City of Newport meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Newport boards weigh variances, licenses, and grants; decisions pending

Newport's Zoning Board of Review, City Council, and Historic District Commission met in late July and early August to consider a range of requests, including residential variances, entertainment licenses, federal grants, and property alterations. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so no decisions are known.

Zoning Board of Review — July 27

The Zoning Board met July 27 to hear 12 residential variance requests. Among the items on the agenda were 12-month extensions for cases at 17 Bayview Avenue and 6 ½ & 8 Cross Street, and a 9-month extension for 33 Corne Street. The board also considered dimensional variances for a dormer addition at 7 Malbone Road (3 feet from property line vs. 10 feet required), a garage expansion and lot coverage increase at 153 Ruggles Avenue (29.9% vs. 20% allowed), a garage conversion to a bedroom at 6 Tompkins Court in the Historic District, a rear addition and roof deck at 32 Bayside Avenue, and third-floor dormers and a pool at 173-175 Coggeshall Avenue. An appeal of a zoning decision on driveways at 18 Barney Street and 3 & 4 Barney Court was also on the agenda, as was a special use permit for a five-bedroom guest house at 640 Thames Street with no additional parking.

City Council — August 6

The City Council met August 6 to consider several entertainment licenses. First hearings were scheduled for new licenses for Gardiner House at 24 Lee's Wharf and Midtown Race Club at 255 Thames St., as well as an expansion of entertainment hours for Jo's American Bistro at 24 Memorial Blvd. West. The council also voted on accepting two federal grants from the U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program: $8,825 and $16,107. A resolution requesting traffic calming, pedestrian safety, and Complete Streets improvements for Memorial Blvd. was also on the agenda.

Historic District Commission — August 6

The Historic District Commission met August 6 to review one continued application and four new applications for exterior alterations to contributing properties. The continued application (#HDC-26-69) would convert a garage to an accessory dwelling unit at 77 Kay St. New applications included replacing a bulkhead with a metal door at 39 Elm St. (#HDC-26-87), expanding a rear addition at 59 Bridge St. (#HDC-26-91), multiple alterations including dormers, chimney removal, and roof replacement at 21 Clay St. (#HDC-26-93), and constructing an outdoor tennis court and other changes at 562 Bellevue Ave. (#HDC-26-97). The commission also heard an invitation from the Utilities Department.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Newport Council Set to Act on $321,600 Road Safety Grant; Historic District Commission Reviews Multiple Property Applications

The Newport City Council has a packed agenda for its July 8 regular meeting, including a proposed $321,600 federal road safety grant and a public hearing on repairs to Mumford Manor. Meanwhile, the Historic District Commission held two meetings this month to weigh alterations to properties across the city. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

City Council — July 8

The council's agenda lists a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant application for Mumford Manor, located at 39 Farewell Street. The grant would fund repairs to the property.

Among the action items scheduled for a vote:

• **Accepting a $321,600 FHWA SS4A grant award** for road safety. The federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program funds the grant.
• **A contract award** for the Station 1 Drinking Water Treatment Plant SCADA and PLC modernization project.
• **A Henderson Home Trust distribution** for maintenance and reserves.
• **Parking changes** on South Baptist Street and Bridge Street.
• **Designating a parking lot as a transit hub.**

The council is also scheduled to receive a notice of a projected school budget deficit from the Superintendent. Consent items include special event permits, waste hauler license renewals, and commission resignations. License renewals and appointments are also on the agenda.

Because minutes have not been published, it is not yet known which items were approved, modified, or tabled.

Historic District Commission — July 10

The commission was scheduled to review five applications for property modifications:

• **365 Thames St:** Replace a glass wall and vestibule, install an ADA ramp, and update signage.
• **77 Kay St:** Convert a garage into a two-story accessory dwelling unit.
• **14 Leroy Ave:** Construct a detached garage, pool, and pool house.
• **6 Tompkins Ct:** Convert a 2-car garage to a primary suite and add a new garage.
• **421 Gibbs Ave:** Reconstruct a garage for a primary suite and alter the roofline.

Historic District Commission — July 14

A second HDC meeting four days later covered several of the same properties plus new applications, with more specific filing details:

• **Application #HDC-26-78** — NewPort Architecture LLC seeks permission for a detached garage, pool, and pool house at 14 Leroy Ave, classified as a non-contributing property.
• **Application #HDC-26-80** — Anne Ferraro requests replacing a plaster front porch ceiling with wood beadboard at 96 Second St, a contributing property.
• **Application #HDC-26-81** — Robert Damiano and Linda Perry Piera propose converting a 2-car garage into a primary suite and adding a 15'x19'6" garage at 6 Tompkins Ct, a non-contributing property.
• **Application #HDC-26-83** — Fleury Properties LLC seeks to construct a new front porch replicating the original at 1 Cottage St, a contributing property.
• **Application #HDC-26-84** — Jamie and Harmony Oschefski request reconstruction of an existing garage for a primary suite, reconfiguration of the front entry, and roofline alteration at 421 Gibbs Ave, a contributing property.

The agenda notes the board would also continue discussion of previously submitted projects. Decisions will be recorded in the meeting minutes, which have not yet been published.

What This Means for Residents

The $321,600 federal safety grant, if accepted, would fund road safety improvements in Newport. The CDBG application for Mumford Manor could direct federal housing funds toward building repairs. The HDC applications affect what property owners can build or change in the city's historic districts, where exterior modifications require commission approval.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the City of Newport's official meeting calendar for scheduling updates.

Newport council set to weigh CDBG grant, school deficit notice, and parking changes; minutes not yet published

Newport's recent government meetings are on the calendar, but official minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions listed below. What follows is drawn from the agendas only; no votes, approvals, or final decisions can be confirmed until the minutes are released.

City Council — July 8, 2026

The Newport City Council's regular meeting was scheduled to include a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for Mumford Manor, located at 39 Farewell Street. The agenda also listed several action items:

• **$321,600 federal safety grant** — Authorization to accept a $321,600 FHWA FY-24 SS4A grant award for road safety.
• **School budget deficit notice** — A notice of a projected school budget deficit from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain.
• **Parking ordinance revisions** — Proposed changes would prohibit parking on South Baptist Street and designate Bridge Street as one-way.
• **Water treatment plant contract** — A contract for Station 1 Drinking Water Treatment Plant SCADA and PLC modernization.
• **Henderson Home Trust distribution** — A distribution for maintenance and reserves.
• **Transit hub designation** — Designating a parking lot as a transit hub.
• **Consent items** — Special event permits, waste hauler license renewals, and commission resignations.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not known which items were approved, tabled, or continued.

Historic District Commission — July 10, 2026

The Historic District Commission was scheduled to review five property applications:

• **365 Thames St** — Proposal to replace a glass wall/vestibule, install an ADA ramp, and update signage.
• **77 Kay St** — Application to convert a garage into a two-story accessory dwelling unit.
• **14 Leroy Ave** — Request to construct a detached garage, pool, and pool house.
• **6 Tompkins Ct** — Proposal to convert a 2-car garage to a primary suite and add a new garage.
• **421 Gibbs Ave** — Request to reconstruct a garage for a primary suite and alter the roofline.

No outcomes are confirmed; minutes have not been published.

What this means for residents

The CDBG hearing for Mumford Manor at 39 Farewell Street concerns a federal grant application for the property. The $321,600 FHWA grant, if accepted, would fund road-safety improvements. The projected school budget deficit notice from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain is a procedural step that flags a potential shortfall; any budget action would follow separately. Parking changes on South Baptist Street and Bridge Street, if adopted, would affect how residents and visitors park and travel in those areas.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Readers seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 8 council meeting and the July 10 Historic District Commission meeting should watch for the official minutes, which had not been published as of this report.

Newport Council Set to Consider $20M FEMA Grant, Tax Rate Adjustment; Zoning Board Reviews Variance Petitions

Newport's City Council and Zoning Board of Review have several consequential items on their agendas, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings. All items below reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.

City Council — June 24, 2026 Meeting

The council agenda included a resolution to adjust the non-owner occupied residential tax rate (Item #23). No vote tally or dollar figure for the adjustment was listed in the agenda.

The council was also scheduled to authorize seeking two FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants:

• **$20 million** for South Easton's Pond Dam flood resiliency (Item #19)
• **$1.425 million** for Elizabeth Brook daylighting (Item #18)

Other items on the agenda: a bid award for the Sidewalk Improvement Program 2026 (Item #16), an ordinance revision prohibiting parking on Russell Avenue (Item #11), special event licenses, a sound variance public hearing, and appointments to city boards.

City Council — July 8, 2026 Meeting

The council will hold a public hearing and act on a Community Development Block Grant application for Mumford Manor at 39 Farewell Street.

The agenda includes a notice of a projected school budget deficit from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain. No dollar amount for the deficit was specified in the agenda.

The council is also scheduled to consider:

• Authorization to accept a **$321,600** Federal Highway Administration FY-24 SS4A grant award for safety
• Ordinance revisions prohibiting parking on South Baptist Street and designating Bridge Street as one-way
• An electricity supply fixed-rate contract and a contract for Station 1 water treatment plant SCADA modernization

Zoning Board of Review — June 22, 2026 Meeting

The board was scheduled to hear three full-hearing variance petitions:

• **18 Barney St:** The Collection at Barney, LLC seeks variances for AC condenser and deck reconstruction, increasing lot coverage from 59% to 61% (45% allowed).
• **32 Bayside Ave:** Equity Investment Group seeks variances for a rear addition and roof deck, increasing lot coverage from 29.8% to 36.9% (28.48% allowed).
• **153 Ruggles Avenue:** Variance to increase lot coverage beyond allowed limits. No specific figures were listed in the agenda.

Extension requests were scheduled for 57 Marchant (6 months) and 551 Thames Street (12 months). A petition for 2 Wheatland Court was listed for withdrawal by staff.

A continued hearing for 640 Thames Street, LLC — requesting a special use permit and variance to convert a dwelling to a 5-bedroom guest house without parking — was continued to July 27, 2026.

What We Don't Know Yet

All three meetings are marked "agenda only" — minutes have not been published. No vote tallies, approvals, denials, or final dollar amounts are available. Outcomes will be confirmed when minutes are released.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. The Zoning Board's continued hearing on 640 Thames Street is scheduled for July 27, 2026.

Newport Council Takes Up Non-Owner Occupied Tax Rate, $20M Flood Grant Bid

The Newport City Council this week considered a resolution to adjust the tax rate for non-owner-occupied residential properties, while also weighing multimillion-dollar flood resilience grants and a Community Development Block Grant application for affordable housing. Because official meeting minutes have not been released for any of the recent sessions, voting outcomes and final actions remain unknown.

Zoning Board reviews variances for Barney Street, Bayside Avenue

The Zoning Board of Review met on June 22 with a docket heavy on dimensional variances. Petitions included:

• **18 Barney Street**: The Collection at Barney, LLC sought variances for an AC condenser and deck reconstruction that would push lot coverage from 59% to 61%, above the 45% limit.
• **32 Bayside Avenue**: Equity Investment Group sought variances for a rear addition and roof deck, increasing coverage from 29.8% to 36.9% (28.48% allowed).
• **153 Ruggles Avenue** was also scheduled for a full hearing.

The board voted on extension requests for 57 Marchant (six months) and 551 Thames Street (twelve months). A petition for 2 Wheatland Court was withdrawn by staff. A special use permit and variance sought by 640 Thames Street, LLC to convert a dwelling into a five-bedroom guest house without parking was continued to July 27.

City Council ponders flood grants, sidewalk work, and tax rate

At its regular June 24 meeting, the City Council faced several financial and infrastructure items, all still awaiting minutes.

A resolution to adjust the non-owner occupied residential tax rate was listed as Item #23. The council also considered two authorizations to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants:

• A $20 million request for South Easton’s Pond Dam flood resiliency.
• A $1.425 million request for the Elizabeth Brook daylighting project.

Other agenda items included a bid award for the 2026 Sidewalk Improvement Program (Item #16) and an ordinance revision to prohibit parking on Russell Avenue (Item #11).

Council hears CDBG application for Mumford Manor, learns of school deficit

The council held a public hearing during its July 2 meeting on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for Mumford Manor at 39 Farewell Street. The session, for which minutes are also unavailable, included a notice from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain of a projected school budget deficit, though no dollar figure was detailed in the agenda.

Among other proposals were:

• Authorization to accept a $321,600 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant award.
• Ordinance revisions to prohibit parking on South Baptist Street and to establish a one-way designation on Bridge Street.
• A fixed-rate electricity supply contract and a contract for SCADA modernization at the Station 1 water treatment plant.

Coming up

No public meetings are currently listed in the city’s upcoming calendar for the next two weeks. The next scheduled session is the continued Zoning Board hearing for 640 Thames Street on July 27.