NEWPORT — The City Council, thinking green last night, supported several unrelated items to benefit the environment.

It approved the purchase of the city’s second hybrid car, a prohibition on using poisons for mosquito abatement, encouraged a reduction in diesel fumes and moved forward with plans to treat contaminated runoff to Easton Beach with ultraviolet light.

The council voted to hire Fuss & O’Neill, of Providence, to design an ultraviolet light disinfection system for $217,875 for water discharged from Easton Pond and the surrounding moat. Julia Forgue, director of utilities, reported that a test of the technology, provided successful last fall.

Councilman Justin McLaughlin praised the administration for being nearly a year ahead of schedule in addressing the issue of moat runoff carrying bacteria to the beach and contributing to beach closures.

The new hybrid car, a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, will be purchased from Liberty Chevrolet for $22,767. The vehicle will be used by the zoning and inspections division, replacing a 1989 Ford Crown Victoria. City Manger Edward F. Lavallee said, in a memorandum, that the city will “now have two new hybrids which will benefit the city in fuel costs and air emissions.”

The council unanimously supported a resolution directing the city to cease using “any of the toxic poisons such as methoprene in the mosquito abatement program and look to other less invasive methods.” The resolution was sponsored by Mayor Stephen Waluk, Charles Duncan and Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, who was not present last night. The council, concerned that the chemicals will “find their way into the Bay” and have a “deadly effect upon the larvae of lobsters,” will send the resolutions to the other cities and towns in the state for possible adoption.

The council also supported a resolution of Waluk’s asking the city and state to attempt to reduce diesel fumes. Waluk proposed exploring the use of retrofit devices to reduce vehicle emissions and called on the city to enforce regulations limiting the idling of diesel engines to five minutes.

“It’s really important that we begin to take on these issues,” Waluk said.

In other business, the council discussed a resolution to study the compatibility of dormitories in residential areas. While the resolution was sponsored by Kathryn E. Leonard, McLaughlin explained that it grew out of Salve Regina University’s purchase of Connolly Hall for use as a dormitory next fall.

Some residents, he said, voiced concerns about the acquisition, prompting him and Councilman Stephen Coyne to speak with university officials about the development. McLaughlin said a meeting between residents, university representatives and city officials is planned for June.

The council tabled Leonard’s resolution after McLaughlin suggested it was not the appropriate way to deal with the issue. Leonard recused herself from voting, explaining that someone had anonymously been asserting she had a conflict of interest because she is an agent with Lila Delman Real Estate. Leonard said she is seeking an opinion from the state Ethics Commission.

The council approved buying a new entrance canopy at Easton Beach for $7,860 from Pease Awning, of East Providence.

“It’s a classy looking awning,” Leonard said.

rsalit@projo.com