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Middletown council approves dozens of permits, small appropriations and appointments
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Summary
The council approved multiple alcohol and mobile-food licenses, special-event permits (several with fee waivers), appropriated $650 in discretionary funds for local events and reappointed or appointed several committee members; a separate resolution urged the state to assume sidewalk maintenance on state highways.
The Town of Middletown council voted to approve a slate of licenses, special-event permits, small appropriations and committee appointments during its regular meeting.
Acting as the Board of License Commission, the council approved three event licenses for Norman Bird Sanctuary (class F and class F1) and granted new business and mobile food licenses including an application from Newport Premium Restaurants LLC, a mobile truck license for Tyler Rosenberg (Ben and Jerry's) and a cart license for Graham Johnson (The Frosty Lobster). The council confirmed location and quantity limits for mobile vendors and approved the motions by voice vote.
The council granted multiple special-event permits and several fee waivers, including a Liberty Tree dedication by the Middletown 250 committee (Paradise Valley Park, May 31), Saint George's School alumni and graduation events, the YMCA Family Festival (fee waived), a multi-week Nome Surf therapy camp at Second Beach (fees waived), a veterans surfing clinic run by AMP Surf New England (fees waived), a July 4 neighborhood bike parade, and recurring Beyond Fitness beach boot-camp sessions. Most event requests were unopposed and were approved after brief discussion.
On community funding, the council approved two $150 sponsorships for tee signs from the council president's discretionary fund to support the Newport County YMCA Sharks and a twentieth-annual golf tournament fundraiser, and appropriated $500 from the council president's discretionary fund for the Middletown High School boys' summer basketball league (total $650 appropriated).
In council business, members approved ceremonial resolutions recognizing National Small Business Week and proclaiming Men's Health Month. The council also passed a substantive resolution urging the General Assembly to adopt legislation referenced in the meeting as "H 7502," shifting maintenance responsibility for sidewalks within state highway rights-of-way to the state to reduce unfunded municipal obligations.
Appointments included Jeffrey Lemler to the affordable housing committee (indefinite term) and reappointments to the Middletown Prevention Coalition (Marlene Davis and Christopher Williams). The council reappointed Julian Peckham IV and appointed Michael Kaczynski to the roads and utilities advisory committee, appointed Diana Campaglia Skaggs to the senior center board of directors, and reappointed Tracy Taber to the tax assessment review board. Councilors also appointed Alicia Reyes to the zoning board (regular member, term expiring 2031) and Christopher Rowe to first alternate (term expiring 2027) while scheduling interviews for remaining zoning applicants at a future meeting.
All routine votes were recorded by voice as "Aye" with no recorded opposition during the session. The meeting concluded after an adjournment motion passed.
What happens next: officers will execute licensing conditions (building/fire/health approvals where required), the staff will post any required permit conditions online, and the council will schedule interviews for remaining zoning board applicants at the next meeting.
