Middletown board approves grants, transfers and temporary borrowing; parking garage work moves forward pending utility schedule

MIDDLETOWN — The governing body voted unanimously on a set of budget transfers, grant acceptances and project approvals during a regularly scheduled meeting, including acceptance of a $112,000 grant for the police department, temporary borrowing to advance senior-center renovations and steps to move forward on a downtown parking-garage project that hinges on a utility schedule.

The actions matter because they move cash and approvals needed to start construction and renovations: the police grant funds are available immediately; the senior-center work will be advanced using a temporary loan expected to be repaid with grant reimbursements; and the parking garage contractors were awarded but cannot receive a notice to proceed until Orange and Rockland provides a timeline for relocating overhead lines.

On a consent-style vote, the board authorized acceptance of the 2025 scribe grant initiative funding for the Police Department totaling $112,000. The motion was put on the floor by the presiding member and seconded by Massey; members voted “Aye.” The meeting record does not specify individual roll-call votes.

The board also approved a $3,500 transfer within the Golden Area Transport budget to cover a shortfall on a new bus (transfer from Gas and Oil to Vehicles) and a $40,000 transfer within the Department of Public Works from maintenance to street overtime to cover an overdraft caused when crews worked extra hours on spring junk cleanup. A staff speaker explained that the overtime occurred during the spring cleanup and that the transfer should “carry us for the rest of the year.” Motions on both transfers were moved by the presiding member and seconded; members voted “Aye.”

The board approved awarding bid proceeds from an Auctions International sale of surplus vehicles (listed in the record as a Silverado, Tahoe and Ford Expedition from model years including 2006 and 2008), with auction receipts shown in the record as $2,200 in total. That resolution passed on a voice vote.

On capital projects, the board authorized temporary borrowing from the general fund balance to cover senior-center bathroom renovations and a security-camera project. The borrowing is structured to be repaid through grant reimbursements from a $275,000 grant identified in the record as a “crest grant awarded by Senator Scoofitz’s office.” A staff member said planning details were not yet available at the meeting and that an engineer had been hired; Jacob, a staff member, said, “We already hired CPL.” The record shows the board approved the temporary-borrowing resolution; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Members amended and approved an Orange and Rockland utility proposal tied to the downtown parking-garage project. The amended resolution changes a referenced project name from “O and W” to “parking garage” and approves $126,567 for relocating power lines related to the garage. The record lists the total parking-garage cost as about $2,500,000 and notes a grant (identified in the record as coming through the same senator’s office) will cover a portion; the city’s share has not been fully funded. Jacob, a staff member, described ongoing coordination with Orange and Rockland and said contractors’ notices to proceed are being held until the utility provides a schedule. Jacob said, “Orange and Rockland is a stumbling block in this case,” and later described engineering work to try to move the garage footprint: “I have CPL looking into trying to push the garage 4 feet away so we can comply with the 10 foot separation.” The board voted to approve the amended resolution; the record shows “Aye” on the vote.

The meeting record indicates the contractors were awarded contingent on the utility schedule and that contractors had offered limited extensions but warned of price increases if orders were delayed. Staff said contractors were preparing bonds, insurance and other contract documents and that a notice to proceed could not be issued until the utility timeline was confirmed.

No meeting date, individual roll-call vote tallies by member, or full financing breakdown for the city’s share of the parking-garage costs were provided in the record. Several items were described as moved by the presiding member and seconded by Massey; Rodriguez is recorded as seconding at least one motion in the minutes.

Votes at a glance: - Accept 2025 scribe grant initiative funding for Police Department, $112,000 — approved (mover: presiding member; second: Massey; outcome: approved). - Transfer $3,500 within Golden Area Transport (Gas & Oil → Vehicles) for new bus — approved (mover: presiding member; second: Massey; outcome: approved). - Transfer $40,000 within Department of Public Works (Maintenance → Street overtime) to cover overdraft — approved (mover: presiding member; second: Massey; outcome: approved). - Award resolution for surplus-vehicle auction (Auctions International) receipts $2,200 — approved (mover: presiding member; second: Massey; outcome: approved). - Temporary borrowing from general fund to cover senior-center bathroom renovation and security-camera projects (to be repaid with $275,000 grant reimbursements) — approved (mover: presiding member; second: Massey; outcome: approved). - Amend/approve Orange and Rockland proposal for parking garage; approve $126,567 for power-line relocation; garage total cost about $2,500,000 (city share not fully funded) — approved (mover: presiding member; second: Massey; outcome: approved).

Looking ahead, staff said they will continue negotiations with Orange and Rockland and return with more precise scheduling and financing details. The board adjourned after the listed items were completed.