Council ratifies settlement in Capella case after executive session

The Newport City Council voted Aug. 4 to approve a settlement agreement in the lawsuit identified during the meeting as Capella v. City of Newport. The council entered executive session as permitted under the open-meeting law to discuss the proposed settlement, and after returning to open session Mayor/President Kevin Charbonneau said no action was taken during the closed session and invited a motion. A council member moved to approve “this settlement agreement, on the case of Capella versus the city of Newport as we discussed this evening of August 4.” The council approved the motion by a voice vote; the president said the agreement will become a public document once executed. Attorney Kevin Kite (who attended part of the meeting) and municipal counsel John Klesh were present during the agenda sequence; the council discussed the procedural finding needed to enter executive session and followed the attorney's recommended two-step motions covering the privilege finding and the executive-session entry. The council’s public remarks said the settlement paperwork must be completed and executed before it becomes a public document. No financial terms were stated in open session.