NEWPORT — Newport City Council has been working swiftly in the weeks following the March election, establishing two special task forces to address critical municipal issues.
The Council held a special meeting just five days after the election to create the Water and Sewer Task Force and the Financial Reporting and Fiscal Practices Task Force. Both groups, composed entirely of Newport residents and chaired by Council Members John Monette and Carter Finegan respectively, have been meeting weekly to address time-sensitive matters.
An open forum to discuss preliminary recommendations from the Water and Sewer Task Force is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Room at the Newport Municipal Building. The forum will focus on proposed solutions to address significant deficit spending in the Water and Sewer Budget. All Newport residents are invited to attend.
The Council will hold a special meeting Monday, April 28, at 6 p.m. to consider and act on recommendations from both task forces. Items on the agenda include potential adjustments to water and sewer rates and a proposed expansion of the city’s contract with the New England Municipal Resource Center (NEMRC), which manages the city’s financial software systems.
Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase encouraged residents to stay engaged by watching videos of Council meetings and task force sessions, available through NEKTV. The Council expressed gratitude to Pam Ladds for volunteering to film the sessions and to NEKTV for its ongoing service to the community.
