Q. What is the most important issue facing the city today, and what would you do over the next two years to address it?
A. Infrastructure Needs/Mandates. This is also tied into a balanced budget. The present Council has been working to address this issue on many fronts. We have applied for federal and state grants and have received many. There have been mandates/lawsuits directed at us to address the water and sewer issues. We have working on sewer upgrades, new water mains, road improvements, etc.
Q. Keep beaches open...Are you satisfied with what the city has done so far? What else should the city be doing?
A. I am somewhat satisfied. The seaweed harvester has seldom worked. The new UV System will be expensive to operate. My conversations with Steve Silva, EPA Director, N.E. make me think we should have looked to many natural alternatives as non-permeable asphalt (beach parking lot and Memorial Blvd), natural filtering plants. I voted against the U.V. for this reason.
Q. Lack of parking...What should the city be doing to address these critical issues?
A. Dig out the Foundation for Newport Plan with its satellite parking recommendations. There will never be enough parking on our limited narrow streets nor with our residential sticker parking program (more stickers given out than spaces available)
Q. Newport is now liable for more than $125 million in promised health care benefits…What would you do to ensure the city gets future costs under control?
A. Control will not happen without State, City, and Unions working together. New State laws, city negotiation/arbitration changes, and local cooperation is a MUST for change. Presently binding arbitration ties the hands of all municipalities. It would be
very positive if required position levels could be lowered through attrition/retirements. This would be fair to those given “the promises” and the municipalities that can no longer pay the costs.
Q. If elected...
A. For one thing, EPA, DEM, etc. have required newer standards or mandates/requirements for clean water, sewage, etc. Most communities, including Newport, cannot afford to make the infrastructure improvements without help. The USA needs to begin helping AT HOME by providing more infrastructure grants HERE, rather than sending billions overseas at this time. Newport does not have an “extra” $100+ million on hand. We are a small community of under 26,000 residents.
