THIS MEETING CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE WWW.MIDDLETOWNRI.COM.
At a Special Meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Middletown, RI at the Wyndham Hotel, Atlantic Pavilion Ballroom, 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, RI in person, on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 5:33 P.M.
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding
Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III
Councilor Peter D. Connerton, Sr., Absent
Councilor Christopher M. Logan
Councilor Charles R. Roberts
Councilor Dennis B. Turano
Councilor Barbara A. VonVillas, Members Present
POSTED – DECEMBER 3, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING – DECEMBER 8, 2025
The following items of business, having been filed with the Town Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at a special meeting to be held on Joint Town Council Meeting/Workshop with the Newport City Council, Monday, December 8, 2025 at 5:30 P.M. at the Wyndham Hotel, Atlantic Pavilion Ballroom, 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, Rhode Island. Said meeting will be conducted in person.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC
Town Clerk
Town of Middletown
Town Hall – 350 East Main Road
Middletown, Rhode Island 02842
Dear Ms. Marshall:
Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 203 of the Town Charter and in accordance with Sections 42-46-2., 42-46-4., 42-46-5., and 42-46-6., RIGL, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Town Council to formally consider, discuss and act upon the following items of business. All items on this agenda, may be considered, discussed and voted upon.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Joint Town Council Meeting/Workshop with the Newport City Council
• Explanation & discussion of what Regionalization would look like.
. • Explanation & discussion of how the Endowment would work.
• Q&A and other discussion.
• Explanation & discussion
• Q&A and other discussion.
• Review time constraints.
• Agree on date to reconvene (January 12, 2026 proposed).
Said meeting will be held at the Wyndham Hotel, Atlantic Pavilion Ballroom, 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842 on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 5:30 P.M.
____________________________________
Paul M. Rodrigues, President
Middletown Town Council
cc : Town Council Public Library Finance Director
Town Administrator Town Solicitor School Committee
This meeting location is accessible to the handicapped. Individuals requiring interpreter services for the hearing-impaired should notify the Town Clerk’s Office at 847-0009 not less than 48 hours before this meeting.
Posted on December 3, 2025 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library and Secretary of State Web Site.
Present representing the City of Newport were Mayor Charles M. Holder, Vice Chair Lynne Underwood Ceglier, At-Large Councilor Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong, At-Large Councilor Jeanne Marie Napolitano, At-Large Councilor Stephanie Smyth, First Ward Councilor Ellen Pinnock, Third Ward Councilor David Carlin, III, City Manager Colin Kennedy, Deputy City Manager Mike Carulo, City Solicitor Christopher Behan and City Clerk Laura Swistak.
1. Welcome/Introductions (Mayor, TC President)
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin said meeting/workshop.
Mayor Charlie Holder from the Newport City Council thanked all for attending and welcomed everyone and noting the importance of continuing the regionalization discussion.
Council President Rodrigues thanked all for attending and welcomed everyone.
Town Administrator Shawn Brown reviewed the timeline for regionalization to be place on the upcoming 2026 Election Ballot. Mr. Brown noted key dates for enabling legislation passage from the State Legislature, the Council passing a resolution to place regionalization on the ballot and the August submission date of the local question to the Secretary of State.
• Explanation & discussion of what Regionalization would look like.
. • Explanation & discussion of how the Endowment would work.
• Q&A and other discussion.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin said Review Newport City Council Resolution No. 2025-146 – “Administrative” Regionalization.
Discussion from both Councils centered around administrative regionalization, full regionalization of the schools and students, formation of Academic Integration Advisory Committees for each community, the importance for students from both communities to have the same educational opportunities, students from both communities already participate in activities together, a learning plan for both districts that make sense, student enrollment in both districts has decreased, concern the timeline is too fast to get necessary information, questions on how an endowment fund for education would work, it is currently unsustainable for both communities to continue to fund education and facilities in the future, having RIDE attend future meetings to gather more information and reimbursement rates for regionalization.
• Explanation & discussion
• Q&A and other discussion.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin said Review Newport City Council Resolution No. 2025-43 – Academic Integration Advisory Committee.
Discussion from both Councils centered around the review of the above resolution and the structure of the Academic Integration Advisory Committee, Newport has already appointed members to the Academic Integration Advisory Committee, the need to engage stakeholders in the regionalization discussions, gathering as much information as possible to inform the voters, making education a priority in each community and Middletown creating an Academic Integration Advisory Committee.
Public Input was taken at this time.
Antone Viveiros, Middletown, addressed the Councils noting Middletown has a good educational system and doesn’t understand why they would want to regionalize with Newport which is ranked as a lower school in the state. Mr. Viveiros reviewed School Committee Chair Gregory Huets’ memo presented at a School Committee meeting.
Joe Hearn, Newport, noted support for regionalization and has applied to be on Newport’s Academic Integration Advisory Committee. Mr. Hearn noted the need to plan for the changing educational future and there are many more educational opportunities for both communities if they regionalize.
Alana Hearn, Newport, noted support for regionalization, explaining the importance of not rushing the process. Ms. Hearn noted the idea of following Bristol/Warren as an example of regionalization.
Don Morin, Middletown, noted support and benefits from regionalization. Mr. Morin stated concern with the pace of the timeline and to follow regionalization examples that exist today.
Theresa Spengler, Middletown, questioned the composition of the Academic Integration Advisory Committee and the role of the members. Ms. Spengler noted that Massachusetts differs greatly from Rhode Island in education structure and funding.
Discussion centered around the Wolpert report, reimbursement rates and future meetings of the two councils.
• Review time constraints.
• Agree on date to reconvene (January 12, 2026 proposed).
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin said discussion to review the next steps.
It was the consensus of both Councils to move forward and schedule a meeting for Monday, January 12, 2026.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 7:39 p.m.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC
Council Clerk
supporting documentation is available at http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-ri