Common Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT FY 2023-2024 BUDGET WORKSHOP MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2023 6:00 PM MINUTES The Special Meeting of the Common Council of the City of Middletown was held on Monday, April 17, 2023, beginning at 6:00 PM. This was a hybrid meeting, participants in-person in the Council Chamber and remotely, via WebEx. The meeting was also livestreamed on local public access cable television, on the City website, and on the City Facebook page. This meeting is the second of three (3) scheduled budget workshops for the proposed FY 2023-2024 budget. Present: Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell Councilman Anthony Mangiafico Councilman Grady Faulkner, Jr. Councilman Michael A. Marino Councilman Darnell Ford (arrived 6:10PM) Councilman Edward McKeon Councilman Anthony Gennaro, Sr. Councilman Eugene Nocera Councilman Vincent Loffredo Councilman Philip Pessina Councilwoman Linda Salafia Absent: Councilwoman Meghan Carta Also Present: Linda SK Reed, Clerk of the Common Council Officer Kurt Scrivo, Middletown Police – Sergeant-at-Arms Hon. Benjamin D. Florsheim, Mayor Marek Kozikowski, AICP, Director – Land Use Joseph Comerford, Executive Director – Estuary Transit District Cathy Lechowicz, Director – Recreation & Community Services Chief Erik Costa – Middletown Police Captain John Lozefski -- Middletown Police Brianna Skowera, Director – Technology Services Bobbye Knoll Peterson, Acting Director – Economic & Community Development Dr. Vazquez Matos – Superintendent of Schools Deborah Cain, Chair – Board of Education Jennifer Cannata, Asst. Supt. of Admin. Stacy McCann, Asst. Supt. of Teaching/Learning Marco Gaylord, BOE Operations Director Natalie Forbes, BOE Innovation & Grants Director Eduardo Miranda, BOE Finance Director Kevin Dion, BOE Facilities Director Christopher Puorro, BOE Purchasing Agent Cassandra Steinhilber, BOE Finance & Resource Management Specialist 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 to the podium for each of the following items. 1. Land Use Director Marek Kozikowski, AICP presented the budget and responded to questions asked by Councilmembers, as needed. 2. Transit District Joseph Comerford, Executive Director of Estuary Transit District, presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 3. Recreation & Community Services Director Cathy Lechowicz presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed.  APRIL 17, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING – BUDGET WORKSHOP Page 2 4. Police Department & Animal Control Police Chief Erik Costa presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. Police Department staff present: Captain John Lozefski. 5. Information Technology Director Brianna Skowera presented the budget and responded to questions asked by Councilmembers, as needed 6. Economic & Community Development Department and Parking Division Acting Director Bobbye Knoll Peterson presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. 7. Board of Education Superintendent of School Dr. Vazquez Matos presented the budget and responded to questions asked by the Councilmembers, as needed. BOE staff present: BOE Chair Deborah Cain; Asst. Supt. of Admin. Jennifer Cannata; Asst. Supt. of Teaching/Learning Stacey McCann; Operations Director Marco Gaylord; Innovation & Grants Director Natalie Forbes; Finance Director Eduardo Miranda; Facilities Director Kevin Dion, Purchasing Agent Christopher Puorro; Finance & Resource Management Specialist Cassandra Steinhilber; MEETING ADJOURNED There being no further discussion on the budget, the Chair closed the workshop at 10:20 PM. ATTEST: LINDA S.K. REED, COMMON COUNCIL CLERK K: review/ minutes/ 2023 April 13 -- Budget Workshop #3 – 17 April 2023