Joe Nicholson to step down as Newport City Manager

Newport City Manager Joe Nicholson has announced his plans to step down from public service this fall, after thirty-seven years of service to the City, according to a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon from Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong.

“Since joining the City in 1986, Joe has been involved with almost every major project that rebuilt Newport following the loss of the America’s Cup in 1983 and Navy’s withdrawal in the 1970s, Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong shared in a statement. Today, Newport is considered one of the best municipalities in New England, with much credit to Joe’s leadership.”

“Newport is entering an exciting but complicated new chapter and the decisions we make will impact us for generations. Joe’s decision and thoughtful transition timeline positions the Council to select and support a new manager equipped to steward the City through this next era,” Mayor Xay shared. I will be asking the Council to integrate its selection process for the next City Manager with the professionally led strategic planning process already scheduled to occur over the next couple months.”

“I’d like to thank Joe for his thirty-seven years of service to the City. Newport is better because of his service and we are well positioned for the City’s next chapter,” Mayor Xay concluded.

Update: The City of Newport published the following press release on its website on Wednesday, May 10, 2023;

Newport City Manager to Leave Service

Joseph J. Nicholson, Jr. to Step Down in September

NEWPORT, R.I. (WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023) – After 37 years with the City, longtime Newport City Manager Joseph J. Nicholson, Jr. is set to step down from public service this fall.

Nicholson, whose current contract was set to run through June of 2024, informed the City Council of his intention in an email on May 4^th with a plan to submit a formal letter of resignation in July.

“It has been a supreme honor and privilege having served the City of Newport as its City Solicitor as well as City Manager, and to have worked with all of you, as well as Councils past,” Nicholson wrote.

A native Newporter and an attorney by trade, Nicholson has spent his entire professional career in service to the City, taking on his first role as Assistant City Solicitor in 1986. He would go on to serve as City Solicitor from 1988 until 2014, and for the last nine years as City Manager, where he’s overseen the daily operations of City government and its roughly 300 employees.

Over the years, Nicholson would be called on twice to serve as interim City Manager; the first time from February of 2002 until November of that year, and again from July of 2014 until April of 2016.

Upon his departure, he’ll hold the distinction of being Newport’s longest serving City Manager and its longest
tenured active employee.

His last day is tentatively set for Sept. 15^th2023.