Common Council

COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT SPECIAL MEETING QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025 6:00 PM MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Common Council of the City of Middletown, Questions to Directors Workshop, was held on Monday, February 3, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM. This meeting was a hybrid meeting with in-person participation in the Common Council Chamber and remote access via WebEx. The meeting was also live streamed on Facebook and the City webpage and was broadcast on local cable access television. Present: Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell Councilman Anthony Mangiafico Councilman Grady Faulkner, Jr. Councilman Eugene Nocera, President Councilman Darnell Ford Councilman Jonathan Pulino Councilman Anthony Gennaro, Sr. Councilwoman Linda Salafia Councilman Steven Kovach Councilwoman Leslie Spatola Councilman Vincent Loffredo Absent: Councilwoman Kelly Sweeney Also Present: Hn. Benjamin Florsheim, Mayor (arrived 6:10 PM) Sergeant-at-Arms: Middletown Police Officer DiMassa Linda Reed, Clerk of the Common Council City Staff: Arts & Culture: Kisha Michael, Coordinator Board of Education – Dr. Vazquez Matos, Superintendent Central Communication – Robert Grauer, Deputy Director City & Town Clerk – Ashley Flynn-Natale Economic & Community Development – Christine Marques, Director Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management – Faith Jackson, Director Fire – David Albert, Chief General Counsel – Brig Smith, Esq. Health – Kevin Elak, Director Library – Ramona Burkey, Director Mayor’s Chief of Staff – Barbara Knoll Peterson Police -- Erik Costa, Chief Public Works – Howard Weissberg, Acting Director Recreation – Cathy Lechowicz, Director Registrars of Voters – Patricia Alston (Democrats), George Souto (Republican), Stephen Gionfriddo, Asst. Registrar (Republican) Technology Services – Brianna Skowera, Director Water & Sewer – Joseph Fazzino, Director Youth Services – Justin Carbonella, Manager Absent: Assessor -- Damon Braasch, CCMA II Finance & Revenue Services – Carl Erlacher, CPA, Director Land Use -- Marek Kozikowski, AICP, Director Public: Chamber: 10 WebEx: 8 Facebook: unknown 1. Call to Order Council President/Councilman Eugene Nocera is designated as Chair for this meeting. The Chair calls the meeting to order at 6:05 PM. He welcomes everyone to the Common Council’s Special Meeting, the Questions to Directors Workshop. A. Pledge of Allegiance The Chair/ Council President Nocera asks everyone to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 2 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS B. Council Clerk Reads the Call of the Meeting and Mayor declares call a legal call and meeting a legal meeting The Clerk of the Common Council reads the Call of the Meeting and the Chair declares the call a legal call and the meeting a legal meeting. 2. Questions to Directors Workshop Opens The Chair opens the Questions to Directors Workshop session at 6:08 PM. Recognizing that the Board of Education is pressed for time, the Chair calls the Board of Education to the podium first subsequently to be followed by questions to other directors. The chair invites the Superintendent of Schools and Attorney Anne Littlefield of Shipman & Goodwin to present the overview of the settlement between the Board of Education and the Middletown federation of Teachers. For the record, he asks that they state their names. Anne Littlefield, Esq.: My name is Anne Littlefield. I'm a partner with Shipment and Goodwin. We did work with the Board of Education and the administration of the Middletown Public Schools on the recently concluded teacher negotiations. Those negotiations commenced in September, 2024 in accordance with statute, and, through a number of negotiation sessions and culminating a mediation session that occurred on November 22 and 23, 2024, we were able to reach a tentative agreement with the Middletown Federation of Teachers. I believe each of you has received a summary of our contract changes as well as a red-lined version of the agreement that was reached. Fiscally, we did a three (3) year contract. The goal, with respect to the salary restructuring that occurred in the 1st year, was to address minimum salaries and to bring them up to reflect trends in the marketplace and attract and recruit starting teachers. Our other goal was to retain our talented teachers at the higher steps in our step schedule, which was about 12-steps and we maintained that 12-step schedule. That 1st year of forwarded step movement for eligible teachers and then, on top of that, each teacher received a general wage increase that varied from either 1.15% up to a higher 5.41%. The total impact of that salary restructuring for the 1st year was 4.85% as it is noted in your materials. In 2nd and 3rd years of the contract, we maintained that restructured schedule. On that restructured schedule, if a teacher was eligible for step movement, they would move up to the next step in the 12-step schedule and then receive a general wage increase of either ranging from 2.0% to 2.5%. That total cost was a 4.19% for 2nd year of the contract, which is the 2026-2027 contract year. In the 3rd year of the contract, the 2027-2028 contract year, we maintain that same restructured schedule, gave stepped movement to those teachers, who are eligible, and then each teacher got between a 2.0% and a 2.8% increase for a total cost of 4.46%. That over the three years, not including compounding, was a 3-year average of about 13.5%. The statewide average for those towns and cities that are negotiating this year through today's date is a 13.45% increase, so it pretty much came in right at the market for the Middletown, teachers. In addition, we increased the premium cost sharing required for teachers modestly and gave a modest increase to the extracurricular and coaching salaries in the 1st year of the contract, and then left those coaching and extracurricular salaries flat for 2nd and 3rd years of the contract. There were some additional changes with respect to classes taught, transfers, sick leave, and the like, but those are the primary economic components of the settlement. NOTE: Hon. Benjamin Florsheim arrives at 6:10 PM and assumes the role as meeting chair. The Chair: Good evening. Thanks for being here. Any questions from council members? The Chair calls on Councilman Loffredo. Councilman Vincent Loffredo: Good evening. Thank you for being here. You indicate in the summary that you sent that we have a projected salary increases of 4.85 in the 1st year, 4.19 in the 2nd, and 4.46 in the 3rd year. The projected cost is 13.5, but then you note paragraph that follows that this is non-compounded. Atty. Littlefield: Yes. So, that simply means that the totals for the three (3) years are added together to come up with the 13.5. If you take the 1st year's increases and you compound them for the later latter two (2) years that would exceed 13.5%. Councilman Loffredo: And how much? Atty. Littlefield: By how much? I don't have that figure for you. The reason we do it that way though is because -- it's a silly reason, really -- it's when everyone reports out their salary settlements, everyone uses this convention, and so, if we were to are to compare ourselves to other towns and cities that are negotiating, and we use the compounded rate, it would be not apples to apples which is why we use the 13.5. Councilman Loffredo: That said, we, as a council, and the Mayor, putting together a budget, we will be faced with the reality that the actual cost -- because as the individual starts at an X step going to the next -- that their source are being compounded.  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 3 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Atty. Littlefield: Yes, let me talk about that for a second because these figures for the projected dollar amounts as well as the projected percentage are obviously a projection based on the teacher's census in place in September of 2024 when we commenced the negotiations. The actual dollar amounts and percentage amounts are, obviously, a projection because as that census changes, the anticipated costs will also change. So, for example, if five (5) to 10 teachers retire out of the Middletown schools at the end of this year, then our projected costs will likely go down because, normally, when one is replacing four to five teachers, you are hiring people in at a lower salary amount than your retiring teachers, which are coming off the top. So I just would say, these are estimates and projections based on a census in September and they're not going to be the actual costs that get imputed into the Board of Education budget cause that. Councilman Loffredo: So, just for the exercise that we're going through, you could produce, assuming that the staff is staying, you could produce the compounded cost. Atty. Littlefield: Yes, we can. Councilman Loffredo: Okay, so that's the question that I would like . . . I think we -- all of us -- should receive it. Atty. Littlefield: Sure. We can send it as a follow up. Councilman Loffredo: Then the other question, in part, is, you mentioned the census data, and that is the picture you took of the number of teachers that are currently employed on every step and all the rest. Atty. Littlefield: Correct. Councilman Loffredo: And you utilize that, the parties agreed to that was the basis. I know changes during the course of the school year. You can provide that to the Council as well? Atty. Littlefield: Yes, we can provide that with the compounding so you can see the . . . where teachers will be moving throughout the steps on the newly structured schedule. Councilman Loffredo: Okay. One other question. You highlight the costs for salaries and insurance, and so the stipends is $26,000. Are all of these stipends increased 3% each year? Atty. Littlefield: No, they're only increased 3% in the first year and then in the latter two (2) years they remain flat. There is NO increase to those types after the first year. Councilman Loffredo: Okay, thank you. The other question is, in the Teacher Negotiations Act, there is a provision in which the Board of Education meets with the fiscal authority prior to the beginning of the negotiations. Did that meeting occur? Atty. Littlefield: I don't know the answer to that, sir. Councilman Loffredo: It did not occur? Atty. Littlefield: I don't know. I wasn't there. Councilman Loffredo: But in terms of reporting on the history of negotiations, you have no knowledge of whether or not the Board of Education met with the fiscal authority? Atty. Littlefield: I do not know. It wouldn't be typical that I be included. Councilman Loffredo: I know that you wouldn’t be there, but that would be part of the history of the negotiations. Atty. Littlefield: I wouldn’t call it part of the history of negotiations actually. It's a, meeting that would precede the negotiations. Councilman Loffredo: Yes, that's just before you're hired, so forth. It's set forth in the statute. Atty. Littlefield: Yes, it is. Councilman Loffredo: Are there any other cost factors that we need to take into account regarding the adoption of this contract, or have you covered all of the various cost factors and there are no other cost factors to the best of your knowledge? Atty. Littlefield: I don't have any other projected cost factors for you. There were additional changes that were made that might impact payments for specific services like sub coverage or the like; however, it's not possible to actually project those costs, even the salary projections are obviously, as I have already referenced, not are going to change based on the census, but the sub coverage costs, for example, will change depending on teacher absences or who has to be hired, who's asked to cover a class in the event of a long term absence or the like. Councilman Loffredo: So the Board of Education does hire substitutes.  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 4 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Atty. Littlefield: Correct. Councilman Loffredo: Has that rate projected to be changed? Atty. Littlefield: The coverage rate for teachers on this contract that are asked to substitute has changed. The substitute rate, which is the board's rate to hire non-certified individuals -- building subs for the like -- is not part of this contract so I don't know if there is a productive change for next year. Councilman Loffredo: From the costs of what we're providing currently, or what we provided last year in terms of the cost for substitutes, either from a substitute for teachers currently employed, is that going to be required to cover a class?. Is that a requirement? From time to time are the teachers in town? I thought it was. Atty. Littlefield: Yes. Councilman Loffredo: Then, in addition, there's the other costs when somebody from the outside comes in. Atty. Littlefield: Correct. Councilman Loffredo: So the cost -- what they have been and what the rate has been -- that can be projected, I assume. Somebody must be keeping records of how many subs we're hiring and under what conditions and so forth. Atty. Littlefield: Yes, I don't know, so I will defer to Dr. V (Superintend of Schools, Dr. Vasquez Matos). Dr. Vazquez Matos: We actually track the line item for coverage and also building subs. So every building actually is allocated – two (2) to building subs or three (3), depending on the size of the building, and that's how we kind of monitor it based on needs. Councilman Loffredo: And you would be projecting, based on what I heard if I'm misunderstanding it correctly, that the budget would reflect the fact that you have, would be that teachers are going receive an increase in the current rate over the next three (3) years or the next coming year, correct? Dr. Vazquez Matos: That is correct. Councilman Loffredo: Okay, so you can just tell us what that rate is and what has projected to be. And you also can tell us, folks hired from the outside what the current rate is and what it will be. Dr. Vazquez Matos: Yes, we can provide that. Councilman Loffredo: So, in addition to that and so forth, all of what you've presented here from a financial impact is, as far as to the best of your knowledge, is represented. Atty. Littlefield: Yes, I believe so. If there are additional costs that we identify, and putting together the compounding, I'd be happy to provide that information to the Council. Councilman Loffredo: Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Atty. Littlefield: You're welcome. The Chair: Councilwoman Blackwell. Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell: Thank you, Mayor. Good evening. This is a follow up to Councilman Loffredo’s question. Can you also provide us a comparative analysis of towns that are similarly situated? Atty. Littlefield: Yes. And can I just ask a clarifying question in terms of where we ended up in the tentative agreement with salaries? Comparative salaries or comparative increases in costs from these negotiations? Councilwoman Blackwell: I would say both Atty. Littlefield: Both. Councilwoman Blackwell: . . . because looking at is where we fall -- where Middletown falls -- on the AENGLC chart and how you were able to make it. Atty. Littlefield: We can certainly provide that analysis. Councilwoman Blackwell: I really should have led with me appreciate how this is laid out as a tiered wage of sort of increase, so how it's mapped out. I appreciate it. Atty. Littlefield: Thank you.  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 5 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Councilwoman Blackwell: So, as it relates to the comparative analysis, I'd like to have the Council see the salaries, but also the healthcare plans and the cost sharing premiums as you're providing comparative analysis for us. In terms of the feasibility study, I know there's an MOU and it talks about the contract will be reopened - - or the MOU, I'm sorry -- it expires and there's a possibility then that it will be reopened. My question is, and I know you have a period of time to design the feasibility study . . . can you speak to that because it talks about the study being designed this semester, 2024/2025 school year. So can you speak to that? Atty. Littlefield: I will defer to Dr. V on that. Dr. Vazquez Matos: Thank you. Part of the agreement is actually that we are looking at actually the high school schedule. Currently, they are in a blocked schedule on an A/B day schedule. So the conversation between both parties is really looking at it: Is it serving the students well, right? And then part of that conversation was also around the difference between teachers, who are teaching what we call “core subjects” and those, who are teaching electives, and making sure that everyone -- there was an equity question around those teachers teaching more classes, and the core teachers teaching five (5) classes. In the agreement for a year, all teachers will be teaching five (5) and picking up a 6th, like the teachers, who were teaching five (5) previously. So now everyone is actually teaching five (5). With that, it also allows us to look at the academic or the student's schedule. So we are looking at different models, and seeing what best serves our students, and making sure that we are providing kind of a really comprehensive schedule with teachers and making sure that actually the schedule meets student needs. Right now, what we are concerned about is actually the A/B schedule and students not seeing their teachers every single day. This allows us for the opportunity to really look and reimagine what the schedules look like, and because they right now the 80+ minute block schedule, there's a lot of questions around that. Councilwoman Blackwell: Excellent. I really appreciate the talks about the teaching hours versus the teacher load in Article Six that you're referring to. I am curious about: is there a cost associated with the study? Dr. Vazquez Matos: No, we're actually doing internally, so we have the internal capacity to be able to actually look at the high school schedule. Councilwoman Blackwell: Great. And for either one of you: I didn't see the MOU. In Article Five, it talks about the president of MFT salary being funded partially. Can someone speak to that, please? Atty. Littlefield: The conceptual agreement that the parties reached was that the MFT President would get released time for 0.5 FTE (full time equivalent) -- or half time, if you will -- and that the Federation would fund that individual's salary back to -- or half of it -- back to the board in order to cover the cost of that. The MOU itself has not yet been developed. We anticipate that that will govern things like how the schedule is going to work and notice and how the payments will be made and things of that nature, but we haven't completed that yet. Councilwoman Blackwell: When do you anticipate (inaudible) . . . Dr. Vazquez Matos: Before the new academic year. Councilwoman Blackwell: Okay. Dr. Vazquez-Matos: We have some unanswered questions because it depends on who's the president. So right now the president is an elementary school teacher, so that schedule will look different if the president becomes a middle school employee or high school employee. Those are the questions that need to be answered clarified in the MOU. Atty. Littlefield: We are going to be working on it in the short order here, but certainly before the new contract goes into effect on July 1st. Councilwoman Blackwell: I have another question. On page 12 -- probably more for you, Dr. V -- if you could clarify on Article 7-3-2. We're talking about an interim contract at Article 7-3-1 and then a full contract, so can you . . . Atty. Littlefield: There have been practices with respect to filling positions that open up after a date certain, and the prior practice had been -- and Dr. V will tell me if I get this wrong -- but the prior practice had been that certain positions opening up after a date certain would simply get a “rest of the year” contract or a short term contract, but, as I understand it, that was hurting our ability to hire long term, permanent people in shortage areas because, if they came in the door after a date certain, instead of getting full time employment, -- we want you for the rest of your career kind of employment -- they would get just a one-year or less than a full year contract. So with this language, we made it clear that, if the superintendent determines in one of these shortage areas that the person is going to be the full time permanent hire, then they'll get the full contract. Councilwoman Blackwell: Thank you. And one more question: the transfer language that has been modified in Article 7 that teachers have to be at the school in the district for three (3) years. There's language on that. You could just speak to? Atty. Littlefield: Yes, there were a number of changes to the transfer language, notably in various sections: consideration of additional factors other than the factors that were listed in the contract, but also having  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 6 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS employee teachers stay in place for at least three (3) years before they could request a transfer. That, in part, relates to our Teacher Tenure Act, which has teachers in a probationary position essentially for the first 40- months of their employment. Our concern that we were trying to solve for there was that we would have, if you had somebody who transferred each one of those years, would be harder to measure their performance against the standard to determine whether we wanted to keep them past that probationary period. So we added that language to the contract to encourage stability for good evaluation. Councilwoman Blackwell: Yes, thank you for sharing that. I didn't realize that. I was thinking stability for the students. Atty. Littlefield: That’s important, too. Councilwoman Blackwell: So that's great. The language for the sick leave is great as, as well. I wanted to commend you on that change. If I may send and if I may send additional questions over to you before our next Monday's meeting, I would appreciate it. I don't want to continue to monopolize the time. So I'll send you questions in advance in preparation for the February 10th meeting. Thank you both. The Chair: Councilman Nocera. Councilman Eugene Nocera: Thank you, your honor. Let me start with that I am not surprised you (Atty. Littlefield) are still working with our Board of Education. I'm sure the teachers and staff wanted you back on this team because you're fair and tough. Middletown is lucky to have you in this process. Atty. Littlefield: Thank you for your kind words. Councilman Nocera: The entire team, I looked at the entire team. Let's not overlook that teachers are faced with tremendous challenges today. So, when we ask questions about contracts, I would never want that to be proceed in in any kind of negative way. There's teacher shortage everywhere. Teacher retention is difficult and teacher recruitment, especially when your average or below average in the state salaries. We appreciate our talented staff and administrators, who do so much every single day to meet the challenges they are faced with. They are heroes. I have a couple of questions. First, with regard to stipends, what was the average, average percentage of applied? Atty. Littlefield: 3% increase to the stipends in the 1st year and then maintained flat for the latter two (2) years of the contract. Councilman Nocera: Which is a huge piece that our staff is doing: extracurricular activities that our community has grown to expect and they expect a lot, and our kids are drawn to it. Were there any stipends cut because of funds? Were you able to maintain everything? Atty. Littlefield: The way that the teacher contract works is it sets the stipend amounts for each of the listed stipends. It neither prevents the Board from adding a stipend, nor does it prevent the Board from not funding one. So, actually, on a year to year basis, certain stipends might be funded and others may not be funded in the sports and activity areas. Some of that depends on student interest. It's just an annual budget exercise. So I don't know the answer if there's something that's going to get cut, but it doesn't have to be funded. Dr. Vazquez Matos: It depends on interest and enrollment. Councilman Nocera: In terms of health benefits, I see it went from 21% to 22%. For our next meeting, if you could calculate the savings that the City is going to achieve with that increase. Atty. Littlefield: Yes, it went from 21.5% to 22.5% share. You are enrolled in the partnership Plan, so there were no plan design changes that were negotiated because the State operates and controls the plan design for that plan, but we can give you an estimate of the proposed savings based on this year's rates. We don't know what that later, we don't even know what next year's rates will be, but if we assume the rates are stable, we could calculate a projected cost savings for you. Councilman Nocera: With regard to planning time. I know that's in the contract. Were there any changes there? Atty. Littlefield: We did look quite a bit at Article 6 of the contract, which is that section of the contract that deals with teacher load, and classroom assignments, and things of that nature. We really had a focus on trying to reform some of the language in that particular section because the language of the prior contract reflected things that weren't actually happening anymore. So the schedule at the high school or the middle school had changed, for example, and the contract language didn't change to keep up with it. So we were trying to refresh it so that we were more accurate with respect to what is actually happening. Dr. Vazquez Matos: So like wrap around time, part of their work day. Atty. Littlefield: Right. Just looking at over Dr. V's shoulder, we did add there's a provision in the contract for meetings and we explicitly added some evening meetings designed to support community involvement activities that are occurring in the evening. For the planning or for the duties at each level, for example, which is also in Article 6, we got more specific to reflect the types of things that teachers were doing during a duty period, for example.  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 7 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Dr. Vazquez Matos: And in Section 6.2 .7, we also added a language that, in the event that the Board wants to add more professional days for teachers, that we give advanced notice, so that would allow also to build capacity among the teachers, as well. That was agreed upon language to support our teachers. Councilman Nocera: It shouldn't go unnoticed that oftentimes this is a real stumbling block for Boards. To have a collaborative dialogue where there's things being added and clarified is huge. Atty. Littlefield: Yes, and I am remiss in not mentioning that we had many sessions including multiple sessions on Saturdays and I think one on a Friday night, possibly. I think that our dialogue with our counterparts, representing the union and the teachers on the committee, was very collaborative. We got a lot of work done, which was, of course, the goal. We're pleased to report that it occurred. Councilman Nocera: Two (2) more questions. One: this agreement was unanimously supported by our Board of Education. That's, that's my understanding. Dr. Vazquez Matos: That is correct Councilman Nocera: And the second question is maybe difficult and to describe, but arbitrated settlements this year on average. What's the percentage that's achieved in arbitration? Atty. Littlefield: I actually have that data at my seat. It looks, as of this year, that 13.45% average that I described earlier is based on the number of communities here, based on 61 communities negotiating of which we are one, so 60 other cities and towns. Eight (8) of those towns, have not yet voted on their contracts. So I don't know whether . . . they have a tentative agreement so I know they're not going to arbitration. The data, which we have, show that no one went to arbitration this year. And those towns that have yet to make public their settlement -- the eight (8) towns -- I'm not sure if they're mediated towns or negotiated towns, but, at this point in the season, they're probably mediation towns, as we were, which just means that we reached the time frame in the statutory time frame that we were in the mediation period. So no actually arbitrations in the teacher context have been very, very few since COVID. I don't I don't know what to make of that, but there's no arbitrated average this year. Councilman Nocera: But getting back to the original comment, we are really on dead average. Atty. Littlefield: Yes, right on average, and we're pleased to raise the salaries, particularly at the lower parts for recruitment period purposes. Councilman Nocera: Thank you. The Chair: Any other questions from councilmembers? Councilman Loffredo. Councilman Vincent Loffredo: Just a couple of follow ups. What towns did you compare Middletown to? Atty. Littlefield: Normally, when we do comparison salaries for the Board of Education and administrative committee, we would look at the county. We would also look at the District Reference Group, which is a group of communities that the State puts together based on the statistics that the State feels make them similar communities. I think we did that in this case here. Sometimes we look at the Adjusted Equalized Net Grand list communities (AENGLC) that are ten above or ten below the community that we are working with. I can't recall if we did that here or not, but those are typically the comparison groups we would look at. Councilman Loffredo: Can you provide us with the actual communities that you did use during these negotiations? Atty. Littlefield: Certainly, Councilman Loffredo: Thank you very much. The other question what is the length of the teacher work year? Atty. Littlefield: I believe it is 183 days. Councilman Loffredo: 183 days. Is that comparable to, would you do the comparability on that as well? Atty. Littlefield: We did do comparability on that and with me tonight, but I can provide a hundred Councilman Loffredo: 183 teacher days? Atty. Littlefield: 183 work days, correct. Councilman Loffredo: And student days? Dr. Vazquez Matos: That is 181 days. Councilman Loffredo: And do you have the comparability on that as well?  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 8 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Atty. Littlefield: We do have that data. Councilman Loffredo: Okay, very good. And my last question: you do indicate in Appendix One, the salary schedule that's currently in effect, which is an 11-step salary schedule. It's being significantly modified to, based on the information that you've provided, to a 10-step salary schedule. Or is it nine (9) step? Atty. Littlefield: I am writing down everything that you are looking for so I don't forget it. Yes, 10-step. Correct. Councilman Loffredo: So looking at that, as the schedules picture is presented, it indicates that you're eliminating Steps 1 and 2 across the board. Atty. Littlefield: Correct. That was part of our strategy to raise the minimum salaries. Councilman Loffredo: Okay, so, if I'm currently on Step 1 or 2, do I I'm going to step, using the Bachelors, I'm going from Step 1, which is currently $47,166. I'm going to. $50,351. Atty. Littlefield: Correct, you would be moving. If you're on Step 1 this year, you would be moving to Step 2 next year -- I'm sorry, to NEW Step 1, if you will. The folks that are on Step 1 next year don't exist yet because we haven't hired them yet. Councilman Loffredo: But there would be coming on in at that step of $50,351 Atty. Littlefield: Correct. Councilman Loffredo: $50,351 is now going to be the entry level salary. Atty. Littlefield: That is now the entry level salary, correct. Councilman Loffredo: That's represented there, so that . . . Atty. Littlefield: They would be coming in at that level if they had a BA only. Councilman Loffredo: Right. So you would indicate then, in terms of the comparability, using the statistics that asked for how much, potentially, assuming how many hired last year, potentially, you could factor in how many new hires you had, potentially, whatever versus not. I mean as just as a scenario. Atty. Littlefield: Yes. So, this year, there are 12 people on Step 1 and 13 people on Step 2. All of those individuals go to Step 3. Councilman Loffredo: Step 3, which is the NEW Step 1. Atty. Littlefield: Yes, you’ve got it. Councilman Loffredo: So they're all going to receive that increase, and that's where they're going, and then they'll proceed from there. The other question, the statutes, in the past, required that one being hired on a BA schedule would require to then either have a 5th year or a Master's in a certain period of time. Atty. Littlefield: That is still the law unless you are, were hired quite some time ago, and you enjoy a status that is, did not require that when you were hired. Councilman Loffredo: My recollection is that you could stay on the Bachelors for 10 years. You'd have to move faster than that: g Get a master's within five (5) years. Dr. Vazquez Matos: Five (5) to six (6) years. Councilman Loffredo: Five to six years, ok. Atty. Littlefield: Yeah unless you're subject to the prior legislation you could. Councilman Loffredo: So I assume, potentially, and correct me, if I'm wrong, you could hire someone, and put them at the initial BA schedule and it could be at Step 7. Am I correct? Could you potentially hire someone and put them at a BA, as an initial hire for Middletown, at a initially on the BA, they still have a BA, but you've hired them not as an entry level of step one, but you hired them taken into consider other factors, whatever they might be then actually utilize the schedule. Dr. Vazquez Matos: That's a great question. The State allows for high shortage areas for flexibilities around hiring, and the contract allows for credits for step increases based on work experience. So that is also sometimes calculated in a step increase upon hiring. So if someone is coming from, let's say, a unique background in engineering and we have a shortage area in science where we can give credit for those years of work experience. Councilman Loffredo: As long as it transfers their degree schedule  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 9 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Dr. Vazquez Matos: Correct. The Chair: Any other questions from councilmembers? Alright, if not, thank you, Dr. V and Attorney Littlefield. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Councilman Nocera: We didn't ask if there are questions for any other director. The Chair: Councilman Loffredo: Councilman Vincent Loffredo: This is a question that deals with a couple of articles in the Hartford Current on Saturday morning. One has to deal with stealing library books. So I don't know if the Police Chief can respond to addressing that issue about stealing of library books in the City of Middletown and the fact that this individual is a Middletown resident. I guess he's been around in several other communities, as well. Exactly how much damaged, or loss of records, that occur in Middletown? Police Chief Costa: Ramona (Library Director Burkey), do you want to talk about library books? Councilman Loffredo: Well, it was legal action taken too. Police Chief Costa: I wouldn't have legal action on the library books. Library Director Ramona Burkey: What I can say at this time is we did report some missing items to Middletown Police last year. We worked with the Police as they went through their investigation, and, as you know from the news reports, an arrest was made. Councilman Loffredo Do you know how many books? Can you tell us exactly what you have on record? Can share the record with us of what books were sold? Director Burkey: I would have to get that record form the Police Officer, who did the investigation. Councilman Loffredo: They would have that? Director Burkey: Yes. Councilman Loffredo: How many years ago did this occur? Or how long ago was that? Director Burkey: We had noticed items over the past few years, and it got now to the point where we reported it to the Police Department in early 2024. Councilman Loffredo: You can follow up then with the actual detailed information then from the Police Department or somebody else to give us something? Director Burkey: Yes, I can request that information from the Police. The Chair: Are there other questions for Director Burkey? Councilman Vincent Loffredo: The other question I have here on our deals with another article also on Saturday in the Middletown Press, dealing with Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company closing its doors after being in the community for 10 years. This is also a matter that I raised with you and also with the Director of the Economic Development Committee. It was one of the questions that we -- I and other members had -- because we have regular monthly meetings where we get on our agenda many leases up for review and potential approval. I asked whether or not we could receive through an email the status of the lease agreement that we had with Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company as they have been with us for 10 years. They were having a little get together with folks over the weekend and then be leaving. We didn't receive any information to the status of their lease requirements. Anything that you can share with us this evening on that? The Chair: That is information that we'll, we'll provide. I don't have anything that I can really update on right now. I believe the Director Marques is she's out sick today, but she I think she's on WebEx and might be able to speak to it a little bit, if she is on the meeting. Economic & Community Development Director Christine Marques: We're working through the process to issue a Notice to Quit. We've also tried to facilitate a meeting with Stubborn Beauty last week to discuss when they're actually planning on closing their doors and when they would be removing their items. That meeting, unfortunately, was never scheduled with them. They weren't responsive to me. The Legal Department told me that by the end of the week they would be filing a Notice to Quit. I can follow up with them to see if that occurred. I've been sick with COVID for the past couple weeks, a couple days, and so I haven't been able to follow up on all my items, but I'm happy to do so tomorrow. Councilman Loffredo: Do you know how many months in the arrears they are, if they're or are they? Director Marques: Off hand, I do not. I don't have that information in front of me. Councilman Loffredo: Can the Legal Department give us any information on this? General Counsel Brig Smith is in the room.  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 10 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Attorney Smith: No, I'm just coming back. It is my first day back from FMLA, so happy to follow up, but, no, I can't off the top of my head tell you how much they're in their arears. It's typically a departmental thing as well Councilman Loffredo: Normally, we ask this question just not for you, not just to put it on the record, as a member of, as Chair of the Economic Development Committee. We do receive monthly reports regarding revenue that the Department and the City receives through the various leases that we have. In the recent meeting, there was some assumption by myself and other members of the committee that the $80+K that is an economic development that that money is being helped out -- or added to -- through these various leases that we have at the Keating building. We're informed that that was not the case and did ask for us to receive an update about how much we are receiving. We've also asked on a regular basis as to the status of the various leases in terms of income as well as deficiencies. We're still waiting for that for the record. I will leave it at that. Thank you. Director Marques: I can add to that. The Economic Development fund is not Keating leases that goes into that. That that's other leases outside of the Keating building. As far as the Keating building line item for receivables, I believe Councilwoman Salafia requested that and did receive that from Finance last week. Councilman Loffredo: Has that been shared? Director Marques: I believe it went back to her email. I'm not sure I don't remember who else was on that email, but that was delivered to Councilwoman Salafia. Councilman Loffredo: On behalf of the committee, I had also asked on Monday in an email for that information to be shared with the entire committee. I guess that hasn't gotten that far yet. Thank you. The Chair: Any further questions for City Directors? Councilwoman Spatola. Councilwoman Leslie Spatola: Thank you Mayor. A quick question for Director Fazzino. This is probably more from my own understanding, but going through the paperwork, I see an appropriation for a $160K for the various bills for the stations that were left unpaid. Can you briefly explain what kind of bills those were and why they weren't paid at that time? Water & Sewer Director Joseph Fazzino: My understanding was that there was an electronic account set up with Constellation for electricity charges. Somewhere, with the people retiring, some of that information did not get transferred to the administration. The Finance Department normally pays our electric bills or utility bills in general, and those went unpaid for several months, six (6) months or more unpaid. Constellation reached out to the Mayor's Office. Rohan Manning (Chief Management Analyst) brought it to my attention. We tried to pay it under last year's a budget line for electricity, but apparently the audit had taken place, so we could not do that with the existing funding. We had to appropriate the funding for this year's electricity line in order to make sure that we didn't run out of money for the year for electricity. Councilwoman Spatola: So that's a one-time deal that that happened. Director Fazzino: Correct. The Chair: Councilman Kovach. Councilman Steven Kovach: On the emergency purchase order for the repairs at Liberty Bank: is that a dollar amount that can get reimbursed either through insurance or through the contractor or is that something the City has to absorb? Director Fazzino: It was something that the contract would be a change order. It was funded through the water and sewer fund. Councilman Kovach: Is there any way we can seek reimbursement? Director Fazzino: No, it was, it was an unforeseen condition. As they were installing water main on Court Street, the plan was to continue a little bit further east in the sidewalk before it went back into the road. When they were jack hammering the sidewalk, it went right through to the room down below that nobody was aware of. There's a locker room underneath the sidewalk that actually belongs to Liberty Bank and we found out the hard way it was there. Councilman Kovach: Thank you. 3. Questions to Directors Workshop Closes There being no further questions, The Chair closes the Questions to Directors session at 6:58 PM. 4. Meeting adjourned There being no further business, Councilman Eugene Nocera moves to adjourn. Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell seconds the motion.  February 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 11 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS There being no discussion, the Chair calls for a voice vote. The motion is unanimously approved by a vote of 11 to 0. (AYE: Councilmembers Blackwell, Faulkner, Ford. Gennaro, Kovach, Loffredo, Mangiafico, Nocera, Pulino, Salafia, and Spatola; ABSENT: Councilwoman Sweeney). The meeting is adjourned at 6:59 PM. ATTEST: LINDA S.K. REED, COMMON COUNCIL CLERK K: review/ minutes/ 2025 Feb 03 – Ques to Directors – 3 Feb 2025