Common Council

COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, JULY 7, 2025 7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting ---------------------- MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBER -and- Remotely via WebEx WebEx.com Join a Meeting Event # 2356 025 7717 Password: Middletown or Dial 408-418-9388 Access Code: 2335 275Event # 3432 2356 025 7717 NOTE: if calling from a phone, please press *3 to activate hand raise function 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. Presentation: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Project – Middletown Veterans Lodge #771 and Vinal Tech School 4. Public Hearing -- Opens 5. Public Hearing – Closes 6. Old Business A. 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 JULY 7, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 2 RFP, to RWK Enterprises LLC. (Tabled February 10, 2025; Referred to General Counsel Commission, March 3, 2025; returned to Common Council and tabled June 26, 2025) B. CORRECTION: Resolution No. 62-2025, as approved on June 2, 2025: Approving that, to correct a scrivener’s error in Resolution No. 62-2025, as approved on June 2, 2025, the first “WHEREAS” clause in Resolution No. 62-2025 be amended, changing reference to Resolution No. 121-24 to Resolution No. 119-24. C. CORRECTION: Resolution No. 121-24, as amended on June 2, 2025: Approving that, as a result of a scrivener’s error in Resolution No. 62-2025, as approved on June 2, 2025, which incorrectly referenced Resolution No. 121-24, that the notion of “approved as amended” on June 2, 2025 be deleted from Resolution No. 121-24, and added to Resolution No. 119-24. 7. Approval of Minutes A. Common Council Special Meeting (Workshop: UPSEU Tentative Agreement FY 2025-2026), dated June 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM B. Common Council Special Meeting (Questions to Directors and Continued Workshop: UPSEU Tentative Agreement FY 2025-2026), dated June 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM C. Common Council Special Meeting, Action Minutes, dated June 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM 8. Mayor requests Council Clerk to read appropriation requests and the Certificate of Director of Finance A. Public Works: $225,000 -- Acct. No.2380-22000-53545-0000-00000-0000-000; funds from Bulky Waste Fund to purchase specialized replacement truck B. Public Works: $66,000 – Acct. No. 1000-22000-55185-0320-00000-0000-000; funds from City’s General Fund as additional funding for City rental of docks for public access at 80 Harbor Drive C. If appropriation at Item 8B is approved, Motion to Amend Res. No. 59-2025, approved June 2, 2025, is needed to correct the fiscal impact statement for the dock rental: Approving that the Resolution No. 59-2025, approved June 2, 2025, for dock rental at 80 Harbor Drive be amended as to the Fiscal Impact statement, deleting “Project improvements made through the City of Middletown Parks Bond. $65,864.86,” and adding “funding of $66,000 from the City’s General Fund.” 9. Department, Committee, Commission Reports and Grant Confirmation Approval A. City Clerk’s Certificate B. Monthly Report -- Finance Department: Transfer Report to June 22, 2025 C. Appropriation Report -- FY 2024-2025 (July 2024 – June 2025) D. LoCIP Report: Finance Department July 1, 2024 – June 25, 2025 E. Human Resources Division: Vacancy Report to June 20, 2025 JULY 7, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 3 F. Health: Acct. No. 2460-31000-57030-0000-03335-0000-000; Local donation from Rushford Center for Kids Health & Safety Day event: $500 G. Board of Education: Acct. No. 2450-33000-59405-x-03025; miscellaneous grants: $1,276,195.45 H. Board of Education Cafeteria/Food Service: Acct. No. 2450-33000-52183-x-x: $26,570.80 I. Board of Education: Acct. No. 2450-33000-59400-x-03030; Federal Title IV grant: $226.00 J. Public Works: Acct. No. 3560-00000-57030-0000-00000-0000-000; State Local Capital Improvement Project funds for FY 2025-2026: $488,279.32 K. Tax Collector’s Suspense Report, dated June 7, 2025 L. Recreation & Community Services: Emergency Purchase Order for heat pump #3 in Senior Center billiards room: $19,384 10. Reports to the Common Council A. Risk Management: Changes to Employee Prescription Coverage B. Christopher Columbus Statue C. Baker Tilly Compensation Study D. Route 9 E. Russell Library/City Hall Feasibility Study Committee F. Riverfront Master Plan and Arcade G. American Rescue Plan 11. Payment of all City bills when properly approved 12. Resolutions, Ordinances, etc. A. ORDINANCE: amending Chapter 272 (“Taxation”), adding new Section 272.9.13, a real estate tax fixing agreement for Tall Properties re: development of a pickelball park at Industrial Park Road (Map/Lot 05-0052). B. Approving the Health Department request for $78,000 of the Public Health Block Grant (FY 25/26) allocations as follows: New Horizons Battered Women’s Shelter $22,500; Warming Center $25,500; ARTFARM $3,000; Middletown PAL $5,000; Oddfellows Playhouse – After school circus program $3,000; Senior Resources $5,000; Stat-Pro Health Care $5,000; St. Vincent DePaul $5,000; MARC Community Resources $2,000; Northern Middlesex YMCA – Schwartz Men’s Residences $2,000; TOTAL $78,000; and that any agency receiving an award in the amount of $2,000 or more must comply with the matching fund Code of Ordinances, Chapter 44, Section 44- 11, section B, Municipal Grant Awards. C. Approving the line item creation for the Water Department Fiscal Year 25/26 Capital Non- Reoccurring Fund in the amount of $600,000: Vehicle Replacement $70,000; Building Maintenance $10,000; Office Equipment $5,000; Well Redevelopment $175,000; DOT/DPW/Misc. Equipment $20,000; Laboratory Equipment $10,000; Computers & Software $10,000; Water Treatment/PS JULY 7, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 4 Repair, Replace, Improve $120,000; Water Meters $40,000; Hydrants $20,000; Water Distribution Repair, Replace, Improve $60,000; Customer Billing $5,000; Property Acquisition $5,000; SCADA $50,000; TOTAL: $600,000 D. Approving a 5-year lease agreement with the Hollow House Booking, LLC for 1,000 sq. ft. of rentable space at the R. M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park, 180 Johnson Street (“Keating Park”); and that the Mayor is hereby authorized to sign all documents necessary to implement the lease subject to review and approval by the office of General Counsel as to form and content. E. Approving a 5-year lease agreement with the Horizon Counseling & Outreach Center, Inc. for 540 sq. ft. of rentable space at the R. M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park, 180 Johnson Street (“Keating Park”); and that the Mayor is hereby authorized to sign all documents necessary to implement the lease subject to review and approval by the office of General Counsel as to form and content. F. Approving the First Amendment to Lease Agreement for the Property located at 645 Main Street, Middletown, CT (Map/Lot 22-0255) to the Community Health Center for the purposes and terms contained therein, and authorizes the leasing of the Property from the City of Middletown to the Community Health Center; and that the Mayor is authorized to sign the First Amendment to Lease Agreement, and any and all other documents necessary to effectuate the lease of the Property to the Community Health Center, subject to review and approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. G. Approving the sale of 210 Dripps Road (Map/Lot 49-0081) to Canyon Investments, LLC for the purchase price of $31,000, and authorizes the conveyance of the Property from the City of Middletown to Canyon Investments, LLC; and that the Mayor is authorized to sign the Purchase and Sale Agreement, and any and all other documents necessary to effectuate the sale and transfer of the Property to Canyon Investments, LLC, subject to review and approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. H. Approving the sale of 20 Portland Street (Map/Lot 20-0182) to Robert Pinard for the purchase price of $16,000, and authorizes the conveyance of the Property from the City of Middletown to Robert Pinard; and authorizing the Mayor to sign the Purchase and Sale Agreement, and any and all other documents necessary to effectuate the sale and transfer of the Property to Robert Pinard, subject to review and approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. I. Approving the sale of 17 Miller Street (Map/Lot 20-0191) to Diana Martinez for the purchase price of $15,000, and authorizes the conveyance of the Property from the City of Middletown to Diana Martinez; and authorizing the Mayor to sign the Purchase and Sale Agreement, and any and all other documents necessary to effectuate the sale and transfer of the Property to Diana Martinez, subject to review and approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. J. Approving the City purchase of Stantack Road (Map/Lot 02-0011) for $140,000, as open space; that the City of Middletown is authorized to acquire such property; and that the Mayor is authorized to sign the Purchase and Sale Agreement, and any and all documents and/or agreements necessary to effectuate the purchase of such property, subject to approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. K. Approving that JDS Holding Company, LLC is authorized to repurpose its remaining balance of $565,408.57 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds for a proposed restaurant, to remediating and renovating the brownfield commercial space located at 562 South Main Street for use by Ellafi Credit Union, which will focus on women and women-owned businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; and that the Mayor is authorized to prepare and execute any documents necessary to effectuate the repurposing of this American Rescue Plan Act grant funding, subject to approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. JULY 7, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 5 L. Approving that the Economic & Community Development Budget for Fiscal Year: 2025 to 2026 Account 1000-18500-55185-0000-00000-0000-000 Contractual Services 36. Riverfront Projects and Activities is reduced by $56,000; and that these funds are transferred and added to the following overtime accounts: Public Works Parks Miscellaneous Overtime 1. Field Maintenance/Open & Close. +13,000 4. Spec. EVTS - July 4th, Pride, Car Show, etc. +5,000 5. Veterans Pool. +5,000 6. MHS Field Use. +14,000 REC & Community Services RECR: Overtime 1. REC CENTER Saturdays. +5,000 2. REC CENTER RENTALS [Off Set By Revenue]. +2,000 3. Recreation Weekend Community Events [Fall Festival, EGG Hunt]. +5,000 4. NUTMEG GAMES. +2,000 5. AQUATIC TRAINING. +1,000 6. VACATION COVERAGE. +2,000 7. VETS POOL MAINTENANCE. +2,000 M. Approving that, relative to the State of Connecticut’s September 9, 2025 Primary Election, given the statutory mandates for in-person early voting as guaranteed by the Connecticut Constitution, and given the specific location and process provisions for in-person early voting as codified in Public Act 23-5, as subsequently amended by Public Act 23-204, the Common Council hereby approves that, since City Hall is the only location in the City of Middletown with established access to the centralized voter registration system (CVRS), and since City Hall also satisfies all other statutory criteria – namely, (1) can be used for the entire early voting period, (2) is accessible to voters with physical disabilities, (3) has parking spaces for handicapped and elderly persons, and (4) has access to secure ballot storage with the municipal clerk, the Common Council approves that the Common Council Chamber in City Hall, 245 DeKoven Drive in Middletown, Connecticut is hereby designated as the early voting location for the September 9, 2025 Primary Election, which shall be held for six (6) consecutive days prior to that Primary Election, beginning seven (7) days before the Primary Election and ending two (2) days prior to that Primary Election as prescribed by State statute; that is, September 2, 2025 to September 7, 2025, inclusive, as requested by the registrars of voters of the City of Middletown, Connecticut. N. Approving that, relative to the November 4, 2025 General Election, given the statutory mandates for in-person early voting as guaranteed by the Connecticut Constitution, and given the specific location and process provisions for in-person early voting as codified in Public Act 23-5, as subsequently amended by Public Act 23-204, the Common Council hereby approves that, since City Hall is the only location in the City of Middletown with established access to the centralized voter registration system (CVRS), and since City Hall also satisfies all other statutory criteria – namely, (1) can be used for the entire early voting period, (2) is accessible to voters with physical disabilities, (3) has parking spaces for handicapped and elderly persons, and (4) has access to secure ballot storage with the municipal clerk, the Common Council approves that the Common Council Chamber in City Hall, 245 DeKoven Drive in Middletown, Connecticut is hereby designated as the early voting location for the November 4, 2025 General Election, which shall be held for 14 consecutive days prior to that General Election, beginning 15 days before the general election and ending two (2) days prior as prescribed by State statute; that is, October 20, 2025 to November 2, 2025, inclusive, as requested by the registrars of voters of the City of Middletown, Connecticut; and that the City of Middletown registrars of voters are hereby authorized to submit this location -- the Common Council Chamber in City Hall, 245 DeKoven Drive in Middletown, Connecticut -- to the Secretary of State for certification as the City of Middletown’s designated in-person, early voting location related to the November 4, 2025 General Election, which shall occur during 14 consecutive days prior to this General Election, beginning 15 days before the General Election and ending two JULY 7, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 6 (2) days prior, as prescribed by State statute; that is October 20, 2025 to November 2, 2025, inclusive. O. Approving that Interim Mayor Eugene Nocera be authorized to sign and submit an amended application to the State of Connecticut for a grant in the amount of $150,000 in Local Capital Projects Improvement Program (LoCIP) funds, towards the purchase cost of the modular fire training building; and that the current line item “MFD Modular Training Bldg.” in the Capital Improvement Plan be amended to reflect the amount of $150,000. 13. Mayor’s Appointments 14. Adjournment K: review/ agenda/ 2025 July 07 – Regular Meeting – 7 July 2025