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 March 27, 2025 Code Enforcement Committee Committee Members Present: Scott Kotowski, Fire Marshal; James Mastroianni, Fire Marshal; Thomas Hazel, Zoning and Blight Enforcement Officer; Nick Puorro, Middletown Police Department; Dean Lisitano, Building Official; Gary Gessaro, Fire Marshal; and Christopher Forte, Assistant General Counsel. Members of the Public: None. 1. Call to Order By Staff. AGC Forte called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. 2. Approval of Minutes. Review and approval of minutes for the March 13, 2025 regular meeting. Motion to approve the minutes was made by Scott Kotowski and seconded by Gary Gessaro. Motion passed unanimously. 3. Public Session. No public comment. 4. New Business. No new business. 5. Old Business. A. Mayor’s Office. Forbidden Llama: Land Use Department is working with a representative from the liquor commission regarding the property. City Fire is communicating with the building’s architect regarding code violations pertaining to a 2nd means of egress. B. Land Use Department 1. 455 & 465 Middlefield Street: Thomas Hazel reported that 455 Middlefield Street is currently under a ZBA appeal concerning illegal storage and junkyard operations.  2. 52 North Main Street: Tom Hazel indicated that the property owner had previously received a citation for debris and a collapsed deck. The owner proposed plans to re-deck the foundation and agreed to install temporary fencing to deter trespassing. The city plans to monitor the situation to ensure these actions are completed. 3. 530 Main Street, 346 Main Street and 594 Main Street: Land Use Department had issued orders for the removal of steel roll-down gates that were installed without the necessary permits or approvals. These gates were intended to protect the storefronts but failed to comply with local regulations. 530 Main Street has complied with the order. 346 Main is looking to sell their, and Land Use needs to inspect 594 Main Street. 4. 698 Washington Street (Smoke Plus). Overgrown bushes and shrubs at the property. C. Building Department 1. 699 Country Club Road: The owner is working with an architect to develop plans that meet residential use standards. Approval is pending a land use review. Owner has not responded to communications in months. Land Use will follow up with the States Attorney’s Office. D. Office of the General Counsel 1. 49 Hemlock Place: OGC issued a notice of abatement with a deadline to comply of March 14, 2025. Land Use will inspect on March 17, 2025 to determine whether the order was complied with. City is working on hiring a contractor to remove the violations. 6. Adjournment. Motion to adjourn was made by Dean Lisitano and seconded by Gary Gessaro. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned.