Common Council

REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2023 7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting ---------------------- MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBER -and- Remotely via WebEx WebEx.com Join a Meeting Event # 2331 912 5106 Password: Middletown or Dial 408-418-9388 Access Code: 2331 912 5106 NOTE: if calling from a phone, please press *3 to activate hand raise function REVISED AGENDA 1. Call to Order A. Pledge of Allegiance B. Council Clerk Reads the Call of the Meeting and Mayor declares call a legal call and meeting a legal meeting 2. Accept/Amend the Agenda 3. Public Hearing on Agenda Items A. Public Hearing on Agenda Items -- Opens B. Public Hearing on Agenda Items – Closes 4. Resolution: Pride Month -- Approving that the City of Middletown supports the active observance of Pride Month and encourages our citizens to honestly embrace this part of American history for the purpose of ensuring that the goals and ideas expressed in our Constitution may be pursued constructively, safely, and collectively to the benefit of all, with a level of equity, especially as members of the LGBTQIA+ Community continue to face targeted discrimination and violence, in particular, transgender women of color; and that we are grateful for the ongoing efforts of the members of the City of Middletown’s LGBTQIA+ Commission, Middletown Pride, and the people of Middletown, a loving community of people, who open their hearts and minds to everyone. June 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 2 5. Approval of Minutes A. Common Council Special Meeting - Questions to Directors, at 6:00 PM, dated May 1, 2023 B. Common Council Special Meeting – FY2023-2024 Water Rate Public Hearing, at 6:45 PM, dated May 1, 2023 C. Common Council Regular Meeting, at 7:00 PM, dated May 1, 2023 D. Common Council Special Meeting – FY 2023-2024 Budget Adoption, at 6:00 PM, dated May 11, 2023 E. Common Council Special Meeting – approving Mayor’s Proposed Board & Commission Appointments, date May 17, 2023 6. Mayor requests Council Clerk to read appropriation requests and the Certificate of Director of Finance A. Assessor: $1,000 -- Acct. No. 1000-10000-51215; funds for salaries & wages, PT permanent, budget shortfall or additional hours required with increase Board of Assessment Appeals submissions 7. Department, Committee, Commission Reports and Grant Confirmation Approval A. City Clerk’s Certificate B. Monthly Reports -- Finance Department: Transfer Report to May 24, 2023 C. Health Department – Acct. No. 2460-31000-57030-0000-03335-0000-000; vendor donations for Kids Health & Safety Day on May 13, 2023: Middletown Pharmacy ($250) and Vecchitto’s Italian Ice ($250); Total: $500 D. Mayor’s Office – Acct No. 3730-33000-59200-0000-03740-2023-000; State grant for School Readiness Program to help maximize the number of children enrolled in school readiness; additional funds for Snow School: $19,800 E. Mayor’s Office/Superintendent of Schools – Acct. No. 3730-33000-59200-0000-03080-2023; State grant to enhance the school readiness program for Priority Infant and Toddler Expansion Facility, supporting liaison efforts to monitor programs and enhance quality programs: $97,500 F. Board of Education – Acct. No. 2450-33000-59405-x-03025 – miscellaneous grants: $726,555,15 G. Board of Education – Acct. No. 2450-33000-59400-x-03030-x; ARP IDEA grant: $0 H. Cafeteria/Food Services Board of Education – Acct. No. 2450-33000-52135-x-x: $259,364.63 I. Recreation & Community Services – Acct. No. 3510-32000-59200-0321-x-2023-x; State grant for up to 8 weeks of free summer camp for Middletown residents based on need and referral; equivalent to 120 weeks of camp plus aftercare: $41,120 J. Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity: FY 2022-2023 3rd Quarter Employment Activity Report K. Russell Library Director’s report, dated April 25, 2023 L. Russell Library Director’s; report, dated May 16, 2023  June 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 3 M. Tax Collector’s FY 2022-2023 Suspense Report N. Technology Services – Emergency Purchase for email security system licensing 8. Reports to the Common Council A. American Rescue Plan B. Riverfront C. Route 9: Update D. Russell Library/ City Hall Feasibility Study Committee E. Anti-Racism Task Force: Civilian Review Board (Councilman Darnell Ford) 9. Payment of all City bills when properly approved 10. Resolutions, Ordinances, etc. A. INTENTIONALLY REMOVED B. Approving that the Art Support Services Grant (FY23) be allocated for project and general operating support as follows: Connecticut Ballet/Ballet Under the Stars 2023: $1,200; and that any agency receiving an Arts & Culture Office grant award must comply with the matching fund Code of Ordinances, Chapter 44, Section 44-11, section B, Municipal grant awards. C. Approving the American Rescue Plan Act Task Force’s recommendation that the Downtown Business District’s (DBD) request to repurpose the $300,000, previously allocated to the DBD for façade improvements pursuant to Resolution No. 100-22, to the City of Middletown’s Public Works Department for its use in downtown infrastructure improvement and beautification; that the Mayor is authorized to prepare and execute any documents necessary to effectuate this American Rescue Plan Act grant funding, subject to approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel; and that the Public Works Department will work in collaboration with the DBD on this project. D. Approving that the City of Middletown proudly accepts the position of Host Community of the 3rd Annual Juneteenth “Liberation Day” Festival; that Mayor Benjamin D. Florsheim be authorized to waive all costs, including the costs related to use of the Showmobile, related to the 3rd Annual Juneteenth “Liberation Day” Festival; that the Common Council requests that the Public Works Department and its Parks Division, Recreation Department, Police Department, Fire/EMS Department, and Health Department each render all such assistance and support as may be required to ensure the public health and safety of the many participants and observers; and that the City of Middletown shall expend no more than $10,500 for said event without further councilmanic approval. E. Approving that, pursuant to a request by General Counsel Brig Smith under Section 74-5 of the City of Middletown Code of Ordinances, Attorney Smith is authorized to serve as an adjunct professor of law during normal business hours, teaching Local Government Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law, provided he does so using his own personal, vacation, or flex time. F. Approving that Resolution No. 33-22 is rescinded and that the following is approved: that the Common Council, City of Middletown (1) authorizes the Superintendent of Middletown Public Schools to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services for the PV panel project at the Wilbert Snow Elementary School; June 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 4 (2) authorizes the development of plans and specifications for the PV panel project at the Wilbert Snow Elementary School; and (3) authorizes the Snow School Building Committee to oversee the PV panel project at the Wilbert Snow Elementary School. G. Approving that Resolution No. 12-21 is rescinded and the following is approved: that the Common Council, City of Middletown(1) authorizes the Superintendent of Middletown Public Schools to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services and to accept or reject a grant for the roof replacement project at the Wilbert Snow Elementary School; (2) names the Snow School Building Committee as the building committee with regard to the roof replacement project at the Wilbert Snow Elementary School; and (3) authorizes at least the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the roof replacement project at the Wilbert Snow Elementary School. 11. Mayor’s Appointments 12. Adjournment K: review/ agenda – 2023 June 05 -- regular meeting – 5 June 2023