MIDDLETOWN – Grasping her left arm in pain, Councilor M. Theresa Santos had to be taken by strecher from Middletown Town Hall during the Monday, May 5 meeting of the Town Council.

Ms. Santos, who has had two open-heart surgeries, was doing well shortly after the incident. "It was just a scare," she said on Tuesday.

Stunned members of the audience were asked to step outside and the camera for the town's public access broadcast was shut off while paramedics tended to Ms. Santos.

She had been in the middle of questioning Dr. Jack Civic on a proposed zoning ammendment that would allow his Newport Animal Hospital permission to use vacant animal runs for boarding pets.

The incident was quick to unfold and town officials were swift to act; Council President Paul M. Rodrigues signaled to the town's pulic access camera to be turned off, while Interim Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown rushed for emergency medical kit.

Fire and EMS personell who had been in the audience for an earlier discussion on the town's proposed fire and police budgets rushed to the side of the councilwoman even before she sat back in her chair.

Council Vice Chair Shirley R. Mello made a motion to continue the public hearing on the zoning ordinance and all other items of business until the council's next regularly scheduled meeting on May 19.

By Tom Shevlin

news@newportthisweek.net