Photo provided by Town of Middletown

The Middletown Town Council’s Monday night meeting covered some interesting ground, from ethics training to a unique beach amenity.

Lynne Radiches from the state Ethics Commission gave local leaders and town board volunteers a refresher on ethical practices. Her key advice? When in doubt about a potential conflict of interest, it’s best to play it safe.

In a unanimous decision, the council gave a conditional green light to Finn Woodworking and Design for a mobile sauna at Third Beach. The permit allows operation in the parking lot through April 20.

Elena Soini, the project’s backer, said the sauna will run at least once a week, weather permitting. It’s not for walk-ins though – customers need to book online in advance.

The council also approved a $47,880 contract with Crossman Engineering to help create a Harbor Management Plan. The Beach Commission will play a big part in this project, which will be funded from the town’s Parks & Recreation Fund.

Mark your calendars – the next Middletown Town Council meeting is set for Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall.

Those interested can watch the meeting below.

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...