By Matt Sheley, Town of Middletown A couple years ago, Newport officials approached Middletown about the possibility of regionalizing school districts. By all accounts, it didn’t go well and seemed to scuttle the idea once and for all. On Wednesday night at a summit from Innovate Newport headquarters on Broadway, Middletown Town Council President Paul […]
Town of Middletown
News and updates from the Town of Middletown. For more news, updates, and information, visit www.middletownri.com.
Posted inCity & Government
Second Beach Parking lot getting repaved this fall
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JULY 12, 2022) – The Second Beach parking lot is getting repaved this fall. For a couple years, the town has wanted to resurface the large lot on Sachuest Point Road, but the work got pushed off due to other pressing priorities. However, as part of the recently approved Fiscal 2023 budget, the […]
Posted inPolitics
Lawrence Frank withdraws from Middletown Town Council race
By Matt Sheley, Town of Middletown There’s now one less candidate vying for Middletown Town Council. On Thursday morning, Lawrence Frank submitted a letter to the office of the Board of Canvassers, announcing he was withdrawing his name from the race. No reason was cited in the one-page memo. “This letter is to inform you […]
Posted inCity & Government
Town of Middletown: Fiscal 2023 Budget approved
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JULY 5, 2022) – A new $79.7 million budget is in place for the Town of Middletown for Fiscal 2023. On Tuesday night from Town Hall, the Town Council approved the numbers and a residential tax rate of $12.02 per $1,000 of assessed value, the same adjusted rate as Fiscal 2022. The nonresidential tax […]
Posted inCity & Government
Town of Middletown: ‘Middletown Center’ plan cleared to take next step
Talks about “Middletown Center” are moving to the next step. During a special meeting Wednesday night in Town Hall, the Town Council voted to clear the way for the developers, town staff and legal counsel to continue a dialogue about the future use of the 15 acres at 600-740 West Main Road. Saying there was […]
Posted inCity & Government
Approval of Middletown’s Fiscal 2023 Budget on hold
The Town of Middletown doesn’t have a new $79.7 million budget for Fiscal 2023 — yet. Following one of the most unique budget cycles in decades in town, the Town Council said they weren’t quite ready to adopt the budget after a second public hearing Thursday night in Town Hall. That’s because council members said […]
Posted inCity & Government
Town of Middletown: School Regionalization Committee forming
By Matt Sheley, Town of Middletown MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JUNE 6, 2022) – A steering committee is being formed to help guide the regionalization process between Middletown and Newport. On Monday night, Councilwoman Barbara A. VonVillas was named as the representative from the Middletown Town Council to the new eight-member board. In addition to Middletown Town Administrator […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Town of Middletown: Schools of tomorrow discussed today
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (MAY 31, 2022) – Until Tuesday night, the idea of three new schools in Middletown was largely just theory, an idea, a dream. At a meeting from the basement of the Oliphant administration building that shifted, where the School Building Committee heard some of the exciting possibilities for the shared middle-high school as well […]
Posted inNews
Town of Middletown: Talk of new school buildings sparks excitement
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (MAY 26, 2022) – Excitement is growing around discussions to build three new schools in town. Less than 70 hours after the Town Council voted unanimously last week to pursue the idea further, the School Building Committee met in the Oliphant administration building to talk about what’s next. Now, the volunteer Building Committee has […]
Posted inCity & Government
Town of Middletown: Schools seek 4 percent increase
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (MAY 25, 2022) – The Middletown schools are asking for a 4 percent increase in their upcoming Fiscal 2023 budget. According to figures presented Wednesday night to the Town Council at a meeting in Town Hall, the School Committee said it needed all funding — and more. There was also talk of taking an […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Town of Middletown: Town Council votes to look into an ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ for Middletown Schools
The Town Council chose Monday night to go in on an “opportunity of a lifetime” for the Middletown schools. Due to a compressed timeline to get the matter before the General Assembly, the council voted 7-0 in Town Hall to pursue a $235 million bond proposal to build all new Middletown schools that could go […]
Posted inCity & Government
Town of Middletown: Revised budget schedule released
The Town of Middletown has an updated budget schedule. Earlier this week, the Town Council approved a revised calendar to handle the proposed Fiscal 2023 budget, including public hearings on Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 23. Both sessions where people will have an opportunity to comment on any aspect of the budget are planned […]
Posted inCity & Government
Hybrid school unification talks advance
About a month ago, Middletown announced it was working with the City of Newport to potentially unify schools systems — with caveats. Since then, it’s largely been radio silence on the ambitious hybrid plan — at least publicly. But behind the scenes, local officials have been busy lining up the pieces to get everything ready […]
Posted inCity & Government
Middletown busy with sewer pipe work — in Newport
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (APRIL 26, 2022) – Over the past few weeks, Middletown has been busy with a sewer improvement project — in Newport. As part of the community’s ongoing sewer agreement with the City, the Town is responsible for fixing and maintaining the force main that runs underground along most of Memorial Boulevard. Town Engineer Warren […]
Posted inCity & Government
Middletown: Town affordable housing project takes major step
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (APRIL 19, 2022) – Plans for a Town led “affordable housing” project took a major step forward earlier this week. At a meeting Monday night from Town Hall, the Town Council voted unanimously to seek master plan designs for “affordable housing” on the former Oliphant School property at 26 Oliphant Lane and Peckham School […]
Posted inNews
Short-term rental conversation continues in Middletown
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (APRIL 18, 2022) – Middletown will continue to monitor short-term rentals in the community. Hearing from colleagues and residents during a meeting in Town Hall, the Town Council agreed to revisit the issue at an upcoming session, likely on May 2. Council members said this was especially true as Newport considers a ban […]
Posted inNews
Accident on Berkeley Avenue in Middletown take out poles, wires
Emergency personnel were at a single vehicle accident on Berkeley Avenue by Wyndham Hill Road. Police said a truck went off the road and took out a pole and wires. The truck driver was taken to Newport Hospital. The accident is under investigation.
Posted inNews
Middletown Police make gun bust
On 04/08/2022, the Middletown Police Department executed a search warrant and an arrest warrant at 107C Lawrence Street. The warrants were the result of an investigation into Jeremy Speck, 43 years old, who was believed to be in possession of several firearms. Jeremy was convicted of a crime of violence in Texas, charged as Deadly […]
Posted inSports
Unified Basketball makes memories
There’s about 7:30 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. Playing on their home court, the Gaudet Middle School Islanders team trails the squad from Lawn Middle School in Jamestown by more than a couple of buckets during a recent unified basketball game. That was until Rahsaan Marshall nailed back-to-back bank shots in the […]