The Newport City Council held a contentious meeting Wednesday, grappling with funding for the Rogers High School construction project and approving a new strategic plan for the city.
The council voted 5-2 to approve $3 million in additional funding for the Rogers High School project, down from an initially proposed $4 million. The funding comes with conditions, including requiring the school committee to spend down its reserves to below 3% of its annual operating budget.
Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong, who introduced the resolution, said the goal was to provide a “holistic plan” to complete the project without further delays.
“We have been funding this project on a short term by short term basis, lurching from one deadline to another,” Khamsyvoravong said. “We have seen those costs escalate.”
The project’s cost has risen from an original $98.5 million to over $144.6 million, nearly a 50% increase, according to Khamsyvoravong.
School officials and some council members expressed frustration with the conditions attached to the funding.
“I feel like you’re banking on the ignorance that our community doesn’t understand how city government works,” said Councilor Angela Lima.
School Committee Vice Chair Kendra Muenter said the resolution “goes against the city charter” by attempting to dictate how school funds are used.
The debate highlighted ongoing tensions between the council and school officials over the project’s rising costs and funding sources.
Several students and parents urged the council to fully fund the project without conditions, citing poor conditions at the current high school.
“Every single day we walk through these halls and we sit in these classrooms from 7:30 to 2:00 p.m. in a school filled with asbestos and water,” said Bowie von Doom, an upcoming Rogers senior.
Newport City Council commits to funding up to an additional $3 million for the Rogers High School building project
In other business, the council unanimously approved a new five-year strategic plan for the city. The plan, developed with input from over 1,000 residents, outlines priorities including economic development, infrastructure, education, city services and transportation.
Khamsyvoravong called the plan “one of the few things that we do as a council that have long term impact.”
The council also approved several infrastructure projects, including $94,893 for pavement markings and over $700,000 for water system improvements.
In licensing matters, the council approved an entertainment license expansion for Wally’s Wieners on Thames Street, allowing music until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on weekends. Neighbors expressed concerns about noise, which the applicant pledged to address.
The council also held a show cause hearing for Waites Wharf Grill, doing business as The Boat House Dockside, for serving alcohol to 15 underage patrons. The establishment agreed to a $3,750 fine for the first-time offense.
Councilor Mark Aramli noted the establishment’s long history, saying, “I would find it unconscionable not to give a pass on this with some fines.”
Fines imposed against Dockside for serving alcohol to 15 underage people
The meeting, which lasted two hours and fifty minutes, highlighted the complex issues facing Newport as it balances development, education funding, and quality of life concerns.
The debates over school funding and strategic planning underscore the challenges of long-term governance in a city with competing priorities and limited resources.
Meeting Highlights
Rogers High School Construction Project Funding:
- The council discussed a resolution to commit up to $4 million (later amended to $3 million) in additional funding for the Rogers High School construction project to address current and projected shortfalls.
- The resolution proposed contingencies, including the Newport School Committee spending down its reserves to below 3% of its annual operating budget and utilizing the owner’s contingency funds.
- After extensive debate and public comments, the council voted to approve the amended resolution, committing $3 million in funding contingent upon the School Committee’s reserves being spent down.
Honoring Former City Councilor Mary Catherine Regina Connolly:
- The council unanimously approved a resolution honoring the late Mary Catherine Regina Connolly, a former Newport City Councilor, for her years of service and dedication to the community.
Licensing and Permits:
- The council held public hearings and approved various licensing and permitting items, including:
- An entertainment license expansion for Wally’s Wieners
- A victualing license expansion for Gardner House
- A show cause hearing for Dockside regarding violations of serving alcohol to underage patrons, resulting in a $3,750 fine.
Other Key Decisions:
- Approved a three-year contract with Clifton Larson Allen LLP for audit services.
- Approved various Department of Utilities contracts and change orders related to water distribution, sewer rehabilitation, and SCADA integration projects.
- Adopted the Strategic Plan 2024 prepared by Raftelis Financial Consultants, outlining the city’s priorities and key performance indicators for the next five years.
Throughout the meeting, the council engaged in discussions, received public comments, and made decisions on various agenda items related to the city’s operations, infrastructure, and community concerns.
