Common Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT DIRECTORS WORKSHOP MARCH 5, 2018 at 6:00 P.M. MINUTES The Special Meeting, the Questions to Directors Workshop of the Common Council of the City of Middletown, was held in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Building on Monday, March 5, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. Present: Councilman Carl Chisem Councilman Eugene Nocera Councilman Gerald E. Daley Councilwoman Linda Salafia Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski Councilman Robert Santangelo Councilman Thomas J. Serra Absent: Councilman Mary Bartolotta, Councilman Robert Blanchard, Councilman Sebastian Giuliano, Councilman Grady Faulkner, Councilman Philip Pessina, Mayor Daniel T. Drew, Corporation Counsel Daniel B. Ryan Also Present: Council Clerk -- Linda S.K. Reed Parking Dir. -- Geen Thazhampallath, Esq. Arts Coordinator – Stephan Allison Planning, Con, Dev – Joseph Samolis Communications Dir. -- Wayne Bartolotta Police – Chief William McKenna Equal Opp. & Diversity Dir. -- Faith Jackson Public Works Dir. – William Russo Finance Dir. -- Carl Erlacher Recreation & Sr. Serv. Dir. – Cathy Lefkowitz Fire Department -- Chief Robert Kronenberger Tech. Services Dir. – Bryan Skowera General Counsel -- Brig Smith, Esq. City & Town Clerk (acting) – Tina Ranno Health – Dr. Joseph Havlicek Water & Sewer Dir (acting) Joseph Fazzino Human Resources – Thomas Tokarz Youth Services – Bonnie Daley Library Acting Dir --Brandi Doyle Members of the Public: 3 1. Deputy Mayor calls meeting to order Acting Chairman, Deputy Mayor Robert Santangelo, calls the meeting to order at 6:03pm and leads the public in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Clerk reads the Call of the Meeting and Deputy Mayor Santangelo declares call a legal call and meeting a legal meeting. 2. Questions to Directors Opens Deputy Mayor Santangelo opens the Questions to Directors Workshop at 6:04pm. He calls on Councilman Thomas Serra. Councilman Serra states that he has a general question on the department report for the selection process for Directors and Deputy Directors. He invites to the podium whoever is present to answer this question. General Counsel Brig Smith Esq. and Human Resources Director Thomas Tokarz come to the podium. Councilman Serra asks for an explanation as to what is the process to certify a nominee to be qualified for a position; what is the process to do that. Attorney Smith replies that it depends on the position and depends on the process in place for the position. He states that, oftentimes, there will be a panel that recommends a position to the Mayor for hiring authority. Attorney Smith states that, once a candidate is selected and approved by the Mayor, typically, a nomination will be put forward to Council for consideration. He explains that, in the interim, they are doing the background check, which is part of the conditional offer of employment and on the employment application. Councilman Serra states that, what he means is: for the ones considered to go to there, what is the process. He rephrases, stating, for the final individuals – the final 6, 7, or 8 individuals -- what is the process; how do you get there.  MARCH 5, 2018 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING Page 2 Attorney Smith states that the HR (Human Resources) Division makes a determination as to which candidates meet the minimum qualifications, adding that, from there, they are typically sent along for interviews. Councilman Serra asks how many are selected for that. Attorney Smith replies that it just depends on the process. He explains that, if there are 30 candidates and 20 are meeting the qualifications, there may be a 20 person panel. Attorney Smith states that, oftentimes, there is a much smaller pool than that. Councilman Serra asks if experience is considered, experience and education. Attorney Smith replies yes, absolutely. Councilman Serra states that, it is then up to the Personnel Department to certify that these individuals are qualified to go to an oral board. Attorney Smith replies yes. Councilman Serra thanks the Chair and states that he has no additional questions. Deputy Mayor Santangelo asks if anyone has additional questions for these Directors. . 3. Questions to Directors Closes Deputy Mayor Santangelo asks if there are any more questions for any directors. Hearing none, he closes the questions to directors at 6:47pm and asks for a motion to adjourn 4. Meeting adjourned Councilman Thomas Serra Mary Bartolotta moves to adjourn the meeting at 6:08 p.m. Councilman Eugene Nocera seconds the motion. The Deputy Mayor calls for the vote. It is unanimous to approve with 6 aye votes. The Deputy Mayor states the matter passes unanimously with 6 affirmative votes. The meeting is adjourned at 6:09 p.m. ATTEST: LINDA S.K. REED, COMMON COUNCIL CLERK K: review/ minutes/ 18 March 05 Question to Directors minutes – 5 March 2018