Newport City Council Regular Meeting and Board of License Commissioners - August 26, 2026

The Newport City Council met on August 26, 2026, in Council Chambers at 43 Broadway, Newport, Rhode Island, with a quorum present. Mayor Holder opened by acknowledging a tragic incident that morning and thanking Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy, Harbor Master Steve Land, and public safety personnel, including Officer Jack Billings who was injured in the line of duty. The agenda included consent calendar approvals, resolutions, licenses, appointments, presentations on a unified parking system and fiber deployment, City Manager action items, and sewer ordinance amendments. The Council later adjourned as Council and convened as the Board of License Commissioners.

Consent Calendar

• Approved, in its entirety, the consent calendar, including the July 22, 2026 minutes; 11 special event permits (IYRS 47th Annual Newport Classic Yacht Regatta Awards Party, Sept. 6; Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards, Sept. 11; Quasi una Fantasia, Sept. 12; Sail Newport Annual Fundraiser, Sept. 12; Incite: Insight Art Opening, Sept. 19; Newport String Project Pocket Concerts, Sept. 20; Back to School Book Bash, Sept. 23; Cardines Classic Volleyball Tournament, Sept. 27; Romanticism and Musical Poetry, Sept. 29; Elks Lodge Corvette Car Show, Oct. 3; and Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival, Oct. 17-18, with Market Square street closure and food truck request); the Yachting Promotions Inc. banner license for the Newport International Boat Show; the Beach Commission communication on Easton's Beach; the R.I. DEM communication on Waites Wharf Marina Expansion water quality certification; and referral of the Waterfront Campus- Innovation Hub Zoning Amendments to the Planning Board.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bob Plain, CDBG program manager at Church Community Housing, announced that the CDBG competitive round for non-housing uses opens September 8 and runs through November 10, 2026. He explained that CDBG is federal HUD funding flowing through the state and that applicants must show 51% of beneficiaries are at or below 80% of area median income, which in Newport is $74,950 per year. He said he had met with Renew Newport and the Newport Partnership for Families and urged eligible organizations to apply.

Resolutions

• Councilor Pinnock presented a resolution, co-sponsored by Councilor Smyth, directing the administration to designate John H. Chaffee Boulevard as a school zone within 300 feet of the EBCAP Newport Head Start Center and CCRI, improve signage, and evaluate a stop sign or other traffic controls at the Head Start circular drop-off area. The Council passed the resolution. Councilor Pinnock thanked Deputy City Manager and Standing City Manager Mike Carulo and Chief Duffy.
• Councilor Ceglie presented a resolution, co-sponsored by Councilors Napolitano and Smyth, directing the city to explore the logistics, feasibility, and costs of improvements to Toppa Athletic Field, including stormwater management, sidewalks, and utility upgrades, coordinating with Salve Regina University and Newport Public Schools. The resolution noted the field serves more than 1,000 athletes and referenced the 2026 Park and Open Space Master Plan and Salve Regina's willingness to raise funds. It passed. The Council welcomed Salve Regina University President Dr. Kelly Armstrong.

Licenses and Permits

• Approved a temporary sidewalk café license for Newport Community School d/b/a Community Cookery, 18 Market Square, Sept. 17-20, 2026, during the Newport International Boat Show.
• Approved a sidewalk café license renewal for Broadway Tavern, LTD d/b/a Tavern on Broadway, 16 Broadway.
• Mayor Holder recused on the new entertainment license for Gardiner House, LP d/b/a Gardiner House, 24 Lee's Wharf, for indoor entertainment daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and outdoor entertainment Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of holiday weekends; after a second public hearing with no comment, it was approved.
• Approved a new entertainment license for Midtown Race Club LLC d/b/a Midtown Race Club, 255 Thames St., with indoor entertainment daily 11 a.m.-1 a.m. and outdoor entertainment until 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until midnight on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays before holidays; second hearing, no comment, approved.
• Approved an entertainment license expansion for 24 Memorial Opco LLC d/b/a Jo's American Bistro, 24 Memorial Blvd. West, expanding indoor entertainment hours on Saturdays and Sundays to 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; second hearing, no comment, approved.

Appointments to Boards and Commissions

• Approved Sophia Domingoes to the Juvenile Hearing Board for a three-year term expiring Aug. 26, 2029; reappointed Christopher Lewia to the Juvenile Hearing Board for a term expiring Nov. 1, 2028; and reappointed Robert (Bob) Conway to the Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission for a term expiring Oct. 14, 2029.

Park Newport Unified Parking System

• Superintendent of Parking Stathis Manousos presented Park Newport, a proposed unified branding and customer-service system for municipal parking. The plan would create one logo, a Park Newport website, a white-label mobile app, branded signage and uniforms, and a single public-facing platform for permits, ticket payments, appeals, maps, and rates. Manousos said there would be no direct tax cost because the parking fund is an enterprise fund and that the system would reduce congestion and improve revenue. Councilors questioned that framing, with Councilor Carlin arguing parking fund revenue is taxpayer money and asking what was wrong with the current system, where funds would be budgeted, and whether the new superintendent position was supposed to eliminate three prior positions. Administration said the position was a consolidation and no expenditures were reduced; Councilor Carlin noted the position added about $156,000 to the budget. Councilor Ceglie supported the plan, citing poor signage and the underused Gateway lot; Councilor Napolitano supported uniforms and suggested working with RIPTA on smaller buses; Councilor Smyth asked about accessible and handicapped-space information in the app. The Council took no formal vote.

GoNetspeed Fiber Deployment Briefing

• Heidi Mahoney of GoNetspeed reported that fiber internet service was available at approximately 525 Newport locations as of that day, with construction continuing in phases and most of the build expected by the end of 2026 and completion early next year. Residential plans start at 100 Mbps for $39.99 per month and go up to 6 Gbps, with Wi-Fi router and installation included. GoNetspeed is also providing free library connections, donating 10 connected devices, and discounting service for schools and municipal buildings. Mahoney also referenced approximately 4,621 locations in the build area. In response to questions, she said utility pole congestion is largely a pole-owner issue, the grant is CPF funding rather than BED Act funding, and there is no separate SSI/SSDI rate but the $39.99 plan and promotions are available. Brian Thorne of Rhode Island Commerce added that pricing is roughly 30-40% below competitors. The Council received the briefing without a formal vote.

City Manager Action Items

• Authorized the Newport Fire Department to pursue grants, philanthropic donations, and other private funding for restoration/reconstruction of the historic fire watch tower at Fire Station No. 5, limited to fundraising, planning, and preliminary design; future expenditures would require separate Council approval.
• Approved a motion to withdraw Action Item #6669/26, which would have authorized acceptance of up to $4.9 million in additional FY-2025 FHWA Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant funds.
• Adopted the new Grant Award Acceptance & Authorization Policy, defining when Council authorization is required versus administrative acceptance of grant awards.
• Awarded a $369,510 contract under RIMPA#494A/MPA#494B to DBVW Architects of Providence, with subconsultant Fuss & O'Neill, for Phase 3 schematic design of the Easton's Beach Resilience Plan, funded by the 2024 infrastructure and resilience general obligation bond. Director Teresa Crean explained Phase 2 produced the partial dune transformation option recommended by the Beach Commission; Phase 3 covers schematic design, permitting, and public engagement, with an extra $20,000 allowance for additional public engagement. She estimated parking would decline from roughly 800 to about 550 spaces under that option, with lost revenue not yet calculated. Councilor Carlin argued the Council should decide the preferred plan before spending more on consultants, noting total consultant costs were approaching $1.2 million. Councilors Napolitano and Pinnock supported moving forward. The motion passed with one councilor opposed.

Ordinances (Second Readings)

• On second reading, the Council approved amendments to Sections 13.08 (Sewer Service System), 13.10 (Industrial Pretreatment), and 13.12 (Sewer Service Charges) of the Codified Ordinances. In response to a question, staff said the amendments do not themselves increase sewer rates; they were prompted in part by a R.I. DEM violation, and any future rate change would go through the normal budget process.

Board of License Commissioners

• After adjourning as Council and convening as the Board of License Commissioners, the Board approved the consent calendar in its entirety: daily liquor licenses for International Tennis Hall of Fame's Induction Celebration (Aug. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and Aug. 29, 2-9 p.m.), Sail Newport's Annual Fundraiser (Sept. 12, 5:30-10:30 p.m.), Puddingstone Events' Quasi una Fantasia (Sept. 12, 7:30-9:30 p.m.) and Romanticism and Musical Poetry (Sept. 29, 7:30-9:30 p.m.), and Bowen's Wharf Company's Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival (Oct. 17-18, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.) with related food truck/street closure request.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent calendar in its entirety.
• Passed resolutions on Head Start traffic safety and Toppa Athletic Field improvements.
• Approved all license applications and appointments as listed.
• Received Park Newport and GoNetspeed briefings without formal votes.
• Authorized Fire Watch Tower fundraising/planning; withdrew the SS4A grant acceptance item; adopted the Grant Award Acceptance & Authorization Policy; and awarded the Easton's Beach Phase 3 contract ($369,510) with one councilor opposed.
• Adopted the three sewer ordinance amendments on second reading.
• As the Board of License Commissioners, approved the daily liquor license consent calendar and adjourned.