Town of Middletown council recesses to executive session to discuss collective bargaining, land acquisition and opioid litigation

At a meeting on a date not specified, the Town of Middletown Council recessed its open session and reconvened in executive session to discuss collective bargaining with the NEA (teachers), collective bargaining with the FOP, land acquisition and opioid litigation, council leaders said.

The motion to recess was read into the record under authority described in the meeting as “island general law of sections 42 46 2, 42 46 4, and 42 46 5 a.” Council President Paul M. Roderick read the executive-session items and asked nonparticipating attendees to leave before the council moved to closed session.

Council President Paul M. Roderick called for the vote; members responded “Aye,” and the motion carried by voice vote, the council recorded.

Roll call at the start of the meeting showed a quorum. Present were Council President Paul M. Roderick; Vice President Thomas P. Welch III; Councilor Peter D. Connorton Sr.; Councilor Christopher M. Logan; Councilor Charles R. Roberts; Councilor Dennis B. Toronto; and Councilor Barbara Avon Villas. The council did not identify a mover or seconder for the motion in the portion of the transcript provided.

The transcript lists the four topics to be discussed in the closed session but does not record any substantive debate on those topics in open session. The council’s reference to statutory sections indicates the matters are being handled under the town’s claimed statutory authority for closed-door discussions of labor negotiations, property acquisition and litigation; the transcript does not specify further factual details, timelines, or expected follow-up actions.

The council recessed the open session at a time not specified in the transcript and reconvened in executive session; the record provided does not state when the council planned to return to open session or any outcomes from the closed session.