Top Priority
October 18, 2024 at 11:00 AM the Mayor, Tom Frank (CEO of North Country Hospital), President of the Council, Chris Vachon and Council Member Clark Curtis will be holding a press conference in Montpelier on the steps of the State House to address the Green Mountain Care Board’s consultant’s report that contained alarming and ill-founded and misguided recommendations that would affect our hospital and health care system.
Former Mayor Beth Barnes is taking names for those who need a seat on the bus to avoid driving on their own up to the Press Conference. As your Mayor, it is my intention to be up in Montpelier in the Senate and House Committee rooms as they discuss our hospital and health care system. As a former legislator, I understand the ins and outs of how they push things through.
Our voice is imperative up in Montpelier during the next legislative session and Tom Frank and I intend to be highly visible and are committed to protecting you.
Our businesses are important
The first episode of “Walk with the Mayor” began on East Main Street and has been released. Thank you NEKTV! The second episode is being filmed this Tuesday morning following “From the Desk of the Mayor” filming. NEKTV’s Todd Pronto and I will be continuing our walk down East Main Street interviewing the businesses and continuing to Union Street and all the other businesses throughout our gem of a City. Here is some of the information we are asking our businesses to tell us:
1. If you are in Newport’s Designated Downtown, do you believe it is advantageous?
2. If you are not in Newport’s Designated Downtown, do you believe it is advantageous or disadvantageous?
3. What is the make up and number of your employees? For example, how many full-time or part-time employees or seasonal employees do you employee? Do they live in Newport?
4. What about job vacancies? Have you had many and are you facing barriers to filling these positions?
5. How long have you been in Newport and why did you choose Newport to set up your business?
6. How does proximity to Canada affect your business?
7. How would further development of the NEKIA (airport) enhance your business?
8. The Mayor and the new Council are committed to assisting Newport’s businesses. What do you believe the City can do to help your business thrive?
Newport comes through in emergency times
The Island Pond Disaster Recovery Center is closing October 12. The Mayor was contacted to assist FEMA. With the immediate attention to detail by our City’s Zoning Administrator, Frank Cheney, Recreation Director, Mike Brown, and Police Chief, Travis Bingham, a seamless set up to help Vermont took place. What does that mean? A new DRC in Newport is set up to open Wednesday, October 16, 024 from 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturdays at the Newport City Municipal building, 222 Main Street, Newport, VT. As announced at the last Council meeting, it is anticipated that the FEMA team will be there to assist those affected by the floods for the next 60-90 days. Again, our City employees jumped on the situation allowing for a smooth transition to help Vermont.
Tossing inappropriate terms around
You may have read a letter to the editor in a couple of papers that have headlines claiming that Newport is heading for bankruptcy. Sadly, throwing legal terms around inappropriately is not only misleading, but harms the reputation of the City. Newport is not filing bankruptcy nor is that even on its radar. The Council is taking a deep dive into the finances and reassessment of how the City addresses its compliance and procedures. Putting policies into place and changing rules and governing procedures in compliance with City, State and Federal rules and regulations is healthy.
This type of incitement while laughable is dangerous. Our City is not seeking relief under the bankruptcy code. There is no reason for the Mayor and the Council to consider this at all and again, because the Council is looking at how to correct former processes to allow the City to move forward in a better controlled financial position does not justify throwing around words that are baseless and lack any full knowledge of the operations of the City.
The Treasurer and his department are working closely with the Mayor and the Council to put better controls in place. I applaud these time-consuming efforts to work as a team and make the City stronger for you, our residents. Please be sure to come to the Mayor’s hours (as so many have) to have these myths dispelled. The Mayor’s hours are Mondays from 9-11 AM at the Council Room and on Wednesdays from 9-11 AM by appointment. I am so pleased with the continual showing of our residents and the success of addressing concerns brought up at the Mayor’s hours. This is your time and I am listening.
Department Heads
The Mayor’s department head meetings have been informative. Your City team is working to keep us safe and working alongside of the Mayor and the Council to put good policies in place and share their experiences. These meetings are regularly held and will continue as they assist the Mayor in putting together the Agenda for the Council meetings and putting together good policies and procedures and to be sure that
projects are moving forward timely and whether or not there is need for troubleshooting. A huge thank you to our Department Heads (Statutory Employees.)
Interim Fire Chief
Thank you to Kevin LaCoss for stepping back in as our experience and seasoned Interim Fire Chief. Kevin has proven himself over the years and there are not enough accolades to express for Kevin. You are in the best of hands as we continue our search for a Fire Chief. Having Kevin in the Interim Fire Chief position allows the Mayor and the Council to work with the fire department and assess the needs of the department and the requirements for a Chief. Council member Charbaneau will be joining the Mayor in working with the fire department, as Council member Charbaneau is now the liaison this round to the Fire Department.
Additional Council Liason Shifts: Council member Curtis is the liason on this rotation to the Recreational Department; Council member Ufford-Chase to DPW; President of the Council Vachon to the Police Department; and the Mayor to Zoning. These rotations assure the Council members of understanding how each department in the City operates and the Council members can then discuss with the Mayor areas that we need to address to get better into compliance.
To all of Newport – I thank you! It takes time to move things forward. But we are working continuously for the best interests of our residents and great City.
Thank you for your confidence – Your Mayor, Linda Joy Sullivan
