Common Council

COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2025 7:00 PM Remotely via WebEx WebEx.com Join a Meeting Event # 2344 728 8327 Password: Middletown or Dial 408-418-9388 Access Code: Event # 2344 728 8327 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. Approval of Minutes A. Common Council Special Meeting (Questions to Directors), dated October 6, 2025, at 6:00 PM B. Common Council Regular Meeting, dated October 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM 4. Public Hearings A. Public Hearing on All Other Agenda Items – Opens B. Public Hearing on All Other Agenda Items -- Closes NOVEMBER 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 2 5. Old Business A. RESOLUTION No: 157-2025: Approving that, since the City’s School-Based Food Share Program is now fully funded with $125,000, as provided to the City by the State cannabis program pursuant to Connecticut Public Act 21-1, An Act Concerning Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis, which provides that three percent (3%) of the gross receipts from cannabis retailers or micro-cultivators located in a municipality be paid to that municipality, that the $125,000 of City funds originally approved for the City’s School-Based Food Share Program in the FY 25-26 expenditure budget be transferred from Expenditure Line 1000-27000- 57030-0708 to the City’s existing contractual services line (Expenditure Line 1000-22000-55185- 0227-50001) to cover the cost of continuing current outsourced building security services at City Hall. (REMANDED to Finance & Government Operations Commission, September 2, 2025; TABLED, October 6, 2025.) 6. Appropriations: Mayor requests Council Clerk to read appropriation requests and the Certificate of Director of Finance A. Library: $45,485 - Acct. No. 1000-07000-51110-0000-00000-0000-000; General Fund appropriation to cover Russell Library Employees union wage increases, retroactive to July 1, 2025 (Tabled October 6, 2025) B. Water & Sewer Department: $30,000 – Acct. No. 5000-60000-52175-0000-00000-0000-000; Water Fund Balance appropriation for customer’s requested overpayment refund in the amount of $29,882.44 7. Department, Committee, Commission Reports and Grant Confirmation Approval A. City Clerk’s Certificate B. Monthly Report -- Finance Department: Transfer Report FY 2024-2025 to October 22, 2025 C. Monthly Report – Finance Department Transfer Report FY 2025-2026 to October 22, 2025 D. Appropriation Report -- FY 2025-2026 E. LoCIP Report: Finance Department , October 22, 2025 F. Human Resources Division: Vacancy Report to October 22, 2025 G. Police: Acct. No. 3495-18000-59200-0180-00000-2025; State Auto Theft & Violence Grant to purchase eight (8) license plate reader cameras to be mounted on police vehicles no longer available: ($35,000) H. Health: Acct. No. 3070-31000-51200-0000-03377-2026-000; State Preventative Health Block Grant for tobacco cessation: $41,766 I. Police: Acct. No. 3040-18000-59200; Federal grant to reimburse Police Department for equipment purchase on behalf of FBI: $11,003.04 J. Board of Education: Acct. No. 2450-33000-59405-x-03025; miscellaneous grants: $13,557,150.34 K. Board of Education Cafeteria/Food Service: Acct. No. 2450-33000-52183-x-x: $107,345.44 L. Recreation & Community Services: Acct. No. 2210-32000-51220-0321-00000-0000-000; local grant to support Recreation & Community Services salaries and wages: $50,000 NOVEMBER 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 3 M. Registrar of Voters: Acct. No. 3028-09000-57030-x-03136-2026; State grant for early voting equipment and workers compensation: $18,907.67 N. Fire: Acct. No. 3602-5000-59200-0500-30251; State grant to purchase and install modular fire training building: $350,000 O. Fire: Acct. No. 3031-50000-51115-0500; Federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grant to cover payroll and benefits for four (4) firefighters for three (3) years: $859,039.35 P. Recreation and Community Services: Acct. 3079-32000-59200-0130-00000-2027-000; State grant for infrastructure and facility needs at Middletown Senior Center: $110,000 Q. Recreation and Community Services: Act. No. 3078-32000-59200-0130-00000-2027-000; State grant to support congregate and Meals on Wheels: $150,000 8. Reports to the Common Council A. America 250 Project B. Risk Management: Changes to Employee Prescription Coverage C. Christopher Columbus Statue D. Baker Tilly Compensation Study E. Route 9 F. Russell Library/City Hall Feasibility Study Committee G. Riverfront Master Plan and Arcade H. American Rescue Plan I. Distribution of Code of Ethics 9. Payment of all City bills when properly approved 10. Resolutions, Ordinances, etc. A. Approving that the Save As You Throw (SAYT) Program shall be terminated, effective January 1, 2026; that the Common Council approves the following rate changes for Carts: CART CURRENT ANNUAL RATE NEW ANNUAL RATE 90 gallon $281.62 $480 65 gallon $249.44 $430 35 gallon NA $360 that a 15% increase shall be applied to all Dumpster Rates; and that the Common Council authorizes the issuance of prorated supplemental billing for the remaining months in the applicable billing cycle. NOVEMBER 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 4 B. Approving that the Common Council adopts the American Rescue Plan Act Task Force’s recommendation to extend the deadline for Northern Middlesex YMCA to expend its ARPA funds from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026; and that the Mayor is authorized to prepare and execute any necessary documents, subject to approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. C. Approving that Nancy Torres shall be granted up to a 30-day advanced sick leave advancement. D. Approving that Eugene LaPointe shall be granted up to a 30-day advanced sick leave advancement. E. Approving that the new job description for the Mechanics Assistant, Maximus Salary Grade 8, (24.92- $36.92), 40 hours, AFSCME Local #466, is approved into the Maximus Classification Plan; and that the classification of this job description and salary for this position shall be effective upon adoption. F. Approving that the Mayor is authorized to execute the contract with Tecton Architecture in the amount of $620,000.00 for architectural and engineering services for the new public safety 911 center, subject to review and approval as to content and form by the Office of General Counsel. G. Approving the following distributions of Educational Incentive Challenge Grant funds; ORGANIZATION PROJECT AMOUNT Oddfellows Playhouse After School Classes and $7,500 Oddbridge Cross Street Training & Afterschool Tutorial Program $7,500 Academic Center, Inc. YMCA Kid’s Korner Before & After $7,500 School Ekklesia Contemporary Empowering Youth $7,500 Ballet TOTAL $30,000 APPROPRIATION that the citizens of Middletown are urged to ensure that every child has access to a safe, engaging place where students extend their learning day through enrichment and academic activities by supporting programming outside the school day; 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. H. Approving that a bid waiver, in accordance with Section 78-8 of the Middletown Code of Ordinances, be approved for Douglas Mechanical Services, Inc. for a term of five (5) years, for the maintenance, purchases, repairs, and replacement of boiler and HVAC equipment for all City buildings, and that the Mayor is authorized to sign all contract documents necessary to complete the work, subject to review and approval by the Office of General Counsel as to form and content: I. ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 272 (“Taxation”) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Middletown, Article I (“Tax Abatements, Exemptions, Deferrals and Incentive Programs”), adding Section 272-16.2.3, Historical Structure Rehabilitation Tax Abatement for Allyn Mather Colegrove House, 456 Wadsworth Street. J. ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 272 (“Taxation”) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Middletown, retitling Section 272-10 as “Additional Exemption for Veterans”, and adding Paragraph A (“Exemption for Veterans Based on Income”) and NEW Paragraph B (“Exemption for veterans Based on Permanente and Total Disability Rating”). NOVEMBER 3, 2025 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 5 K. ORDINANCE: Amending Chapter 272 (“Taxation”), of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Middletown, Article III (“Miscellaneous Provisions”), adding NEW Section 272-24 (“Motor Vehicle Schedule of Depreciation”). L. Approving that the Mayor is authorized to execute the contract with Vanasse, Hangen and Brustlin, Inc. in the amount of $1,901,580.00 for Licensed Environmental Professional services for the Riverfront Remediation and Redevelopment project, subject to review and approval as to content and form by the Office of General Counsel. M. Approving the City of Middletown joining the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority as a member municipality; that the Mayor is authorized to negotiate a memorandum of agreement on behalf of the City of Middletown with the Authority and any other agreements, instruments and documents, that deemed necessary, appropriate or desirable to implement the terms of any such memorandum of agreement and consummate the intention of the memorandum and this resolution, provided that any such agreements or documents will require review and approval by the Common Council prior to being executed and becoming legally effective; and that this Resolution shall be effective as of the date of approval. 11. Mayor’s Appointments 12. Adjournment K: review/ agenda/ 2025 Nov 03 – REVISED Regular Meeting – 3 Nov 2025