Recent discussion about Newport’s boards and commissions raises an important question about how we balance efficiency, accountability, expertise, and public participation in local government.
I agree that government should operate efficiently. Studies should not sit on shelves, projects should not become trapped in endless process, and elected officials should not use committees or commissions to avoid making difficult decisions. Ultimately, City Councilors are elected to make decisions, and we should be held accountable for them.
But I disagree with the suggestion that involving residents through boards and commissions is inherently an obstacle to getting things done.
Newport’s boards and commissions are an invaluable resource for both the City Council and our community. They bring together residents with professional knowledge, subject-matter expertise, lived experience, and different perspectives who volunteer their time to help inform the City’s work. They also provide open, public forums where issues can receive more detailed consideration than is often possible during a Council meeting.
That is not delegating the Council’s responsibility. Boards and commissions advise; the Council decides.
Serving on a board or commission is also one of the most direct ways residents can participate in their local government beyond voting every two years. Residents can research issues, hear from their neighbors, ask questions, examine alternatives, and make recommendations in a transparent public setting. Those recommendations do not bind the Council, but they can help us make better-informed decisions.
There is also a financial consideration that should not be overlooked.
Newport has spent significant taxpayer dollars over the years on outside consultants to study issues and make recommendations. Consultants will sometimes be necessary, particularly when specialized technical or professional expertise is required. But we should first recognize the tremendous amount of knowledge that already exists within our own community.
When qualified residents are willing to volunteer their experience and expertise, we should value that resource. Strong boards and commissions can supplement professional staff, help conduct research and analysis, provide local knowledge that an outside consultant may not possess, and potentially reduce our reliance on costly consulting services.
I also reject the idea that residents who volunteer for boards and commissions should broadly be characterized as “special interests.” Having an interest in your community is precisely what we should want from residents who volunteer their time. The appropriate safeguards are transparency, balanced appointments, public meetings, disclosure of conflicts when applicable, and ultimately an elected Council willing to independently evaluate recommendations before voting.
None of this means every issue needs a new commission, committee, study or workshop. Process should have a purpose. Boards and commissions should have clearly defined missions, avoid unnecessary duplication, produce meaningful work, and provide recommendations within reasonable timeframes. When a matter is ready for Council action, we should act.
Accountability and public participation are not opposing principles. We can—and should—have both.
I believe good government means gathering the facts, listening to residents, drawing upon the expertise within our community, openly debating the alternatives, and then making a decision. The Council must own those decisions and their consequences.
Newport is fortunate to have residents willing to give countless volunteer hours to our city. Rather than viewing that civic participation as another layer of bureaucracy, I view it as one of our community’s greatest resources.
Steph Smyth
Newport City Councilor At-Large
