

Cullen.

Thank you.

Um, Beth Cullen, school committee.

Um I've had conversations with several people in this in the city um administration as well as the schools.

A month, two months ago we voted, the school department voted to hire a audit uh firm called Plant in Moran.

It was the least expensive of the three that we looked at.

That week, um counselor Smythe had a resolution to this was in May, I think, or early June, to do the audit, the one that was continued, I guess June.

So around the same time, and I I called our finance director and said, um, would it be appropriate if we stopped that vote and talked to the city about using the same firm?

So uh I believe Alvarez and Martel is one that's been talked about.

That was one of our three that we looked at.

They were more extensive, but they're far more um uh they do a better job in my research.

So I'm asking that you consider, and I don't know if this is an amendment or how this would be handled, but I think that we need to have something um in writing that says that the same company that the city is using for their finance and staffing audit is the same company that the schools are using, so that the data is not crossing overlapping or inconsistent.

Um everybody I've talked to in administration, including our former superintendent, think that's a good idea.

Um I just want to make sure everybody's aware of that and think about it.

I don't know uh the procedure to do that and to codify it, but I think it's worth your your talking about because why would we have a separate inexpensive not great company when you're gonna hire a good one?

And uh the price is about this you know the same.

If we can get one price for both, I don't know, but I think we need to talk about that.

Mr.

Chairman.

Council Curlen.

Thank you, Ms.

Cullen.

Knowing that uh the school committee voted for a completely irresponsible fiscal twenty-seven budget, uh, as you mentioned earlier, and as was mentioned earlier, four to three.

Tell me, please, what the vote was on your request to postpone hiring an auditor.

There was no vote because we voted on this least expensive company that was not well vetted.

I'll just say that.

And then the next when I found out the city was going to do something similar, I called our um finance director and I said, Have you contacted Lanton Moran yet?

He had not.

Um I then talked to the superintendent.

So as far as I know, it's on hold so that we can have this conversation.

I just think it makes a lot of sense for us not to do two separate audits when we're trying to figure out how we can work better together.

I appreciate the answer, Mr.

Chairman.

I have far more confidence in Director Nolan and the city finance staff to select a personnel auditor to oversee what the council is asking for here in this good resolution.

And if the school department decides that it'd like to join on our team, so to speak, let it do so.

But uh, I don't think any further amendments are necessary to councillor spite's resolution.

Yeah, and and just so we don't forget we're still on the amended second resolve.

Okay, uh so before we get into her amended second resolve.

Um so any other discussion on that second amendment, uh the second resolved amendment.

All right, let's take a vote on that.

So all is in favor of that.

Um, second resolved amendment uh second amendment and resolve, say aye.

I any opposed, all right.

Ayes have it.

Um, just quick question for either city manager or solicitor.

Can we do we are is it in our scope to tell the school department to use a uh the same company that we're using or can we even tell them to do that or is that a separate entity?

We cannot tell them that, but I think if the school committee resolved to support the city and to collaborate, we could.

What I don't think we should try to do is merge this into a 600 employee massive audit because there's apples and oranges differences between you know school and city administration.

However, there is certainly an argument to be made that if both parties are looking to do something very similar at the same time, then they collaborate on a consolidated RFP, and then we just have to negotiate how to how to how to apportion the contributions to price once that once that's known.

So I think there's absolutely common sense in that approach.

And as long as the support public schools has not yet uh committed to their initial plan, then I think we're in prime position to do that.

I think the auditor would basically draw a wall between organization and audit them separate of each other, but they could be in town and working on it at the same time, and I think that would ultimately save us someone collectively.

The only other thing you can mean, you can certainly address this resolution now, and as the school goes down their path to doing the same thing, that's not to stop a subsequent resolution to address the combined effort, it might even be an opportunity.

But the cost to the school committee for this for their share of it, you know.

If they're at some point, depending on what the council does in terms of funding, might be one of those non-reoccurring expenses that you could address that wouldn't be part of the maintenance of that.

So there's just something point out, but uh I would at this point just go forward with this resolution, and then it's always the uh capability to uh as this process goes down downstream to combine the efforts.

Okay, great.

Okay, any other discussion?

All right.

So uh on the uh amended twice amended resolution.

Uh all is in favor say aye.

I any opposed?

Aye so motion is amended.

I would just say that.

Motion to adjourn as council and convene as board of licensed sanctioners.

Motion of second and discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to approve the consent calendar in its entirety.

Second.

Motion and second any discussion.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Motion second any discussion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

We didn't let us say anything.