Nicholson Appointed Interim City Manager

The Newport City Council last week voted unanimously to appoint City Solicitor Joseph Nicholson Jr. as interim city manager effective July 25.

Nicholson will be paid an annual salary of $144,000 under the terms of the employment agreement approved by the council. He will serve until the city appoints a permanent, full-time city manager.

Along with the salary, Nicholson will receive the same benefits afford to the former manager, Jane Howington, who left to take a job in Ohio.

Those benefits include gas and mileage reimbursement, including tolls “consistent with the City of Newport employee policies as the circumstances demand.”

The city will also pay for medical, dental and vision medical insurance with an 80/20 cost share with the city paying the larger portion.

Newport Mayor Harry Winthrop said Nicholson has deep institutional knowledge of the city and will continue moving the city forward. In an interview, Wintrhop said Nicholson is a “doer” and will not just be keeping the manager’s seat warm while the council begins a search.

At the same time the council approved the contract, they bid farewell to Howington, who attended her final meeting as the city’s manager and was lauded for her leadership over the past two-and-a-half years.

To applause, Winthrop thanked Howington for her guidance “that you provided to us and to the staff.”

“I want to wish you best of luck in your new assignment,” the mayor said.