JULY 18, 2009

WHEREAS NEWPORT HAS AN UNSURPASSED HISTORIC FABRIC IN A BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SETTING, AND

WHEREAS ITS HISTORY IS THE CHIEF ECONOMIC ENGINE OF NEWPORT, AND

WHEREAS A NATIONAL GROUP, SCENIC AMERICA, HELD ITS BOARD RETREAT RECENTLY AT BELLEVUE HOUSE, THEREFORE ENJOYING THE HISTORIC AND SCENIC QUALITIES OF THE CITY, AND

WHEREAS SCENIC AMERICA BOARD MEMBERS DISCUSSED WITH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE SCENIC CHALLENGES OF THE AREA,

NOW THEREFORE, WE, THE BOARD OF SCENIC AMERICA, ENCOURAGE THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE AREAS OF BLIGHT STILL EXISTING IN THE TOWN AND MARRING ITS HISTORIC AND SCENIC CHARACTER,

WE SPECIFICALLY SUGGEST THE UNDERGROUNDING OF WIRES ON THAMES STREET AND ADDRESSING THE VISUAL BLIGHT OF BILLBOARDS ON THAMES STREET BY ACQUIRING THESE SITES.

WE APPRECIATE NEWPORT’S HOSPITALITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT VISIT.

SIGNED,

MARY TRACY, PRESIDENT (PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA)

ERIC ELLIFF, CHAIR (DENVER, COLORADO)

WILLIAM C. JONSON, TREASURER (CLEARWATER, FLORIDA)

KATHIE CRUICE, SECRETARY (WILMINGTON, DELAWARE)

RONALD LEE FLEMING (NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND)

MARTHA FULLER CLARK (PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE)

WILLIAM D. BRINTON (JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA)

HAL KASSOFF (COLUMBIA, MARYLAND)

MARGARET LLOYD (HOUSTON, TEXAS)

DANA MAINE (ATLANTA, GEORGIA)

TOM NELSON (KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI)

KAY SLAUGHTER (CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA)

TOM HAMANN (PORTLAND, OREGON)

CHRISTOPHER OVERDORF (SEATTLE, WASHINGTON)

GRANT JONES (SEATTLE, WASHINGTON)

LYMAN ORTON (STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO)

DOUG SMITH (RENO, NEVADA)

PETER CHASE NEUMANN (RENO, NEVADA)

MARGARET SEARS LINDLEY (WILMINGTON, DELAWARE)