Common Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT FY 2022-2023 BUDGET WORKSHOP MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022 6:00 PM MINUTES The Special Meeting of the Common Council of the City of Middletown was held on Monday, Aril 18, 2022, at 6:00 PM as a hybrid meeting with participants in-person in the Council Chamber and remotely, via WebEx. The meeting was also livestreamed on the City of Middletown’s Facebook page. This meeting is the third of the three (3) scheduled budget workshops for the proposed FY 2022-2023 budget. Present: Councilwoman Jeanette 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: Clerk of the Common Council, Linda SK Reed Joseph Samolis, Director – Economic & Community Development Justin Carbonella, Youth Services Coordinator Ashley Flynn Natale, City & Town Clerk Damon Braasch, Assessor Faith Jackson, Director - Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management Catherine Lechowicz, Director – Recreation & Community Services Kevin Elak, Acting Director – Health Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos, Acting Superintendent of Schools Cassandra Steinhilber, Lead Budget Analyst – Board of Education Christopher Puorro, Purchasing Agent – Board of Education Cheryl Walcott, Finance & Resource Management Specialist – Board of Education Natalie Forbes, Director of Grants & Innovation – Board of Education Kevin Dion, Director of Facilities – Board of Education Vacianna Spaulding, Director of Pupil Services & Special Education – Board of Education Dr. Jada Waters, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion – Board of Education Jessie Lavorgna, Director of Communications – Board of Education Jennifer Cannata, Director Performance Mngt. & Strategic Processes – Board of Education Deborah Cain, Chair – Board of Education Hon. Benjamin D. Florsheim, Mayor Carl Erlacher, CPA, Director - Finance Members of the Public: WebEx (2 attendees) 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 Councilmembers join in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The Chair begins the budget workshop presentations inviting spokespersons in the Chamber to the podium for each of the following items. Online participant will speak via WebEx. By consent the Councilmembers and in response to the request of the department director, the Common Council approves a change in order of presentation at this budget workshop session so that Director of Economic & Community Development Joseph Samolis will speak first so that he may attend another meeting at 7:00 PM. 1. Economic and Community Development Joseph Samolis presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed.  APRIL 18, 2022 COMMON COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING – BUDGET WORKSHOP Page 2 2. Youth Services Coordinator Justin Carbonella presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 3. City/Town Clerk City/ Town Clerk Ashley Flynn Natale presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 4. Assessor and Board of Assessment Appeals Assessor Damon Braasch presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 5. Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management Director Faith Jackson presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 6. Recreation & Community Services Director Catherine Lechowicz presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 7. Health Acting Director Kevin Elak presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 8. Board of Education Acting Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. The Acting Superintendent was assisted in this presentation and in answering questions by the following Board of Education agents: Deborah Cain, Board of Education Chair; Cassandra Steinhilber, Lead Budget Analyst – Board of Education; Christopher Puorro, Purchasing Agent – Board of Education; Cheryl Walcott, Finance & Resource Management Specialist – Board of Education; Natalie Forbes, Director of Grants & Innovation – Board of Education; Kevin Dion, Director of Facilities – Board of Education; Vacianna Spaulding, Director of Pupil Services & Special Education – Board of Education; Dr. Jada Waters, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion – Board of Education; Jessie Lavorgna, Director of Communications – Board of Education; Jennifer Cannata, Director Performance Mngt. & Strategic Processes – Board of Education MEETING ADJOURNED There being no further discussion on the budget, the Chair closed the workshop at 11:20 PM. ATTEST: LINDA S.K. REED, COMMON COUNCIL CLERK K: review/ minutes/ 22 April 18 – budget workshop #3 – 18 April 2022