Common Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY MEETING THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021 6:00 PM The Special Meeting of the Common Council of the City of Middletown was held remotely via WebEx on Thursday, April 8, 2021at 6:00 PM. Present: Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell Councilman Anthony Gennaro, Sr. Councilwoman Meghan Carta Councilman Vincent Loffredo Councilman Grady Faulkner, Jr. Councilman Eugene Nocera (arrived 6:04 PM) Councilman Edward Ford, Jr. (arrived 6:05PM) Councilman Philip Pessina Absent: Councilman Darnell Ford; Councilman Anthony Mangiafico, Councilman Edward McKeon; and Councilwoman Linda Salafia Also Present: Linda Reed, Clerk of the Council Clerk Members of the Public: WebEx (1) 1. Call to Order Deputy Mayor Vincent Loffredo, as Chair, calls the meeting to order at 6:00 PM 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Call of the Meeting The Chair asks the Council Clerk to read the Call of the Meeting. The Clerk of the Common Council reads the Call of the Meeting and The Chair asks the Clerk to read the roll. It is noted that some Council members will be transferring into this meeting from the General Council Commission meeting. The Chair notes that this meeting does not require a quorum. The Chair declares the call a legal call and the meeting a legal meeting. The Chair asks Councilman Philip Pessina to lead the Council in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Public Hearing Opens The Chair declares the public hearing open at 6:04 PM. Any member of the public wishing to speak may indicate by raising their hand using the WebEx function. When called on, they are asked to state their name and address for the record. Councilmembers are here to listen, not to engage in dialogue. The Council will not be taking any action. People having a particular issue are welcome to contact individual Council members or the Mayor’s Office. Speakers are asked to limit comments to five (5) minutes. Hope Kasper: She is speaking to let the Council know about an issue with the City insurance pharmacy coverage, Express Scripts. This coverage is part of the insurance for active employees and retirees. She has an issue where substitute medications are being prescribed. In her case, this substitution increases the chance of heart attack or stroke. She was told by an Express Scripts spokesperson (Kevin) that medications are being eliminated from the formulary by Express Scripts and the City of Middletown. This is why a substitution was made, her medication eliminated from the formulary. It can be a dangerous situation to have substitute medication used. She knows of others, who have had adverse reactions, but do not want to be named. Her doctor told her that this substitution is going on often. Her physician is not happy about it. She asks that he Council look into this situation as she is concerned that it may be hurtful to both active and retired employees, adding that she would not want anyone to be harmed by this company insisting on substitute medications. 4. Public Comment -- Closes The Chair states that, seeing no members of the public wishing to speak, the public comment session is closed. The public comment session closes at 6:07 PM. APRIL 8, 2021 COMMON COUNICL – COMMUNITY MEETING PAGE 2 5. Meeting adjourned Councilwoman Philip Pessina moves for adjournment. Councilman Eugene Nocera seconds the motion. There being no discussion, the Chair calls for the vote. It is approved unanimously with eight (8) aye votes. (AYE: Councilmembers Blackwell, Carta, Faulkner, E. Ford, Gennaro, Loffredo, Nocera, and Pessina; ABSENT: Councilmembers D. Ford, Mangiafico, McKeon, and Salafia). The Chair states the motion passes with eight (8) affirmative votes. The meeting is adjourned at 6:07 PM ATTEST: LINDA S.K. REED, COMMON COUNCIL CLERK K: review/ minutes/ 21 April 08 -- community meeting – 8 April 2021