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Council debates Brick Market restroom access, historical‑society lease and rising HVAC bids
Summary
Councilors pressed staff about a proposed lease with the Newport Historical Society that would limit public restroom access at the Brick Market and noted HVAC replacement bids for a geothermal/HVAC project far exceed available grant funds.
Councilors raised specific concerns about restroom access at the Brick Market and how HVAC replacement costs would be allocated under a pending lease with the Newport Historical Society. A councilor asked whether the market restrooms would remain open to the public; staff said the Historical Society prefers restrooms "for visitors to the museum" and may not want signage or advertising signaling public access.
Staff explained an Office of Energy Resources grant of roughly $229,000 funded design and well re‑use work and that bids for the full scope — including HVAC and interior restroom work — came in far higher than the grant. "Part of the $2.29 is funding the design services... and the rest was for the well work ... left in the grant is roughly 65,000," staff said. Councilors asked that the lease include explicit language about restroom access and requested a clear breakout of OER grant proceeds, projected lease revenue and what portion of HVAC replacement might be incorporated into the lease rather than borne fully by the Historical Society.
