This Wednesday is Veterans Day. While the pandemic is limiting traditional celebrations this year, it is important that each of us do what we can to thank those who have made the selfless commitment to defend our people and protect our country. To all who have served, thank you.
The City Council is meeting on Tuesday this week because of the Veterans Day holiday. There are a few items of note in this week’s Council docket. The Council is receiving the Actuarial Valuation Reports from the previous fiscal year. These report on the status of the various pension plans for City employees.
We are also receiving a memorandum from the City Solicitor regarding the moratorium on retail marijuana facilities that was passed on June 24. The moratorium is set to expire on January 21, 2021 and the Planning and Zoning Department is still working to develop zoning to regulate the retail sale of marijuana in Newport. In his memo, the City Solicitor recommends temporarily prohibiting the sale of marijuana in Newport, while the Planning Board and the Planning Staff study where and under what conditions the sale of marijuana could be permitted. The City Solicitor has drafted proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance to enact this and the Council will refer them to the Planning Board for their analysis and directing the Planning Board to take on the study. It is this type of zoning that the City Council uses to shape the future of Newport. The Zoning Board is beholden to the zoning that is in place – it is the Council’s responsibility to ensure that our regulations match our vision for Newport.
On Thursday at 5:00 pm there is a workshop scheduled with National Grid to present their proposed plans for additional natural gas storage on Aquidneck Island. There has been a lot of interest in understanding the utility infrastructure in Newport, especially in light of the natural gas outage in January 2019 that left thousands in Newport without heat. This meeting is an opportunity for you to learn more about National Grid’s local infrastructure concepts and to ask questions and give your feedback.
Tuesday will be the final meeting of the current Council. The newly elected Council will be sworn in on December 1, as required by the City Charter. It has been an honor to serve as Chair for the past two years and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the residents of Newport. The transparent discussion and debate that was fostered over the past two years created space that made it possible for the Council to tackle multiple complex challenges and projects, such as allowing food trucks in Newport, the development of the North End Urban Plan, and the City’s coronavirus response. I am carrying forward my commitment to transparent discussion into the new term with the first decision we make as a Council – selecting our Chair. When the Council-elect meets to decide on a Chair, we must use it as an opportunity to provide our reasoning for the choice we make and the vote we take, just as we should for every decision. Starting the term with this open communication in the public arena puts us on a path for continued cooperation, respect, and productivity.