CITY OF NEWPORT
JUNE 10, 2020
(Approved 08/26/2020)
The following items of business, filed with the City Clerk under the Rules of the Council, came before the Council at a meeting to be held in accordance with Governor Raimondo’s Executive Order 20-25 on June 10, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
The CITY CLERK called the roll, and the following members were present:
| JAMIE BOVA | LYNN UNDERWOOD CEGLIE |
| ANGELA MCCALLA | JUSTIN S. MCLAUGHLIN |
| SUSAN TAYLOR | JEANNE-MARIE NAPOLITANO |
| KATHRYN E. LEONARD | |
MAYOR BOVA moved item No. 4 be heard at the beginning of the meeting. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR and voted 5-2 with COUNCILOR LEONARD and COUNCILOR MCLAUGHLIN opposed.
4. Condemning Racist Hate Speech- J. Bova, A. McCalla, S. Taylor
MAYOR BOVA moved to adopt the resolution. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR. Discussion occurred among the Council. COUNCILOR CEGLIE moved to amend the resolution to remove the first line of the last resolve and replace it with - the City Manager provides the opportunity for bias training to City employees and the City Council. Seconded by COUNCILOR CEGLIE and voted 5-2 with COUNCILOR LEONARD and COUNCILOR MCLAUGHLIN opposed.
The following members from the public addressed the Council:
Sandra Flowers, Keeher Avenue
Louisa Boatwright, 46 Second St.
Stephanie Winslow, 5 Rowland Rd.
Tim Neary, Bayview Ave.
Colleen Jermain, 70 Brenton Rd.
Jennifer Jackson, 38 Dudley Ave.
Amy Machado, 12 Burdick Ave.
Becky Bolan, 4 Channing St.
Rex LeBeau, 118 Ruggles Ave.
MAYOR BOVA moved to adopt the resolution as amended. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR and voted 6-1 with COUNCILOR LEONARD opposed.
1. Proposed Budget FY 2021 (A copy is available on the city’s website) https://www.cityofnewport.com/CityOfNewport/media/City-Hall/Departments/Finance/Budgets/FY2021-Proposed-Final-Combined.pdf
a. Errata Sheet
b. FY21 Tax Impacts
c. Ordinance Appropriating Revenues (Second Reading)
MAYOR BOVA moved to adopt the ordinance. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR. COUNCILOR MCLAUGHLIN moved to pass a budget which includes no tax increase. Seconded by COUNCILOR LEONARD. Discussion occurred among the Council. The motion to adopt a budget without the tax increase was voted 5-2 with MAYOR BOVA and COUNCILOR MCCALLA opposed.
The following members from the public addressed the Council.
Aida Neary, Bayview Ave.
Louisa Boatwright, Second St.
Colleen Burns Jermain, 70 Brenton Rd.
Discussion occurred among the Council. Carlos Gonsalves, School Finance Director, addressed the Council regarding the school budget. Colleen Burns Jermain, Superintendent, addressed the Council. CITY MANAGER NICHOLSON addressed the Council regarding the budget. Laura Sitrin, Finance Director, addressed the Council. The following members from the public addressed the Council:
Rebecca Bolan
Sandra Flowers
Louisa Boatwright
COUNCILOR MCLAUGHLIN moved to continue the budget to June 16, 2020. Seconded by COUNCILOR LEONARD and voted 6-1 with MAYOR BOVA opposed.
d. Ordinance Amending Title 3 Personnel (Second Reading)
e. Resolution re: Omnibus Property Tax Relief & Replacement Act
f. Resolution re: Authorizing the Tax Levy
2. PUBLIC HEARING- Proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding Short Term Rentals:
a. Recommendation from the Planning Board
MAYOR BOVA moved to receive the recommendation from the Planning Board. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Patricia Reynolds, Director of Planning, addressed the Council regarding the ordinance amendments.
Jeff Brooks, Planning Board member, addressed the Council regarding the ordinance.
CITY SOLICITOR BEHAN addressed the Council regarding the ordinance amendments.
MAYOR BOVA opened the public hearing.
Christopher Bicho, addressed the Council.
MAYOR BOVA moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by COUNCILOR LEONARD and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
COUNCILOR LEONARD had questions regarding the Planning Board recommendations. Jeff Brooks addressed the Council to answer questions.
b. Ordinance amending Chapter 17, Section 17.04.050 entitled “General Requirements”, Section 17.08.010 entitled “Definitions” and 17.100.130 entitled “Home Occupations” (First Reading)
MAYOR BOVA moved to approve Section 17.04.050. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR. CITY SOLICITOR BEHAN addressed the Council. The motion to approve was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MAYOR BOVA moved to approve Section 17.08.010. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR. CITY SOLICITOR BEHAN addressed the Council regarding the amendments. The motion to approve was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MAYOR BOVA moved to approve Section 17.100.130. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR. CITY SOLICITOR BEHAN addressed the Council. The motion to approve was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Farmers Market License, Aquidneck Community Table, d/b/a Aquidneck Growers Market, Memorial Blvd. north side between Chapel St. and Edgar Court, Wednesday’s beginning June 3, 2020 through October 28, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
MAYOR BOVA moved to approve the license. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR. Discussion occurred among the Council. Bevan Lindley, Aquidneck Growers Market, addressed the Council to answer questions. The motion to approve was voted 6-1 with COUNCILOR CEGLIE opposed.
4. Condemning Racist Hate Speech- J. Bova, A. McCalla, S. Taylor
Moved to the beginning of the meeting
5. Authorizing an Adopt-an-Access Program for Marine Avenue between Clean Ocean Access, Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and the City of Newport - J. Bova, S. Taylor
- Communication from Clean Ocean Access
- Memorandum of Understanding
MAYOR BOVA moved to receive the communication and approve the accompanying resolution. Seconded by COUNCILOR LEONARD. David McLaughlin, Clean Ocean Access, addressed the Council regarding the program.
Turner Scott, Esq., addressed the Council on behalf of adjacent property owners.
MAYOR BOVA moved to amend the resolution to state Marine Avenue East in the second and third whereas clause. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MAYOR BOVA moved to adopt the resolution as amended. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. Amending Chapter 5.57 entitled, “Mobile Food Establishments” to amend Section 5.57.040 entitled “Restrictions on Permits” (First Reading)
MAYOR BOVA moved to approve the ordinance. Seconded by COUNCILOR TAYLOR.
Turner Scott, Esq., representing Amano, LLC, addressed the Council regarding the ordinance amendment.
ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR GALVIN addressed the Council regarding the ordinance amendment. Discussion occurred among the Council. The following members from the public addressed the Council:
Megan Mainzer, 14 Clayton St.
Brianna Ferreira, 31 Warner St.
Joanna Reves, Owner, Mama Leone’s
Kelsie Gonsalves, 612 Thames St.
Turner Scott, Esq.
Discussion continued among the Council. COUNCILOR NAPOLITANO moved to continue the ordinance to the next meeting. Seconded by COUNCILOR CEGLIE and voted 5-2 with COUNCILOR MCCALLA and MAYOR BOVA opposed.
7. Action Item #5926/20 – RE: Cooperative Agreement with the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning for the Transportation Master Plan (w/accompanying resolution)
COUNCILOR TAYLOR moved to receive the communication and adopt the accompanying resolution. Seconded by COUNCILOR CEGLIE and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
8. Action Item #5927/20 – RE: Supplemental Agreement #1, Contract #19-025 - Sidewalk Improvement Program 2019 w/accompanying resolution)
COUNCILOR TAYLOR moved to receive the communication and adopt the accompanying resolution. Seconded by COUNCILOR CEGLIE and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Laura C. Swistak
City Clerk
ADJOURN – 10:37 p.m.
The docket, along with all supporting documents, can be viewed on the City of Newport website: www.cityofnewport.com – “Council Agendas and Minutes.”