Common Council

COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2025 7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting ---------------------- MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBER -and- Remotely via WebEx WebEx.com Join a Meeting Event # 2344 963 4743 Password: Middletown or Dial 408-418-9388 Access Code: 2335 Event 275 3432 # 2344 963 4743 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 -- Opens A. Approving that, in accordance with Section 23-22 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Middletown, the Crystal Lake Park Softball Field be named the “Anthony (Tony) Petruzzello Softball Field” and is hereby approved and accepted. (NOTE: This is the 1st of two (2) required public hearings per the Code of Ordinances of the City of Middletown; Common Council may vote following 2nd public hearing at a regular meeting) B. All other agenda items 4. Public Hearing on All Other Agenda Items – Closes March 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 2 5. Appointment of City of Middletown Deputy Fire Chief A. Interview of Recommended Candidate – James Ehman B. RESOLUTION: Approving the appointment of James Ehman to the position of Deputy Fire Chief, Salary Grade 17 – Step 6 ($70.63), 40 hours, Defined Executive Non-Bargaining; and that this appointment shall take effect upon adoption. 6. Approval of Minutes A. Common Council – Special Meeting (Workshop: Questions to Directors) on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 6:00 PM B. Common Council – Regular Meeting on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 7:00 PM 7. Old Business A. Resolution No. 16-2025: Approving that, to ensure that actions taken, and information shared by, the Middletown Resource Recovery Authority Commission reflects the priorities of the citizens of Middletown, and given the longstanding past practice of having sitting Councilmembers, one from each party, serving on this City Authority Commission, that Resolution No. 193-93 is hereby amended to provide that, rather than simply being a City resident, the two (2) individuals each of a different party, appointed as a member of the Middletown Resource Recovery Authority Commission shall, at the time of his or her appointment, and for the duration of that appointed term, be a sitting Councilmember, and that the term of appointment shall coincide with the elected 4-year term of service as a sitting Councilmember. (Tabled at Common Council Regular Meeting on February 3, 2025) B. Discussion, and possible action, on the City of Middletown’s agreement for management services of Keating Historical Enterprise Park, 80 Harbor Drive, and 131 River Road, as awarded by the RFP, to RWK Enterprises LLC. (Tabled at Common Council special meeting on February 10, 2025) 8. Mayor requests Council Clerk to read appropriation requests and the Certificate of Director of Finance A. Public Works -- $275,000 -- Acct. No.1000-22000-53510-0225-00000-0000-000; to cover under- budgeted costs, including Public Works fleet costs and building and grounds maintenance/repairs. B. Health -- $25,000 – Acct. No. 1000-26500-59200-0726; additional funds for shelter grant 9. Department, Committee, Commission Reports and Grant Confirmation Approval A. City Clerk’s Certificate B. Monthly Report -- Finance Department: Transfer Report to February 18, 2025 C. Appropriation Report -- FY 2024-2025 (July 2024 – February 2025) D. LoCIP Report: Finance Department July 1, 2024 – January 21, 2025 E. Public Works: Acct. No. 3048-22000-59200-0000-00000-2025-000; State grant to repair Smith Park Pavilion: $300,000 F. Recreation & Community Services: Acct. No. 2210-32000-59022-0321-03205-0000-000; local grant to support department activities, supplies, and wages: $75,000 March 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 3 G. Board of Education: Acct, No. 2450-33000-59405-x-03025; miscellaneous grants: $1,945,029.23 H. Board of Education Cafeteria/Food Services: Acct. No. 2450-33000-5183-x-x: $455,793.27 I. Freedom of Information Commission: Final Decision – Docket #FIC 2024-0033: In the Matter of Anthony Gennaro, Sr. Councilman, et al, Complainants - and - Common Council, City of Middletown, et al, Respondents J. Vacancy Report (February 27, 2025) K. Middletown Police Report re: Russell Library – stolen books (November 2024) 10. Reports to the Common Council A. Christopher Columbus Statue B. Baker Tilly Compensation Study C. Route 9 D. Russell Library/City Hall Feasibility Study Committee E. Riverfront Master Plan and Arcade 11. Payment of all City bills when properly approved 12. Resolutions, Ordinances, etc. A. Approving the request that that $174,528.00 of the Opioid Settlement Funds be allocated as follows: Agencies Amount Community Health Center, Inc. $ 49,528.00 Middletown Harm Reduction Initiative $ 25,000.00 Middletown Prevention Council $ 50,000.00 Ministerial Health Fellowship $ 50,000.00 and that any agency receiving an award must comply with the matching fund Code of Ordinances, Chapter 44, Section 44-11, section B, Municipal Grant Awards. B. Approving that the the Mayor of the City of Middletown is hereby authorized to sign said MOU (signed by the Fire Union on February 7, 2025) on behalf of the City of Middletown. C. Approving that the Common Council of the City of Middletown authorizes the Middletown Board of Education to apply to the State Commissioner of Administrative Services, and to accept or reject a grant for the proposed renovation and extension project for MacDonough Elementary School. D. Confirming that, on January 6, 2025, the Common Council of the City of Middletown established the MacDonough Elementary School Building Committee as the building committee with regard to the proposed renovation and extension project for MacDonough Elementary School. E. Approving that that the Common Council of the City of Middletown hereby authorizes at least the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the proposed renovation and extension project for MacDonough Elementary School. March 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 4 F. Approving that, relative to the open position of Director of Public Works, the Common Council strongly recommends to the Mayor and to the Office of General Counsel, including the City’s Human Resources Division, the application packet for the position of Director of Public Works shall request that interested candidates respond to the following engineering degree question: (1) I have a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering; (2) I am in the process of earning a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and will earn my degree within ______ (period of time) from ___________ (University/College); (3) I do not have a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering; and if selected, I would need a waiver of the City’s Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering requirement. G. Approving that: (1) the annual festival for the Feast of St. Sebastian, scheduled for the third weekend of May, 2025, is a special event, which will be subject to the provisions of Section 218- 10 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Middletown; (2) a portion of Pearl Street, abutting St. Sebastian Church property from Washington Street south to the end of the Church property, be closed as of 8:00 AM on Friday, May 16, 2025, through midnight, Monday, May 19, 2025, in accordance with the directions of the Middletown Police Department; (3) a portion of Washington Street, Main Street, Court Street, and Broad Street, be closed on Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, in accordance with the directions of the Middletown Police Department and the Connecticut Department of Public Safety; that the Common Council does request that the Public Works Department and its Parks Division, Recreation & Community Services Department, Economic & Community Development, Police Department, Fire 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; that fees, including personnel for the Showmobile, shall be waived; and that the City of Middletown shall expend no more than $4,000 for said event without further Councilmanic approval. 13. Mayor’s Appointments 14. Adjournment K: review/ agenda/ REVISED -- 2025 March 03 -- Regular Meeting – 3 March 2025