Code Enforcement Committee

City of Middletown OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL 245 deKoven Drive Middletown, CT 06457-1300 TEL: (860) 638-4820 FAX: (860) 638-1920 TDD: (860) 344-3521 Minutes Regular Meeting of February 23, 2023 Code Enforcement Committee Committee Members Present: Kevin Elak, Director of Health; Gary Gessaro, Fire Marshal; Christopher Holden, Director of Public Works; James Mastroianni, Fire Marshal; Thomas Hazel, Zoning Enforcement Officer; Lieutenant Nick Puorro; and Brig Smith, General Counsel. Members of the Public: None. 1. Call to Order By Staff. 2. Approval of Minutes. Review and approval of the minutes for the February 9, 2023 regular meeting. MOTION by Gary Gessaro, seconded by Kevin Elak, and passed unanimously. 3. Public Session. 4. New Business. A. Mayor’s Office. 1. Update from the Mayor’s Office. None. B. Public Works. 1. Update from the Public Works Department. None. C. Health Department. 1. 1149 Long Hill Road (Alleged Health and Zoning Issues- Allegations in Packet). Written complaint came into Mayor’s Office. Health inspected. Land Use has also been there. 2. 635 East Main Street & 58 Spring Street (E-Bike Headquarters & Sub- Station). Forwarded to OGC for review. Potential enforcement through Land Use or Fire (based on lithium batteries in bikes). Chris Holden to follow up  with Bird to request copy of contract. 3. Update from the Health Department. D. Department of Land Use. 1. Update from the Department of Land Use. E. Building Department. 1. Update from the Building Department. F. Police Department. 1. Update from the Police Department. G. City Fire. 1. Update from City Fire. H. South Fire District. 1. Update from the South Fire District. I. Westfield Fire District. 1. Update from the Westfield Fire District. J. Office of the General Counsel. 1. Update from the Office of the General Counsel. 5. Old Business. A. Health Department 1. 460 Main Street: Concerns about foundation at old Lens Crafters building. No evidence of water infiltration. Can be removed. 2. 444 & 465 Middlefield Street: Water sampling of homes on George Street, which are served by private wells based on neighbor’s concerns about discharge. Kevin Elak working with Don Fisco in the next few weeks on testing. Additional complaints from neighbors about odors emanating from industrial building. Sanitarian inspected and noticed faint chemical smell, but nothing overpowering. Referred to DEEP, which will respond if there is a significant odor or ear, nose, lung irritation. B. Department of Land Use 1. 23 Silver Street: Assessment filed. No demo permit pulled yet and no structural engineering in place. 2. 542-544 Main Street: Notice sent to property owner at beginning of month. Tom Hazel will reach out after 30 days. Notice of violation would follow.  3. 35 Clinton Avenue: Scheduled inspection postponed because of outstanding repair issues for Fire Marshal. Illegal unit exists under zoning. C. Building Department 1. 248 Williams Street (Forest City Cleaners): Waiting on additional direction. 2. 699 Country Club Road: No update. D. Police Department 1. 695 South Main Street. Can be removed. E. Office of the General Counsel 1. 20 White Road (Citation Hearing Officer upheld $11,800 fine for blight violations on the property. Will file with court for judgment after expiration of appeal period). 2. 30 Dennison Road (Deadline in Notice of Abatement to Remediate Violations Expired on February 20, 2023. Public Works will remediate violations.) 3. 2 Hillside Court (Sent to Citation Hearing Officer, awaiting ruling). 6. Adjournment. Motion to adjourn by Kevin Elak, seconded by Nick Puorro, and passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:27 a.m.