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Peter Rice's avatar

Mr. Mayor -- I grow increasingly anxious about the progress on the new Rogers. Problems pop-up and don't seem to get resolved, the latest being the routing and excavation lines for sewer and gas that may force abandonment of a previous decision by the School Building Committee to leave the existing Career and Tech buildings in place to save money. The disagreement over the funding for power upgrades with Rhode Island Electric continues with no solution in sight. The "pile" remains with no real permanent resolution. And, no one seems to know how much this will cost and whether the project is over or under budget. As the chairman of the "Board of Directors" of this enterprise, are you confident the School Building Committee can complete the project on-time and within budget? If not, maybe it is time for new leadership or at least an independent assessment of the project.

Pete Rice

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Betsy DE LEIRIS's avatar

You have stated that the Council has no authority over employees, that authority resides with the City Manager. Many constituents believe that the Council has the moral and legal authority, and the duty,

to establish policy that the City Manager MUST follow. In the light of the recent reporting of a canvassing clerk appointed by the City Manager following his leaving the state district court system. We now know that the Canvassing Clerk's departure from his state job was as a result of now disclosed inappropriate comments he made, in writing on social media, and shared with others, remarks that were misogynistic, racist, and homophobic. The question of whether those comments were made in connection with his position most recently with the City of Newport is irrelevant in the minds of many within the city. Rather, we ask the City Council to take a position, and make a clear statement of policy, that racism, sexism, homophobia, and other degradations of respect for all of our residents, are deplored by the Council, and that hiring decisions, and termination decision can take these matters into account in hiring or terminating municipal employment. Going even further, many believe that this should not just be a resolution of policy by the current council, but that it merits a charter amendment. What action do you believe that the Council should take on this disturbing matter, and what action will you lead in your role of Mayor in a city of national and international prominence?

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