The Newport City Council held a special meeting on May 8, 2024, primarily focused on the selection and compensation of a new city manager. The council discussed the proposed salary for the city manager, which was set at $225,000. A motion was made to amend this amount to $189,000, but the motion failed with only two votes in favor.

Councilor Holter expressed his appreciation for the council's deliberations, describing the process of selecting the city manager as one of the most enlightening experiences of his tenure. He emphasized the difficulty of choosing between candidates, ultimately selecting Mr. Kennedy over Ms. Citrin, who has served as the city’s finance director. Holter acknowledged Ms. Citrin's qualifications but stressed that the role of city manager requires specific leadership qualities that he believes Mr. Kennedy possesses.

The council's selection process involved a thorough review of 25 applicants, which was narrowed down to the top candidates through a steering committee. Councilor Lima highlighted the rigorous interview process, which included extensive questioning over several hours to ensure the best candidate was chosen. The selection process began in October of the previous year and involved candidates from across the country.

The meeting underscored the council's commitment to transparency and thoroughness in selecting a city manager, with members urging the community to trust their judgment in choosing leadership for Newport. The council reiterated that the new city manager would be an employee of the city, accountable to the council and the public.