The Middletown Town Council has set aside $3,000 from its discretionary fund to support a Broadway trip for Gaudet Middle School seventh graders.
This decision came during the council’s first meeting of the year on Jan. 6 at Middletown Town Hall.
Council Vice President Thomas Welch discussed the funding, drawing from his own childhood memories of visiting New York City.
“I remember going on a similar trip with my family to New York City as a kid. I was amazed and inspired by what I saw,” Welch said. “I hope these students will have the same experience.”
The total cost of the trip, set for early March to see “The Outsiders,” is $17,000. Students and teachers are actively fundraising to cover the expenses.
Organizers are asking community members to chip in through an online donation portal at https://mdl.town/Broadway-Trip.
In other news, the council held a moment of silence for Reginald Nalle, a longtime Newport firefighter and community leader who recently died.
Council President Paul Rodrigues said, “Nalle was not only a great person, but he always worked hard to make Middletown the best it could be. He’ll be missed.”
The council also got updates on the new middle-high school project at 1225 Aquidneck Ave. Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown reported that the project is “on time and on budget,” with groundbreaking expected in the spring and completion set for September 2027.
The council gave conditional approval for a mobile sauna and cold plunge facility in the Surfer’s End parking lot through April 20. Ellery Sparkman proposed the project, which is pending proper insurance and CPR certifications.
The Town of Middletown recapped the meeting with the following details;
- Reserved $3,000 in the council’s discretionary fund to help pay for a trip for Gaudet Middle School seventh graders to see The Outsiders in early March on Broadway. Students and teachers said everyone has been working hard to raise money to cover the $17,000 price tag. Council Vice President Thomas Welch brought the item up and said he remembers taking a similar trip with his family to New York City as a kid and being amazed and inspired by what he saw, something he hoped would happen for the students. To give to the effort, organizers asked people to visit https://mdl.town/Broadway-Trip online, with any donation appreciated.
- Held a moment of silence for the passing of Reginald Nalle, a respected member of the community who was a longtime Newport firefighter, Little League baseball coach, member of the Zoning Board of Review and more. Council President Paul Rodrigues said besides being a really good person, Nalle always worked hard to make Middletown the best place it could be and he would be missed.
- Heard a request from Rodrigues and Welch that residents fill out a Tiered Residential Tax Program form by March 15 in order to try to get a significant break in their local tax bill. Rodrigues and Welch said there was a 30 percent difference in taxes and it was important that everyone who was eligible take advantage of the break. Visit https://mdl.town/TRTP for more.
- Received an update on the new middle-high school at 1225 Aquidneck Ave. from Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown and everything remains all systems go “on time and on budget.” Groundbreaking is expected in the spring, with opening day in time for the first day of classes in September 2027.
- Gave conditional approval for the Sachuest Sauna & Cold Plunge mobile sauna in the Surfer’s End parking lot now through April 20, provided the effort from Ellery Sparkman gets the proper insurance and CPR certifications. Council members said the project was “outside the box,” could be a good attraction for the area and would take up one or two parking spaces of the popular Sachuest Point Road spot.
- Okayed amendments to the zoning codes that allowed the town to enforce residential — not commercial — standards on short-term rentals. Town officials said the move created more leeway for building officials when inspecting new and existing short-term rentals moving forward.
- Postponed discussion of rules for the council to the group’s Feb. 18 session.
The next Middletown Town Council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.
Video From The Meeting
