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Newport council approves AECOM for Safe Streets planning, conducts budget first readings and clears several contracts
Summary
At a regular session, the Newport City Council approved a $96,000 planning contract with AECOM for a federally funded Safe Streets for All grant, held first readings on three budget ordinances, approved audit and equipment contracts and confirmed two board appointments, including a 3–1 vote to appoint Scott Thornton to the Utilities Board.
The Newport City Council on Tuesday approved a series of administrative and budgetary actions, including hiring AECOM for planning work on a federally funded Safe Streets for All grant and advancing three budget ordinances to a first reading.
City Administrator James Finchum recommended hiring AECOM, saying the firm had been state-recommended and that he was "comfortable with that firm." The council approved Resolution 2026-08 to hire AECOM for engineering and planning services for the Safe Streets grant in the amount of $96,000.
The meeting also included the first-reading consideration of Ordinance 2026-02, an amendment to the city's fiscal 2025–26 budget; Ordinance 2026-03, a budget amendment for Newport Grammar School for 2025–26; and Ordinance 2026-04, the proposed operating and capital budget and tax rate for fiscal 2026–27. Each ordinance was presented for first reading and the council voted to carry them forward by roll call.
Council members approved an audit contract with Brown, Jake and McDaniel for the city's financial audit and voted to amend the Newport Police Department general orders to add special-purpose utility vehicles to the department fleet. The council also approved the annual state maintenance (T-DOT) agreement for work on state highways within city limits; staff noted this agreement had been revised to a two-year term instead of the prior one-year renewal schedule.
Council members approved procurement items for the street department, including a 2026 International dump truck priced at $111,329.35 (purchased under a Sourcewell contract) and a snow plow and mounting hardware for $18,181.09, with staff confirming both were budgeted purchases.
On appointments, the council voted to appoint Kim Lester to the library board by unanimous roll call. The council also voted 3–1 to appoint Scott Thornton to the Newport Utilities Board; the appointee was not present for the vote. Voting roll calls were taken on multiple items and are reflected in the meeting minutes.
The meeting opened with a brief administrative communication from City Administrator James Finchum, who also reported a major HVAC malfunction at city facilities that required custom-fabricated parts and said he had declared an emergency to order repairs. He noted the parts will take about eight weeks to be fabricated.
After routine business and public comment, the council adjourned.
