On Saturday, March 11, at 8 am, Newport Mayor Xaykham “Xay” Rexford Khamsyvoravong sat down in the Mayor’s Office at City Hall with Gabe Amo, Special Assistant to President Biden and Deputy Director of The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, for a conversation.

Amo, a native of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, serves as President Biden’s primary liaison to local elected officials. Previously, he worked on the Biden-Harris transition team and on the Biden-Harris presidential campaign as the National States Strategy and Program Advisor.

Earlier in his career, he was the Senior Advisor for then-Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s re-election campaign and worked as Director of Public Engagement and Community Affairs in the Office of the Governor.

The conversation between Mayor Xay and Amo touched base on housing, infrastructure, and several other issues affecting Newport.

Cheryl Hatch, the Newport Bureau Reporter for The Public’s Radio, and Ryan Belmore, Owner and Publisher of What’sUpNewp, were on hand for the conversation between the two officials as they caught up for approximately 30 minutes while providing the rest of us with some insight on what it is each of them does on a day to day basis.

Newport City Manager outlines next steps for approved $98.5 million bond; reasoning for new hires – What'sUpNewp Podcast (private feed for ryanmbelmore@gmail.com)

Newport City Manager Colin Kennedy provided updates on the city's plans following the approval of a $98.5 million bond measure and discussed recent staffing changes during his monthly interview with What's Up Newp on Thursday, November 21.The bond measure, approved by voters on November 5, gives the city authority to sell bonds over the next seven years. Kennedy emphasized a cautious approach to utilizing the funds."We have time to rationally figure out what the best use of those funds are," Kennedy said. "We'll probably sell bonds in no more than two tranches."He indicated the first bond sale could occur between March and July 2024, depending on interest rates. Initial priorities include Perrotti Park improvements and beach nourishment projects.Kennedy stressed that all bond-funded projects will require city council approval before proceeding. "I can't just wave a magic wand and say here's a bunch of money," he noted.The city manager also addressed recent staffing additions, including a new deputy city manager and a resilience and sustainability director. He framed these hires as necessary to meet Newport's growing demands."We're like a city of 100,000 people," Kennedy explained, citing the impact of seasonal residents and visitors on city infrastructure. "The government that we have has traditionally been focused on and the size of the staff we've had has been focused on a city of 25,000."Kennedy highlighted the workload facing his office, mentioning he receives about 700 emails weekly during peak periods. The new deputy city manager, Mike Caruolo, will focus on day-to-day operations, allowing Kennedy to concentrate on strategic planning and community engagement.Regarding ongoing projects, Kennedy provided updates on the Naval Hospital property transfer and the Coggeshall School redevelopment.He dispelled rumors that the Navy would retain the hospital property, confirming it will be conveyed to Newport. Discussions are ongoing with naval authorities regarding environmental restoration of the site."Our main goal of that property, if we get nothing else out of it, is public access to the water," Kennedy said.The Coggeshall School project, intended for workforce housing, has faced delays due to litigation. Kennedy expressed optimism about reaching a resolution soon."We're very close to coming to an amicable solution with the developer and then we'll be able to move forward," he said.Kennedy also addressed concerns about short-term rentals and parking regulations. He noted the city is closely watching litigation in Narragansett that could impact Newport's policies.A comprehensive overhaul of the resident parking sticker program is in progress, with another council workshop expected in January.The city manager concluded by expressing gratitude to Newport voters for approving the bond measure."My commitment and our staff commitment and our council commitment going forward is to be absolute efficient stewards of that revenue, to pay it off as soon as possible, to make the most optimal use of it as possible," Kennedy said.He encouraged residents to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season and invited community members to volunteer for various city boards and commissions.Watch The Conversation Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.
  1. Newport City Manager outlines next steps for approved $98.5 million bond; reasoning for new hires
  2. Newport School Superintendent provides updates on new high school and educational programs
  3. Newport School Superintendent provides updates on Rogers High School Construction and teacher negotiations
  4. Rep. Carson outlines legislative priorities for upcoming session
  5. Newport City Manager addresses utility billing, early voting, and bond referendum

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...