ALN PROCEDURES FOR ACCEPTANCE OF
AND INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC ISSUES
New public issues can be presented to the ALN Board by any Newport resident for
consideration of ALN involvement in the following manner.
Step 1: Prepare an Issue Proposal.
• Describe the issue in detail, including background, current status, short-range
goals and long-range goals.
• Identify all groups and individuals involved with the issue, including the role each
plays.
• Specify what role ALN is expected to play and explain why ALN’s involvement
is appropriate.
Step 2: Bring the Issue Proposal to the ALN Board for consideration.
• Send the Issue Proposal to the ALN President and Secretary (preferably by
electronic copy to info@livablenewport.net ).
• The ALN Secretary will add the Proposal to the agenda for the next Board
meeting; send copies to Board Members and post a copy on the ALN website.
(Note: In time-critical situations, the Secretary, with the agreement of the
President, may call a special meeting of the ALN Board to consider the Proposal.)
• Following discussion at the ALN meeting, the Board may request additional
information, postpone a vote on the Proposal for a future meeting or vote then to
accept or reject the Proposal. The Board will take into consideration its mandate
to be an unbiased resource for all residents and will take positions on city-wide
issues only when it is clearly in the best interests of a majority of residents.
Once the ALN Board approves an Issue for ALN involvement
• The Board will delegate primary responsibility for the Issue to a Board Member
and designate another Board Member as his/her back-up.
• The responsible Board Member will form a sub-committee (non-ALN members
may be included) to work on the project, develop an action plan and estimate any
financial requirements. The action plan and financial estimates must be approved
by the Board before any action is taken.
• The responsible Board Member will provide progress updates at all ALN Board
Meetings and Open Meetings. Any changes from the approved action plan and
expense estimate must be approved by the Board.
• A decision to take a position on an Issue must be approved by two-thirds
(2/3) majority vote of the full Board of Directors. Any position papers, letters,
newspaper articles or other publications that will represent ALN’s position to the
public must be reviewed in advance and approved by the ALN Board (See
Guidelines for Public Statements.)
