[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6500764,"mediaKeyId","5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909","parentId",5779049,"title","Newport council votes: appointments, licenses, utility work, IT contracts and personnel changes","audioSeconds",2377,"startMs",423000,"endMs",2800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909&start=423&end=2800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909/thumbnail_423000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500764/Rhode-Island/Newport-council-votes-appointments-licenses-utility-work-IT-contracts-and-personnel-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500764-7d6d8bf3c047f1ebe746454edaffebe7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405922&Signature=jSW6Gp08ajx8bZ5Ph7Pl54NuiFXiTe~RcfLCEzwGt2QqNxg2ITdV4csVfcIXDMLJxCqLhGmyVEDgCd11QZiJxXgTbXXPttBILL2n1TbHE1Ch6mdNagtc~DsA1V2pLmMLbEP05IM7W~RFsclMNlFe6gDwiIy1LQTDnGLcREqGCvL64lvzAYinilEwCki~PDNZOrUd5yivaTHpCCw6BNM9kVZvw4E28RECNFB6YRLet~Y1NQ2LiMBAAU0WsoclkZXl1aU6rLxVWRcGKeQM~SikR8GqeaoCEzEHj2QcU69CEcHK1PEOkE6mxoElAwHDt0nmsQU3FhI-lwn6R9YFFuWmRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newport","date","2025-09-16T11:47:00Z","article","The Newport City Council took a number of votes on routine and substantive items. Key outcomes are summarized below; all motions were seconded and passed where noted.

Appointments and licenses
- Appointments: Council approved multiple appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions, including Michael Murray, Michelle Gallagher and Joseph Logue to the Sister City Commission (three‑year terms expiring 04/24/2026) and several appointments to the Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission and Public Sculpture Commission; all were approved by voice vote.
- Entertainment license renewal: The council approved the annual indoor entertainment license renewal for Wharf Pub, d/b/a Wharf Southern Kitchen, 37 Bowens Wharf (motion passed by voice vote).
- Victualing license (new owner): The council approved a new victualing (food service) license for Tomb Army RI LLC, doing business as Kelly's Cafe and Pantry, 27 Connell Highway; Councilor Palisano welcomed the new owner.

Streets and utilities
- Pole and anchor petitions: Staff recommended and the council approved several petitions from Rhode Island Energy and Verizon to install new poles and anchors, including work associated with 519 Bellevue Avenue and a new mid‑span pole on Old Beach Road; staff reported no issues with the proposed locations and council approved by voice votes.

Public safety and IT purchases
- Police vehicles: The council approved the purchase and upfit of five police vehicles through McGovern Municipal Headquarters (Mag Veil LLC) under the MAPC Greater Boston pricing agreement; total not to exceed $299,292.80. The item was budgeted and approved by voice vote.
- Copier lease: The Department of Resilience and Sustainability and IT recommended a one‑year lease agreement with Visual Edge IT for copiers, printers and supplies for a total not to exceed $30,354.88; staff said Visual Edge has been a long‑term vendor and the purchasing manager recommended renewal; council approved by voice vote.
- Office 365 tenant configuration: The council approved a contract with Custom Computer Services, LLC for configuration and licensing of a Government Office 365 tenant not to exceed $127,362.10; staff said the work is budgeted in the CIP; the motion passed by voice vote.
- VDI infrastructure and backup: Council approved a contract with Custom Computer Specialists for required hardware and licensing for a VDI infrastructure upgrade and on‑premises backup for a not to exceed $310,676.02; staff said the work is budgeted in the CIP and described security and continuity benefits; the motion passed by voice vote.
- Managed IT services: The council approved continued managed services and staffing with Custom Computer Specialists for not to exceed $508,176; staff described the agreement as part of ongoing managed services and noted it is covered in the operating budget; motion passed by voice vote.

Personnel, ordinances and resolutions
- Utilities GIS and Field Specialist classification: The council voted 6–1 to amend Chapter 3.12 (classification plan) to add a utilities GIS and field specialist in the executive, administrative and professional group at grade 5; staff said the position will help consolidate contract operations and produce longer‑term savings, and estimated five‑year gross savings of about $510,000 (staff caveated the estimate). The motion passed 6–1.
- Parking ordinance amendment: Second reading approval was given to amend the city code to prohibit parking at a specified location on Fame Street (east side); motion passed by voice vote.
- Naming policy resolution: The council adopted a resolution directing administration, with assistance from the Tree and Open Space Commission, to draft a policy for naming public spaces; the resolution passed by voice vote.

Votes with tallies (as recorded)
- Receive memorandum on 2027 comprehensive plan advisory committee: 5–2 (receive only; not final appointment approval)
- Florence Grama Center GMP approval: 6–1
- Utilities GIS classification ordinance: 6–1

Why it matters: the approvals cover a range of city operations — from staffing and IT infrastructure to capital projects and licensing — and include both budgeted purchases and commitments that affect city operations and services.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Newport - City Council Meeting September 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its meeting the Newport City Council approved multiple routine and substantive items including appointments to commissions, entertainment and victualing license renewals, utility pole petitions, police vehicle purchases, several IT contracts and a personnel classification to add a utilities GIS and field specialist.","taxTitle","Newport, Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",79596,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6500768,"Council approves $5.5 million guaranteed maximum price for Florence Grama Center renovations after debate on procurement and oversight",1472,3496000,4968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909&start=3496&end=4968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909/thumbnail_3496000.jpg","/articles/6500768/Rhode-Island/Council-approves-55-million-guaranteed-maximum-price-for-Florence-Grama-Center-renovations-after-debate-on-procurement-and-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500768-460d1b98ffa07cd2150255dbd84087de/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405922&Signature=lb6nUvwTD7h-jYip-cp-Po0gkB1~J6jLNNopjNFs5Ip8Kjo3K3IIBsh4T3U~WO~H7MaAPhmqNxxIWdQtsFLjvFDDVxEFuUVfcvrMm3ypvxpI4CfK1SrlY5VED8K9lrCxw~1fzIEc4e8yopRXe3MB7qaJfT-iWedrpcsjD7SgCsAX5e45vRMzYpBBitg0jTcbW8PU~Vz5Rv5heMqPbvtKClIqBTGCM~iGzpDrVTpW0yYgd9EvS6~fobLS967j-6ABVUlDjxXhj8a-0oTNdyv9an8Dl66A1rJpC6xEoR7erC8XyxLONDEWeAQetNs8nr7tf1r5cqA~5zU8PqR1XpKMzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newport City Council approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendment of $5,500,000 for construction manager‑at‑risk services with Albor Construction Corporation for renovations to the Florence Grama Center. The funding for the project comes from a $7,500,000 grant administered by the Rhode Island Pandemic Recovery Office; the city is acting as fiscal agent and staff said no municipal funds are required.

The vote was 6–1. Councilors pressed staff on procurement details, disclosure of competing bidders and the role of state oversight. David Carlin and other councilors asked why state or federal officials were not more involved in the selection panel and requested more documentation about competing bids and scoring. Manny Ferreira, owner’s project manager with KCM Group, said the project went to public bid after schematic design, received five construction manager proposals, and that Albor (recorded in bid materials as the most advantageous on pricing and technical factors) was selected through a scoring process. Ferreira described how the construction‑manager‑at‑risk model brought the contractor into design to align drawings with the established budget and said value engineering brought the project to the $5.5 million GMP.

City staff and the owner’s team said the Pandemic Recovery Office reviewed the procurement and had visibility into the RFP process and scoring; staff said ranking sheets and documentation exist and were available to state grant administrators. The council also heard that the town of Middletown is a project partner: Middletown representatives have participated in weekly project meetings to define services the renovated center will provide for both municipalities.

Why it matters: the Florence Grama Center project is among the largest single items on the docket and will be funded by pandemic recovery dollars intended to support workforce development, health monitoring and education. The size of the contract and the use of grant funds led councilors to ask for more transparency on bidder competition and state oversight.

Next steps: staff will continue to manage contract compliance and payment requests as Newport serves as fiscal agent for the grant; councilors requested that procurement records and bid scoring be included with project updates.","The council voted 6–1 to approve a $5.5 million guaranteed maximum price for construction manager‑at‑risk services for Florence Grama Center renovations, funded by the Rhode Island Pandemic Recovery Office; councilors questioned bidder disclosure and state oversight.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6500773,"Newport resident asks council to review Planning Board decision on 525 Broadway project, citing parking and safety",328,64000,392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909&start=64&end=392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909/thumbnail_64000.jpg","/articles/6500773/Rhode-Island/Newport-resident-asks-council-to-review-Planning-Board-decision-on-525-Broadway-project-citing-parking-and-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500773-e3f2e1ec65ee2a901625900ee1a50e28/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405922&Signature=hiiLKrggJ4fZ6T2~2DK1u9nDgBgxMiNGMHSvWJagIJWYl4V34HLcWU-N-QKgnHEoPOH6FLJ87xfJEiLf-7vQ6s37xsgFtBAlfL6wpg0se3Spz5GgSgJI6Nn4oVylPsg-ut2-W3xYwq4now~EmUVkk7RVfGJEsUVqHCywWddzWZTK8JCYr2nL2x8swwV81SaG9cV~PRu3h18IbVgXqCyzCbwUmZuR~XPKUHde~9wFIH3imuqkUqlYhYbpPYXIxiBISMAFL-Pz0Lq97nGVrub21BtX6hjv6eGJMRC3tFv5k2CaaUokpBPLiBxL9MnNMFY0I0jUuAx2biRXPXdOTs4aCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paul Donovan of 530 Broadway presented a written public comment asking the Newport City Council to review a Planning Board decision on Sept. 8, 2025, that granted variances and special‑use permits to 525 Broadway LLC.

Donovan told councilors most Newport residents do not oppose workforce housing at the site but that they were not heard on safety and traffic concerns. He said the project architect testified tenants would mostly walk, use buses or ride bicycles and scooters, while traffic engineers estimated the complex would add about 1,800 vehicle trips per week at the Broadway intersection. Donovan said the Planning Board suggested — but did not require — additional parking and that the site’s allotted 41 parking spaces will be inadequate if units house more than one vehicle or have guests. \"Before any variances or special use permits are granted, it should be mandatory that the developer provides at least 48 guaranteed on‑site permanent parking spaces,\" Donovan said. He added that if sufficient on‑site parking cannot be provided, \"the number of units for this complex should be reduced to no more than 30 apartment[s].\"

Donovan also said current zoning would allow 13 units without a variance and urged the council to require stricter compliance or reduce unit count if parking cannot be guaranteed. He criticized Planning Board procedures, saying application materials were not posted online until the Thursday before hearings and that residents were given short windows to submit comments for the record. Donovan said some materials sat in the planning office before being posted and that residents learned of meetings only after he circulated information on a neighborhood app.

Why it matters: Donovan framed the council review request as a safety and process concern tied to parking, pedestrian risk on Broadway and the Planning Board’s notification procedures.","Paul Donovan asked the council to review Planning Board variances and special‑use permits granted for the 525 Broadway LLC workforce housing project, saying available parking and traffic predictions make the development unsafe for the neighborhood.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6500776,"Council agrees to form 20–25‑member advisory committee for 2027 comprehensive plan after debate over selection process",1614,674000,2288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909&start=674&end=2288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5779049-35dbed8775acacc329144d3ab9ee8909/thumbnail_674000.jpg","/articles/6500776/Rhode-Island/Council-agrees-to-form-2025member-advisory-committee-for-2027-comprehensive-plan-after-debate-over-selection-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500776-c6c6cbf967e9624cca6630ba612e38ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405922&Signature=dNq~FERHe3BepWlfEIH~Z1WN3i7pD2P~hdM8v5jsrUU9QVvLr~3Ou1K9Me~QWOS5QckVo40P80vYxo3N9YUB6CpCg1XA29t0pZd3KF~okfu2GnVtVIPkXl7VfPuRcelkuqtMGw1AoFPS9sCXpvsWpha8OYQ~eRM2h4zfEl8Ba-EG2WKM9g9GngYx2Ht--mO4hJH9N4g9vC3y~-25q4kHK-ZJdh1DPSAlV-r-7X1rryIpbk8LumONKLxnpE4oq~IQJnNTP1Tr8b1mM0AUFo-t6F1m5Nx1ShZxt6CrwR7PbolrP0LHKsAkJiA-cmS3yvpNFGW9aXmpXXBEfd9O3resSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newport City Council voted 5–2 to receive a memorandum from the city manager and planning staff asking councilors to nominate members for a 2027 comprehensive plan advisory committee that will work with the consultant team.

The memo describes a 20–25 person advisory committee that would “ground truth” consultant work, provide community input and help with public engagement; staff says the committee can include planning board members, commission representatives and at‑large community members. Teresa Crane, director of resilience and sustainability, told the council the consultant contract for the update is \"The contract is for $300,000.300.\" Becky Kerfadden, city planner, outlined the committee composition on the memo: planning board members, representatives for climate resiliency, a North End Community Energy and Environment Commission representative, transportation, business and economic development, and two to three general community representatives.

Why it matters: the advisory committee will shape outreach and feedback that feed the consultant’s recommendations and the plan that will guide local land‑use and policy decisions for the next decade.

Councilors debated how committee members should be chosen. Several councilors, including Stephanie Smyth and Lynn Underwood Segly, questioned a nomination process in which each councilor names one person, arguing that an open application and interview process would reduce bias. Carlin, Rowland and others defended the nomination route as faster and consistent with past practice for large, time‑sensitive efforts. Staff said the consultant team’s earliest site work is scheduled the week of Oct. 6 and that some flexibility exists for a soft kickoff while the city completes the membership list.

Becky Kerfadden told the council the memo does not preclude advertising for volunteers and that members of existing boards and commissions can serve as the at‑large representatives. Crane said the committee will not write the plan; rather, the consultant will prepare draft products and the committee will review and provide input.

Councilors also asked about best practices from other municipalities. Crane said staff contacted the League of Cities and Towns and reviewed approaches from East Providence, Woonsocket and Middletown, where practices range from staff‑selected panels to mixed models that include council appointees.

Next steps: staff indicated it will work with Director Trish Reynolds and the consultant to firm up how members are identified and how names will be presented to council for confirmation. The council will consider any committee appointments at a future meeting.","The Newport City Council voted to receive a memorandum on forming a 20–25‑member advisory committee to assist a consultant-led 2027 comprehensive plan update, amid debate over whether council should nominate members or use a public application process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Newport council votes: appointments, licenses, utility work, IT contracts and personnel changes

Council approves $5.5 million guaranteed maximum price for Florence Grama Center renovations after debate on procurement and oversight

Newport resident asks council to review Planning Board decision on 525 Broadway project, citing parking and safety

Council agrees to form 20–25‑member advisory committee for 2027 comprehensive plan after debate over selection process