Newport City Council admits open meeting law violation

The Newport City Council has admitted to violating Vermont’s open meeting law during a special meeting held earlier this month to interview city manager candidates. The acknowledgment came Monday after resident Anne Chiarello filed a written complaint.

The council issued a letter following a discussion with attorney Beriah Smith. In it, the council conceded the violation and adopted a policy requiring all council meetings, commissions, committees, and task forces to begin and end in open session.

Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase said the meeting was closed to protect candidates’ identities, but noted there is no provision in state law allowing that. “The rationale behind the violation was the desire to protect the identity of the candidates,” Ufford-Chase said.

Chiarello also raised concerns that task force meetings are advertised only on the city website, potentially excluding elderly residents without internet access. Ufford-Chase agreed to post notices at the city office, post office, and the Goodrich Public Library.

NEK will be looking into how other municipalities in the region handle meeting notifications and compliance with open meeting law.

Originally reported by Newport Daily Express.

Photo: War Department. The Adjutant General's Office. 3/4/1907-9/18/1947 (Wikimedia Commons, Public domain). Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.