Common Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT WORKSHOP: SUSTAINABLE CT WORK GROUP JULY 1, 2019 AT 6:30 PM 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, July 1, 2019, at 6:30 PM. Present: Councilwoman Mary Bartolotta Councilman Sebastian Giuliano Councilman Robert Blanchard Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski Councilman Carl Chisem Councilman Eugene Nocera Councilman W. Vance Cotten Councilwoman Linda Salafia Councilman Gerald Daley Councilman Robert Santangelo Councilwoman Grady Faulkner Mayor Daniel Drew (arrives 6:58 PM) Absent: Councilman Philip Pessina; Corporation Counsel Daniel Ryan Esq. Also Present: Council Clerk – Linda S.K. Reed; Public Works Deputy Director Christopher Holden, P.E.; Energy Coordinator Michael Harris; Members of the Public: 2 1. Call to Order Deputy Mayor Robert Santangelo, calls the meeting to order at 6:32 PM and leads the public in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Council Clerk reads the Call of the Meeting and the Chair declares the call a legal call and the meeting a legal meeting. 2. Public Comment Opens The Chair opens the public hearing at 6:34 PM, inviting members of the public to speak on agenda items. He asks that they state their name and address for the record and limit comments to five (5) minutes 3. Public Comment Closes There being no public comment, the Chair closes the public hearing at 6:35 PM 4. Presentation by Sustainable CT Work Group The City’s Sustainable CT intern/coordinator Ingrid Eck, explains that she has been the City’s intern/coordinator for about 1 ½ years. She has been working with the City’s Clean Energy Team, which his part of the City’s Clean Energy Taskforce. Her position exists because about a year go, the Council signed an agreement committing to be part of the Sustainable CT organization. The purpose of this presentation is tell the Council where the group is with its efforts. JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 2 JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 3 JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 4 JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 5 JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 6 JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 7 JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 8 JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 9 JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 10 Ms. Eck explains that this presentation is to explain what we do and why. It is meant to prompt productive conversation as to what to do long term. Connecticut is moving forward as a leader in sustainability. Middletown has won bronze. The Silver designation has been won by more affluent communities. The City can be guided the template with 10 categories, each with a different set of actions and programs and projects. There are always more steps. There is a list of lists actions within each category, each with more nitty-gritty of the work that’s done Why to do this work? Each action leads to payoff. It provides an evaluation of our strengths in terms of sustainability as well as weaknesses. Relative to sustainability planning, the City switched to Sustainable CT and collaborates with other municipalities; also funding and resources equity training, grant opportunities, webinars. Documents submitted for certification allows us to keep track of progress, and recognition. With Bronze certification and work of the recycling coordinator and commission, the City earns earned tons of points along with activities of the Complete Streets Committee. The City will submit its application in August to try to earn Silver certification. This would place the City if the top group. There are more projects that fit in with Sustainable CT. It requires large and long term support and collaboration. There are current projects with local activities that we want to move forward. This needs Council support. The Food Policy Council is looking to work in schools. The only policy currently in schools is FDA policy. The equity training and annual training programs are free at Middlesex Community College. She urges Councilmembers to attend because they do not want these plans to sit on a shelf, but revisit and get them into place. Middletown is unique a community with enthusiastic local activists, who want to move forward. She appreciates having interned here. She has just graduated from Wesleyan. The plan is ongoing, to have a new intern, so Sustainable CT is not going away in Middleton. The City can be a leader in sustainability. She summarized some upcoming events with the Planning & Zoning Commission with listening sessions including sustainability. There are also some equity training session, which are free and sponsored by Sustainable CT. She encourages Councilmembers to attend as it translates into points. She asks if anyone has questions. The Chair asks if any Councilmembers have questions. The Chair calls on Councilman Gerald Daley. Councilman Daley thanks Ms. Eck for her work, having been involved in Clean Energy and Sustainable CT. He notes that Jennifer Kleindienst of the Clean Energy taskforce found Ms. Eck to intern with the City, noting it will be difficult, but they plan to have another intern to fill her shoes. He notes that, although he has been involved, he did not know that there are only two (2) levels: Bronze and Silver He asks why there is no Gold level. Mr. Eck explains that Sustainable CT only started two (2) years ago. They need to figure out other levels, but there is currently a starting point with the current certifications. Councilman Daley notes that certification is only for three (3) years, so, if the City stays stagnant, it will lose certification. Ms. Eck replies, “Yes,” adding that she suspects that there will a Gold and a Platinum level in the future. There will likely be more opportunities soon, noting that more communities will likely earn Silver level certification. Councilman Daley asks, if anyone attend the programs at Middlesex Community College, should they let Ms. Eck know so that she can record those events. Mr. Eck replies, “Yes,” adding that these actions translate in to points and the point, at a certain level, translate into certification. She asks Councilmembers to let her know if they attend, adding she would be very happy to hear about participation. The Chair calls on Councilman Eugene Nocera. Councilman Nocera thanks Ms. Eck for her presentation, noting it is great information. He is interested in participation in programs that interface. He asks, relative to health, safety, and welfare, if the program interfaces with OSHA training, when that occurs, to spread the message. Ms. Eck replies that, relative to existing programs, Sustainable CT advocates for partnerships, noting that a common theme is, if there is an existing program or workshop that is engaging in sustainability work, if a municipality wants to get credit, they need to partner in a It is encouraged to engage in a meaningful way. She explains that this involves advertising the program or dedicated staff time. Councilman Nocera replies that it is the same mission, noting that many of the City staff go thru that piece, noting that there is a good partnership to connect. The Chair calls on Councilman Grady Faulkner. Jennifer Kleindienst states that she is the Chair of the City’s Clean Energy Taskforce and leads the de facto Sustainable CT team. It was created as part of the Clean Energy Taskforce, but have expanded. One challenge has been trying to make sure right people are at the table for discussion. The group is building over the past 1 ½ years and is looking to continue to build and grow support since a lot of the support, to date, have been environmental and they want to focus more in the ways described. There will be more discussion with the Common Council as to how the Sustainability Team should exist within the  JULY 1, 2019 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: SUSTAINABLE CT WORKGROUP Page 11 City; should be a separate entity; should it be a sub-entity of the Clean Energy taskforce. This will all depend on City priorities. Mayor Dan Drew assumes the position of Chair at 6:58 PM. He notes that there are lights on, but there is a full house in the lobby. Councilwoman Mary Bartolotta replies that she will wait for her question. 5. Meeting adjourned There being no further questions, the Chair asks for motion to adjourn. Councilman Eugene Nocera moves to adjourn. Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski seconds the motion. There being no discussion, the Chair calls for the vote. It is approved unanimously by a vote of 11 to 0. The Chair states the matter passes with 11 affirmative votes. The meeting is adjourned at 7:00 PM ATTEST: LINDA S.K. REED, COMMON COUNCIL CLERK K: review/ minutes/19 July 01 Special Meeting Sustainable CT Workshop – 01 July 2019