Middletown council approves fleet disposals, project funding shifts and $97,500 settlement

Middletown Common Council members voted on a package of operational and capital actions at their Sept. 16, 2025, meeting, approving disposal of four police vehicles, authorizing replacement funding for a totaled patrol car, allocating local funds and bond measures for the O & W rehabilitation and a South Street parking garage, accepting a lacrosse-equipment donation, and approving a $97,500 litigation settlement.

The actions are part of several routine and project-focused agenda items the council took up in a single session. Council leadership said grant awards and reimbursements require the city to put up initial funds or convert temporary financing to permanent borrowing before grants reimburse eligible costs.

Most items passed on voice vote after motions by the presiding council member and second by Council President Rodriguez. The items the council approved included: scrapping four decommissioned police vehicles the chief described as heavily worn and not suitable for auction; using insurance proceeds and an internal transfer to replace a police car that had been totaled in a crash; creating a temporary capital line tied to a $250,000 grant for an exercise area at Maple Hill Park; obligating $2,660,000 from the general fund toward the O & W project in place of previously intended ARPA spending; converting temporary borrowing for the South Street parking garage to permanent financing, with the council noting a DASNY grant of about $2.5 million toward the project; accepting new and used lacrosse equipment donated by Lisa App and family; approving a $97,500 settlement in the litigation captioned Robert Lonsbury v. City of Middletown; and authorizing city officials to accept Restore New York and Empire State Development grants and to proceed with a bond resolution that would add about $3.9 million in additional borrowing for the O & W project as part of a previously approved $16 million package.

On the police fleet items, the council authorized disposition of four decommissioned vehicles — listed in the agenda as two 2002 Dodge Neons, two 2005 Accords, one 2005 Taurus and one 2007 Maxima — by scrapping. The police chief told the council the vehicles were worn and had been abused in service; for safety and security reasons staff recommended scrapping rather than auctioning the vehicles. The council separately approved an insurance-funded replacement for a marked police car that the chief said had been totaled; the chief said the totaled vehicle had roughly 25,000 miles and was about a year old.

On parks and capital projects, the council voted to create a temporary capital line to allow the city to front costs for an exercise pad at Maple Hill Park tied to a roughly $250,000 grant referenced by council members as coming through State Senator Scoofus. Council members said the grant is reimbursable, requiring the city to advance funds before seeking reimbursement.

For the O & W rehabilitation (also referenced in the meeting as the ONW or O and W project), the council moved $2,660,000 from the general fund balance for the city’s portion after staff said ARPA restrictions made the originally planned ARPA allocation unsuitable for that expenditure. The council authorized acceptance and endorsement of two state grant awards through Empire State Development and Restore New York and identified Mayor DeStefano as the city’s authorized representative and signatory for grant documents. Council members also approved an additional bond resolution of about $3.9 million for the O & W project; the city previously approved a total of $16 million for the project, and members said much of that will be reimbursable through grants. The council indicated it will call a special meeting on Sept. 18 to award bids after receipt of a final plumbing bid.

On the South Street parking garage, the council voted to convert temporary borrowing to permanent financing for the city’s share of the project, which was described during the meeting as costing more than $5 million. Members said a Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) grant of about $2.5 million would cover part of the project.

The council also approved accepting a donation of lacrosse equipment — new and used sticks, helmets, pads and gloves — from Lisa App and family for local recreation use.

On litigation matters, the council adopted a resolution to settle the matter captioned Robert Lonsbury v. City of Middletown for $97,500. Council discussion noted the dispute concerned a leased parking lot on North Street; staff said negotiations led the city to purchase the property rather than continue leasing it.

Votes at a glance: - Item 3.1: Dispose of four police vehicles by scrapping — approved (voice vote). - Item 3.2: Purchase replacement police vehicle using insurance funding and internal transfer — approved (voice vote). - Item 3.3: Create temporary capital line to front $250,000 Maple Hill Park exercise pad grant — approved (voice vote). - Item 3.4: Accept lacrosse equipment donation from Lisa App and family — approved (voice vote). - Item 3.5: Obligate $2,660,000 from general fund to O & W project (ARPA swap) — approved (voice vote). - Item 3.6: Convert temporary borrowing for South Street parking garage to permanent financing (project > $5 million; DASNY grant ~ $2.5 million) — approved (voice vote). - Item 3.7: Approve $97,500 settlement in Robert Lonsbury v. City of Middletown — approved (voice vote). - Authorization to accept Restore New York and Empire State Development grants and to proceed with additional bond resolution ($3.9 million) related to O & W project — approved (voice vote).

Most motions were made by the presiding council member and seconded by Council President Rodriguez; the meeting record shows no roll-call tallies and approvals were recorded by voice as “Aye.” Water and sewer adjustments listed on the agenda were not brought forward; the clerk noted one council member was absent for a family medical issue before the body adjourned.

The council scheduled a special meeting to consider awarding project bids for the O & W rehabilitation after receiving the final plumbing bid.