Former Newport Harbormaster Posthumously Named Employee Of Year

NEWPORT, RI — Newport's former harbormaster was posthumously named the city's 2020 Employee of the Year. Timothy Mills was selected from a pool of seven nominees.

"It is difficult to adequately express the outstanding contributions made by Tim during his years as a Harbormaster and the positive image he has made for the Harbormasters office and the City of Newport," one colleague wrote of Mills.

Before he unexpectedly died in December, Mills was nominated for the award by three fellow city employees. Mills's wife, Anne, accepted the award on his behalf at a small ceremony on Feb. 24.

"The response from our City family is an indicator of Tim’s value to all of us, professionally and personally," said Michael Coury, the city's director of Human Resources. "He is greatly missed by all of us and a rare individual who touched the lives of so many locally and aboard. He will never be forgotten."

In total, 56 city employees were honored with awards, 14 of whom have worked for the city for 30 years or more. The employee recognition program has been in place for 24 years.

"COVID may have halted our ability to congratulate our team in person, but should not give us reason to forget those who keep our City moving along through the best and challenging times," Coury said.