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Newport council delays budget‑committee appointments after interviews
Summary
After interviewing three candidates for the budget committee, Newport councilors agreed to postpone final appointments until a March 30 work session and an April 6 regular meeting so all applicants can be heard and new candidates can be rescheduled.
Newport’s City Council heard three budget‑committee candidates and agreed to delay appointments so members can interview all applicants. Staff told council there had been five applications but one withdrew and another asked to be rescheduled; councilors decided on a March 30 work session to complete interviews and to vote formally at the April 6 regular meeting so appointees can attend the April 8 budget‑committee kickoff.
Council discussion focused on fairness and timing. Councilor Cynthia Jacoby said she wanted to "hear from all of the applicants first and then make our decision at that time," and other councilors agreed that rescheduling the remaining interviews would be the fairest approach. Staff said the process allows the council to give a "thumbs up" at the March 30 work session and then finalize appointments at the April 6 meeting to meet budget‑committee deadlines.
The council reviewed whether to reappoint incumbent members immediately or wait for all candidates; several members recommended affirming reappointments if comfortable, but the body chose to postpone final votes until every candidate has had an interview. The postponement was described as a procedural step to ensure full consideration of new and returning applicants.
