2025-175
Newport
Resolution
THE CITY OF NEWPORT
RESOLUTION
OF THE
COUNCIL
No. 2025-175
WHEREAS: The Miantonomi Memorial Park Commission was created pursuant to Chapter 2140 of the 1921 Public Laws entitled: "An Act to Create the Miantonomi Memorial Park Commission of the City of Newport ("Enabling Act"); AND
WHEREAS: While the Miantonomi Memorial Park Commission that was created under the Enabling Act does still to this day have dedicated members deeply interested in the well-being of this memorial and park property (hereinafter "Previous Members"), the Commission no longer complies, nor can it comply, with the technical membership constituency requirements mandated by the Enabling Act; AND
WHEREAS: The City of Newport still vitally needs to have a community based commission to advise the City Council on the preservation, restoration and on-going management of Miantonomi Memorial Park, the City's largest park property and on-site war memorial; AND
WHEREAS: In an effort to create a legally effective and viable advisory commission of the Newport City Council, the Previous Members have requested that the Council create a new Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission under the City's advisory commission rubric to be charged with strategic planning for the preservation, restoration, and on-going management of Miantonomi Memorial Park and on-site war memorial and to assist with the implementation of Newport City Council resolutions passed in the support thereof; AND
WHEREAS: In order to allow for a smooth transition of business, the Previous Members have requested that seven of the Previous Members, all Newport residents, be considered for appointment to the initial Miantonomi Park Advisory Commission as follows:
1. Beverly A. Sanches – for a three (3) year term; and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every three (3) years;
2. Robert Cornett – for a three (3) year term; and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every three (3) years;
3. James Dring – for a two (2) year term; and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every two (2) years;
4. Roy Lauth – for a two (2) year term, and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every two (2) years;
5. Richard Haggis – for one (1) year term, and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every one (1) year;
6. AnneMarie Johnson – for one (1) year term, and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every one (1) year;
7. Robert Walker – for one (1) year term and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every one (1) year;
8. With at least a quorum of members always being Newport residents; AND
WHEREAS: The initial goal of the Grantor of the land and the Enabling Act was to ensure that community based non-profit and veteran organizations participated in strategic planning of the Miantonomi Memorial Park and on-site war memorial for the benefit of all residents and to ensure that the park remained as a war memorial. Therefore, in order to honor that intent, one member each should be nominated to be appointed by the Newport City Council to the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Committee by: the Newport Tree Conservancy, The Audubon Society of Rhode Island, The Newport Historical Society, and the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, Post 406 (hereinafter, the "Involved Community Organizations"). Each member representing an Involved Community Organization shall be a staff member or at-large member of the Invol
the governing body of each Involved Community Organization but need not be a resident of Newport; AND
WHEREAS: To ensure for clear lines of communication as it relates to Newport’s trees and open spaces a member of the Newport Tree and Open Space Commission should be appointed by the Commission as a non-voting liaison member to the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission; AND
WHEREAS: To ensure for clear lines of communication with the City Council, a city council-person may be appointed by the City Council as a non-voting liaison member to the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED: That the Miantonomi Park Memorial Advisory Committee is hereby created with the mission to advise the City Council as to the strategic planning for the preservation, restoration, and on-going management of Miantonomi Memorial Park and on-site war memorial and to assist with the implementation of Newport City Council resolutions passed in the support thereof; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED: That the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Committee shall be organized and conduct business in compliance with the Rhode Island Open Meetings and Access to Public Records Acts as applicable, and all others rules and policies that the City Council has set for the Committee or its boards and commissions or sets in the future for the Committee or its boards and commissions for the conduct of their business; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED: In order to allow for a smooth transition of business, seven of the previous members of the Miantonomi Memorial Park Commission, all Newport residents, shall be appointment to the initial Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission, to wit:
1. Beverly A. Sanches – for a three (3) year term; and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every three (3) years;
2. Robert Cornett – for a three (3) year term; and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every three (3) years;
3. James Dring – for a two (2) year term; and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every two (2) years;
4. Roy Lauth – for a two (2) year term, and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every two (2) years;
5. Richard Haggis – for one (1) year term, and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every one (1) year;
6. AnnaMarie Johnson – for one (1) year term, and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every one (1) year; and
7. Robert Walker - for one (1) year term, and upon expiration of that term, a reappointment of a Newport city resident on a recurring basis every one (1) year; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED: That with these seven (7) appointments and subsequent recurring appointments, the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission shall always have at least a quorum of members that are Newport residents; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED: That in order to honor the original intent of the Grantor of the land and the Enabling Act that community based non-profit and veteran organizations participate in overseeing the park, one member from each of the following organizations shall be appointed to the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission for a three (3) year term: the Newport Tree Conservancy, The Audubon Society of Rhode Island, The Newport Historical Society, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 406 (hereinafter, the "Involved Community Organizations"). Each member representing a Involved Community Organization shall be a staff member or at-large member of the Involved Community Organization and shall be appointed by the governing body of each Involved Community Organization but need not be a resident of Newport. Upon the failure or inability of said Involved Community Organization to nominate a member to be appointed or reappointed by the City Council, the City Council shall appoint a resident of the City of Newport to fill such new term or unexpired term; AND BE IT F
RESOLVED: That the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission shall have no more than eleven (11) voting members at any time, as nominated and appointed as provided above; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED: That in order to ensure for clear lines of communication as it relates to Newport's trees and open spaces, a member of the Newport Tree and Open Space Commission shall be appointed by the Commission as a non-voting liaison member to the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission; AND BE IT FINALLY
RESOLVED: That in order to ensure for clear lines of communication with the City Council, a city council-person may be appointed by the City Council as a non-voting liaison member to the Miantonomi Memorial Park Advisory Commission.
Charles M. Holder, Jr.
Jeanne Marie Napolitano
Ellen Pinnock
Lynn Underwood Ceglie
IN COUNCIL
READ AND PASSED
OCTOBER 8, 2025
Laura C. Swistak, CMC
City Clerk