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Council votes to rescind 2009 meeting-pay policy, debates attendance and fairness
Summary
After debate, the Newport City Council voted to rescind a 2009 policy that limited council pay to meetings attended; members argued the policy addressed past absenteeism but some said pay should reflect broader duties beyond meetings.
The Newport City Council voted Dec. 19 to rescind a 2009 policy that capped council pay to two meetings per month (with deductions for missed meetings). Advocates for rescission argued the charter, not the 2009 policy, should govern compensation and that council duties extend beyond formal meetings. Opponents said the 2009 policy addressed absenteeism and helped taxpayer confidence.
Council discussion reviewed the 2009 policy’s origins and the council charter’s language about voter-approved compensation. Several members said the stipend was modest and that attendance expectations matter; others suggested alternatives such as prorating pay after a defined number of consecutive missed meetings or paying once annually with later adjustments for prolonged absences.
A motion to rescind the 2009 policy was moved, seconded, and passed by voice vote (three in favor, one opposed). The council did not adopt a replacement mechanism that night and directed further consideration of how to define “extended absence” and exceptions for excused absences.
Next steps: Council will consider follow-up language for remuneration rules and how to reflect duties beyond meetings in future policy work.
