Newport’s City Council is gearing up for an executive session on Jan. 15 to tackle some important issues behind closed doors. The meeting, set for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, will cover negotiations with two employee unions: the firefighters’ Local 1080 and the police officers’ Lodge No. 8.
Council members will also discuss ongoing legal matters, including the Barbera case against the city and claims about the Rogers High School dirt pile. They’re also looking at possibly buying some property, though the details are under wraps for now. This secrecy is allowed under Rhode Island law when early public knowledge could hurt the city’s interests.
Other topics on the table include rules for commercial harbor moorings, potential claims involving a late city employee’s estate, and selling the Coggeshall School property.
“The City Council will discuss in Executive Session 1) Collective Bargaining Agreements with Local 1080, International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO (“IAFF”) and with Lodge No. 8, Fraternal Order of Police (“FOP”); 2) issues relating to Barbera et al v. City of Newport, et al (NC2024-0056); 3) the Rogers High School dirt pile claims; 4) the acquisition of real property by the City; 5) commercial harbor mooring ordinances; 6) possible claims involving estate of late City employee; and 7) the sale of the Coggeshall School property”
As required by state law, the council will first meet openly to vote on moving into the executive session.
These closed-door meetings are allowed for specific reasons like union negotiations, legal issues, and property deals. They give officials a chance to talk freely about sensitive topics without risking the city’s position in negotiations or legal strategies.
