Newport council adopts revised personnel policy amid public concern over 'at‑will' language

The Newport City Council voted Monday to adopt a revised personnel policy after discussion among council members, a brief executive session with the city attorney and public comment urging stronger protections for nonunion employees.

The council convened an attorney‑client executive session to discuss legal aspects of the proposed changes and later returned to the public meeting with no action taken in executive session. Council members then opened the draft policy for comment and allowed two‑minute remarks from residents.

Several community members said the revised draft still contains 'at‑will' language that allows either staff or the city to end employment at any time for any reason; one resident called that unequal treatment for nonunion staff and warned it could expose employees to political firings. Council members responded that grievance procedures exist (section 33 was cited) and that union employees remain covered by collective bargaining rights. The chair noted a clerical typo in section 19 that staff will correct.

After council discussion, a motion to adopt the revised personnel policy was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote. Staff said the corrected version will be posted and that the council and administration will follow up with any statutory or ordinance questions raised during the discussion.

What to watch: Residents asked the council to clarify how the personnel policy will interact with collective bargaining agreements and whether appointed clerk/treasurer positions planned under a proposed charter would be protected from politicized dismissal; the council asked staff and the city attorney to follow up and report back.