Common Council

COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2026 7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting ---------------------- MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBER -and- Remotely via WebEx WebEx.com Join a Meeting Event # 2349 058 2248 Password: Middletown or Dial 408-418-9388 Access Code: Event # 2349 058 2248 NOTE: if calling from a phone, please press *3 to activate hand raise function 2nd 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. Minutes A. Common Council Regular Meeting, dated November 3, 2025, at 7:00 PM 4. Public Hearing A. Public Hearing – Opens B. Public Hearing – Closes 5. Parliamentarian Kelly Scott, Esq.: presentation to Common Council re: parliamentary motion “Call the Question” MARCH 2, 2026 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 2 6. Old Business A. Approving that Mayor Eugene Nocera is authorized to sign all documents necessary to enter into a contract with Murphy Road Recycling LLC and to provide such additional information as may be required, to execute such other documents as may be required, to execute any amendments, decisions, and revisions thereto, and to act as the authorized representative of City of Middletown; subject to review and approval by the office of General Counsel as to form and content in accordance with the following terms: a contract with Murphy Road Recycling LLC for the receipt of municipal solid waste at their facility on Industrial Park Road a rate of $115/ton for a period of three (3) years. (Tabled - February 2, 2026) 7. Appropriations: Mayor requests Council Clerk to read appropriation requests and the Certificate of Director of Finance A. Public Works: $6,520 -- Acct. No. 1000-22000-53380-0229-00000-0000-000; General Fund appropriation to cover unanticipated emergency work at 210 Dripps Road, including cleaning crew, storage of items, and video recording B. Health: $7,392.81 – Acct. No. 1000-31000-52110-0000-00000-0000-000; General Fund appropriation to correct deficit from 3043 grant line (Covid 19 crisis response) C. Water & Sewer: $40,000 – Acct. No. 5010-60000-79501-0000-00000-2026-000; Water Depreciation appropriation to perform needed rehabilitation work on well number 9 D. General Counsel: $393,972 – Acct. No. 1000-35500-51120; General Fund appropriation for Local 466 wage increase for FY2025-2026 E. Public Works: $250,000 – Acct. No. 1000-22000-61360-0226-00000-0000-000; General Fund appropriation request for unanticipated costs due to recent snowstorms, including plow engine, road salt, overtime, unbilled overtime, equipment failure/repairs F. Human Resources: $21,500 – Act, No. 1000-05000-55480-0170; General Fund appropriation for police accountability/police promotional testing 8. Department, Committee, Commission Reports and Grant Confirmation Approval A. City Clerk’s Certificate B. Monthly Report -- Finance Department: Transfer Report FY 2025-2026 to February 18, 2026 C. Appropriation Report -- FY 2025-2026 D. LoCIP Report: Finance Department, dated February ___, 2026 E. Human Resources Division: Vacancy Report to February 26, 2026 F. Health: Acct. No 2460-31000-57030-0000-03335-0000-000; local donation for Kids Health & Safety Day: $1,000 (Flood Law Firm) G. Public Works: Acct. No. 3527-22000-59200-0222-35194-0000-000; State grant for small beverage container waste reduction: $34,010 H. Health: Acct. No. 2460-31000-57030-0000-03335-0000-000; local grant for Kids Health & Safety Day: $500 (Middlesex Health) MARCH 2, 2026 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 3 I. Public Works: Acct. No. 1000-22000-53301-0233-00000-0000-000; State grant for Town Aid: $205,204 J. Board of Education: Acct. No. 2450-33000-59405-x-03025; miscellaneous grants: $3,463,641.09 K. Board of Education Cafeteria/Food Service: Acct. No. 2450-33000-52183-x-x: $247,056.64 L. Public Works: $65,000 -- Emergency Purchase Order --Chemical Equipment Laboratories to purchase road salt, dated December 4, 2025 M. Public Works: $52,000 -- Emergency Purchase Order -- Freightliner of Hartford, Inc. to purchase replacement parts for catastrophic engine failure repair of primary plow truck, dated February 10, 2026 N. Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management: City of Middletown 2025-2026 2nd Quarter Employment Activity Report and 2025-2026 Hiring/Promotional Goals Information, dated February 19, 2026 9. Reports to the Common Council A. Land Use Department B. Baker Tilly Compensation Study C. America 250 Project D. Christopher Columbus Statue E. Route 9 F. Russell Library/City Hall Feasibility Study Committee G. Riverfront Master Plan and Arcade H. Middletown Bond Rating 10. Payment of all City bills when properly approved 11. Resolutions, Ordinances, etc. A. Approving the appointment of John Kilian as a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals to the balance of the unexpired term ending November 9, 2027, filling the majority party vacancy created by the resignation of Board of Assessment Appeals member Rebecca McClanahan. B. Approving the Cooperation Agreement between the City of Middletown, the Housing Authority of the City of Middletown, and the Forest City Development Corporation; and authorizing that the Mayor sign any and all documents and/or agreements that may be necessary to effectuate and implement the aforementioned Cooperation Agreement, following review and approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. C. ORDINANCE: Approving various amendments to Chapter 285 (“Vehicle and Traffic”) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Middletown, including Section 285-17 (“Parking Lots and Meters”), Section 285-20 (“Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in certain places; associated fines and penalties”), and Section 285-21 (“Penalties for offenses”). MARCH 2, 2026 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 4 D. Approving the Inter-Municipal Agreement between the City of Middletown and Town of Middlefield for Water Service, allowing the City of Middletown Water and Sewer Department to provide potable water service to several properties identified in the agreement within the Town of Middlefield; and that the Mayor is authorized to sign the inter-municipal agreement, and any and all other documents and/or agreements necessary to effectuate the execution of the inter-municipal agreement, subject to approval as to content and form by the Office of the General Counsel. E. Approving that the following funds be closed and any monies remaining be transferred to Debt Service and any cash needs be transferred from Debt Service: 4175 - BI -- Dingwall-Horan Firearm Design $ 0; 4176 -- BI -- Dingwall Environmental Remediation $ 0; 4255 -- BI -- Lead Water Service Line Inventory $ 0; 4456 -- BI --Sidewalks, Curbing & Driveway Aprons $ 0; and 4748 -- BI -- IT Systems & Devices $ 0. F. Approving a bid waiver for American Fireworks Display LLC in the amount of Sixty-Six Thousand Dollars ($66,000.00) for the provision of professional fireworks display services for the City’s annual fireworks event; and that such authorization is granted based upon the contractor’s demonstrated expertise, generations of industry experience, proven safety record, longstanding service to the City, and the specialized professional requirements necessary to conduct a safe and successful municipal fireworks exhibition. G. Approving that the competitive bidding requirements are hereby waived for the rental of a marine barge for the City’s annual fireworks display in the amount of Twenty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($27,500.00); that the City is authorized to enter into an agreement with Patriot Marine for the provision of barge rental services necessary to support the annual fireworks event; and that that this bid waiver and contract award are approved in the interest of ensuring public safety, timely event preparation, and the successful continuation of this long-standing community celebration. H. Approving that the competitive bidding requirements are hereby waived for municipal aquatic management and lake maintenance services in the amount of Fifty-Six Thousand Dollars ($56,000.00); that the City of Middletown is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with Stahl Holdings, LLC d/b/a The Pond and Lake Connection for aquatic vegetation control, algae treatment, aeration support, mapping, and related lake management services for the City’s municipal water bodies; and that this bid waiver and contract award are approved in the interest of protecting the City’s environmental resources, ensuring effective lake maintenance, and continuing specialized services essential to the long-term health and stability of Middletown’s lakes. I. Approving waiving the formal bidding requirements for the slope stabilization and earth retention work at Butternut Pond Trail and Butternut Hollow Park offered exclusively by GeoStabilization International, LLC (GSI) in the amount of Seventy-Eight Thousand Dollars ($78,000.00); that the City of Middletown is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with GeoStabilization International, LLC (GSI) for design-build construction services associated with the stabilization of the roadway slope, including installation of a permanent earth retention system; and that said contract is approved in the interest of public safety, infrastructure protection, and timely completion of the project. J. Approving that: (1) the annual festival for the Feast of St. Sebastian, scheduled for the third weekend of May, 2026, 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 15, 2026, through midnight, Monday, May 18, 2026, in accordance with the directions of the Middletown Police Department; and (3) a portion of Washington Street, Main Street, Court Street, and Broad Street, be closed on Sunday, May 17, 2026, 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; and, furthermore, approving that the MARCH 2, 2026 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 5 Common Council requests 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; and that fees, including personnel for the Showmobile, shall be waived; and, furthermore, approving that the City of Middletown shall expend no more than a total of $6,000 for said event without further Councilmanic approval. K. Approving a waiver of the formal bidding requirements for the hiring of TSKP Studios; and that the Macdonough School Building Committee is hereby authorized to purchase Architectural services and additional services, if needed, from TSKP Studio. L. Motion to Rescind Something Previously Approved Approving that Resolution No. 15-26, as adopted on February 2, 2026, which resolution approved that Middletown Police Department and Middletown Fire Department to enter into contract with Flock Safety for the Flock Safety Drone as First Responder (DFR) program is an all-in-one, fully automated air support system that provides rapid responses to enhance the safety of the communities served by their First Responders at a cost of $50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Dollars) per year; that the Middletown Police Department and Middletown Fire Department share the annual contract cost, with $25,000 being paid by each Department; and that Mayor Eugene Nocera is authorized to sign any and all documents for this Flock Safety Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, subject to review and approval as to content and form by the Office of General Counsel, is hereby rescinded. M. Approving that the City of Middletown affirms the precepts of the Connecticut Trust Act, as amended, and employees of the City of Middletown and Middletown Police Department will abide by the provisions contained therein; that the City of Middletown affirms the constitutionally-granted rights of due process for all residents; that the City of Middletown hereby calls upon all Federal law enforcement agencies to cease all immigration raids with masked and unknown agents, and to limit their immigration enforcement actions within the City of Middletown to those operations targeting undocumented immigrants who have, or are suspected of having, committed felony offenses or crimes of violence, or are known gang members, and/or otherwise pose a serious safety threat to the community, in order to improve public safety in Middletown; that City of Middletown hereby calls upon all of its Federal elected representatives in Congress to urge Federal immigration officials to cease all immigration raids with masked and unknown agents, and to cease all immigration raids at public places unless the undocumented immigrants have, or are suspected of having, committed felony offenses or crimes of violence, or are known gang members, and/or otherwise pose a serious safety threat to the community, as such activities create palpable fear and disruption in the community; and that officers of the Middletown Police Department and employees of the City of Middletown shall not collaborate or support DHS or ICE's efforts in the City, per the State of Connecticut’s Trust Act, unless otherwise required by State or Federal law. 12. Mayor’s Appointments 13. Adjournment K: review/ agenda/ 2026 March 02 – 2nd REVISED regular meeting – 2 March 2026