Votes at a glance: Middletown Common Council approves grants, code changes and budget transfers

The Middletown Common Council approved a package of resolutions covering grants, budget transfers, code revisions and administrative actions in a single meeting.

Key outcomes (roll calls recorded verbally as unanimous unless noted):

- Golden Age Transportation Program amendment (accept additional funding from Orange County Office for the Aging). Motion sponsored by Alderman Massey; carried by roll call (all aye recorded).

- Budget transfer within the 2025 Department of Public Works budget to cover vehicle purchases. Sponsor: Alderman Jean Francois; carried (all aye recorded).

- Acceptance of CREST (community resiliency, economic sustainability and technology) grant funds secured through Senator Skoufis’ office to support senior-center restroom upgrades and downtown camera upgrades. Sponsor: Alderman Tobin; carried (all aye recorded). Mayor and chief provided context for intended uses.

- Salary adjustments and review of employee exemption status in accordance with New York State law. Sponsor: Alderman Johnson; carried (all aye recorded).

- Treasurer authorized to transfer funds to cover final 2024 fiscal-year overdrafts. Sponsor: Alderman Massey; carried (all aye recorded).

- Authorization to hire CDM Smith and commit funding for the Indigo-area water study. Sponsor: Alderman Witt; carried (all aye recorded). (See separate article on the Indigo study.)

- Amendment to Chapter 4‑38 of the city code regarding tobacco, hookah and vaping establishment licenses. Sponsor: Alderman Green; carried (all aye recorded).

- Amendment to Chapter 4‑60 of the city code to prohibit left turns from the Park Circle parking lot onto North Street. Sponsor: Alderman Kleiner; carried (all aye recorded).

- Public hearing authorized on proposed short‑term rental legislation. Sponsor: Alderman Johnson; carried (all aye recorded).

- Prospect Avenue designated one‑way between Wickham and Linden in a westerly direction. Sponsor: Alderman Johnson; carried (all aye recorded).

Council also moved the audit order to authorize payment of claims; that motion carried with a roll call of ayes. Many of the roll‑call sequences listed the same eight council names as voting “Aye.” The meeting transcript records unanimous recorded votes on these items.

Why it matters: The resolutions allocate grant money for senior services and public safety technology, adjust budgets for vehicles and overdrafts, change local ordinance language for tobacco and parking, and move forward a study that could affect long‑term water planning. The short‑term rental item will proceed to public hearing.