Portsmouth council approves routine consent items, schedules hearings and enters executive session
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Summary
At its October meeting the Portsmouth Town Council approved routine minutes, vouchers and multiple appointments, agreed to advertise a public hearing on mooring fee changes and voted to enter executive session on pending litigation and collective bargaining.
The Portsmouth Town Council approved a series of routine items and scheduled public hearings during its October meeting, then moved into executive session to receive legal and bargaining updates.
The council unanimously (7-0) approved its consent agenda, accepted the minutes from the Sept. 22, 2025 meeting, and authorized tax vouchers. Councilors also approved a slate of committee appointments and reappointments, including seven members to the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a dog-park committee appointment and reappointments to the Harbor Commission and Housing Authority.
The council voted 7-0 to authorize the town administrator to sign a memorandum of understanding with Naval Station Newport (separately reported), and voted 7-0 to advertise a public hearing at the Nov. 10 meeting to consider an amendment to Chapter 2-15 of the harbor-master ordinance to change mooring fees.
Correspondence items 1, 3, 4 and 5 were received and placed on file by a 7-0 vote; correspondence item 2 was pulled for placement on the next agenda.
At the meeting's end, the council voted 7-0 to adjourn into executive session under Rhode Island General Laws 42-46-5(a)(2) for updates from the town solicitor on pending and threatened litigation and collective bargaining.
Votes at a glance - Receive and place on file (consent agenda): passed 7-0. - Approve minutes (Sept. 22, 2025): passed 7-0. - Approve tax vouchers: passed 7-0. - Appointments to Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (seven nominees): passed 7-0. - Dog Park Committee appointment (Celeste Cottrell): passed 7-0. - Harbor Commission reappointment (Carol Mello): passed 7-0. - Housing Authority reappointment (St. Jim Sevin): passed 7-0. - Authorize MOU transmission to Naval Station Newport (Thurston Gray Pond aeration access): passed 7-0. - Advertise public hearing for harbor mooring fee changes (Nov. 10): passed 7-0. - Receive and place correspondence items 1,3,4,5: passed 7-0. - Adjourn into executive session under R.I. Gen. Laws 42-46-5(a)(2): passed 7-0.
The meeting record shows these minutes and votes were taken during the council's regular agenda and before the council moved to executive session.