Common Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT FY 2021-2022 BUDGET WORKSHOP MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021 6:00 PM MINUTES The Special Meeting of the Common Council of the City of Middletown was held as a hybrid meeting, participants in-person in the Council Chamber and remotely, via WebEx. The meeting was also livestreamed on the City of Middletown’s Facebook page on Monday, April 19, 2021, at 6:00 PM. This meeting is the third and final in the series of Common Council budget workshops for the proposed FY 2021-2022 budget. Present: Councilwoman Jeanette White Blackwell Councilman Vincent Loffredo Councilwoman Meghan Carta Councilman Anthony Mangiafico Councilman Grady Faulkner, Jr. Councilman Edward McKeon Councilman Darnell Ford Councilman Eugene Nocera Councilman Edward Ford, Jr. Councilman Philip Pessina Councilman Anthony Gennaro, Sr. Councilwoman Linda Salafia Also Present: Joseph Comerford, Acting Director – Transit District Roger Beliveau, Acting Director – Parking Department Kevin Elak, Acting Director - Health Department Faith Jackson, Director -- Office of Equal Opp. & Diversity Management Joseph Samolis, Director – Office of Planning, Conservation & Development Michael Timbro, Acting Chief – Police Department Dr. Michael Connor, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Middletown Public Schools Dr, Magda Parvey, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer, Middletown Public Schools Marco Gaylord, Chief – School Operations and Communications, Middletown Public Schools Christine Bourne, Chief of Administration, Middletown Public Schools Cheryl Walcott, Financial & Resource Management Specialist, Middletown Public Schools Natalie Forbes, Director of Innovation & Grants, Middletown Public Schools Sargent-at-Arms, Officer Kurt Scrivo, Middletown Police Members of the Public: WebEx (6 attendee) and Facebook livestream (unknown number of viewers) CALL TO ORDER Deputy Mayor, Councilman Vincent Loffredo is serving as Chair for this budget workshop. He calls the workshop to order at 6:00 PM. The Chair begins the budget workshop presentations inviting spokespersons to the podium for each of the following items. 1. Council of Veterans A representative of the Council of Veterans was unable to appear. 2. Transit District Acting Director Joseph Comerford presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 3. Parking Department Acting Director Roger Beliveau presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 4. Health Department Acting Director Kevin Elak presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 5. Office of Equal Opp. & Diversity Management Director Faith Jackson presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 6. Lower CT River Valley Council of Governments Director of Planning, Conservation & Development Joseph Samolis presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed.  April 19, 2021 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING – BUDGET WORKSHOP Page 2 7. Planning, Conservation & Development Director of Planning, Conservation & Development Joseph Samolis presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 8. Zoning Board of Appeals Director Planning, Conservation & Development Joseph Samolis presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 9. Police Department Acting Police Chief Michael Timbro presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. Also present were: Police Captain John Lozefski and Axon Enterprises representative Josh Bolling. 10. Animal Control Acting Police Chief Michael Timbro presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 11. Board of Education Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Conner, Ed.D. presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. Also present were: Dr. Magda Parvey, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer; Christine Bourne, Chief of Administration; Marco Gaylord, Chief of School Operations & Communications; Cheryl Walcott, Finance & Resource Management Specialist; and Natalie Forbes, Director of Innovation & Grants MEETING ADJOURNED There being no further discussion on the budget, the Chair closed the workshop at 10:02 PM. ATTEST: LINDA S.K. REED, COMMON COUNCIL CLERK K: review/ minutes/ 21 April 19 -- budget workshop – 19 April 2021