Middletown board approves multiple budget transfers, grant acceptance and other routine actions

At its meeting, the Middletown Board of Estimate approved multiple routine administrative actions, including additions to law-enforcement funding, internal departmental transfers, grant acceptance and equipment purchases.

The board authorized acceptance of additional STOP-DWI high-visibility enforcement funding that the meeting record said was increased by $10,000 from an original contract amount of $5,000 and authorized the mayor to sign the updated agreement. The motion was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.

Police department transfers: The board approved internal transfers within the 2025 police budget to move $100,000 from personal services to overtime, $35,000 from personal services to equipment and $80,000 from personal services to vehicles to cover the purchase or replacement of an unmarked police vehicle (including safety lighting and equipment). The motion was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.

Waterfront transfer: The board approved a $20,000 transfer within the waterfront budget (from account 833100 to account 103) to cover projected overtime at the wastewater treatment plant. Staff said the plant is short two licensed operators.

FEMA de-obligation: The board authorized returning FEMA funds after New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services notified the city of a FEMA de-obligation of $61,317.15. The notice stated the roads in question were Federal Highway Administration roads and were not eligible for FEMA public-assistance funding; as a result, FEMA de-obligated the funds.

Senior services: The board approved a $1,500 transfer within the senior budget from senior donations to program-use donations to cover senior-activity and event expenses through the end of the fiscal year.

DPW equipment and signage: The board authorized transferring payroll funding from the sanitation account to purchase a paint-striping machine for striping operations and approved a separate $15,000 transfer from sanitation to the traffic paint-and-signs line. Staff said sign costs have increased by an estimated 15% to 25% and cited a supplier note referencing an increase in U.S. Section 232 tariffs on aluminum to 50% (effective June 4) as a driver of the price increase for aluminum signs.

National Fitness Campaign grant: The board accepted a $40,000 grant award from the National Fitness Campaign to implement an outdoor fitness-court program in Middletown. Staff noted an application for additional funding through a Senator (paperwork referenced in the record) for $250,000 that, combined with the $40,000, would cover site work and installation based on current estimates. Staff also described optional upgrades (shade structure, expanded concrete pad) with estimated additional costs of about $35,000 to $150,000 depending on scope; the current board action accepted the $40,000 award.

All items listed above were presented as motions, moved and seconded; recorded responses in the transcript were voice approvals ("Aye"). The board indicated staff will proceed with contract signatures, transfers and follow-up reporting as required.