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Middletown Board of Estimate approves grants, fund transfers and equipment purchases
Summary
At a March 20 meeting the Middletown Board of Estimate approved a Stop-DWI grant, several fund transfers tied to water and courthouse projects, a donation for a police license-plate reader, a new abandoned-property policy and routine contracts for building security and event support.
The Middletown Board of Estimate approved a package of routine grants, fund transfers and contracts at its March 20 meeting, including state stop‑DWI funding, a donation for a license‑plate reader and transfers to support water system work and a courthouse renovation.
Why it matters: The actions move several city projects and routine operations forward, including planned water system improvements and a courthouse renovation that the board said will be reimbursed by an identified grant. Several items were approved by voice vote with no extended debate.
The board voted to authorize acceptance of the 2026 Stop DWI grant. Council President Rodriguez seconded the motion; the board approved it by voice vote. The police chief described the grant as the department’s normal recurring award and noted the grant was slightly larger than in prior years.
The board also authorized contracts to secure the county fire safety trailer for National Night Out and Kids Day events this summer; accepted a $4,000 donation from the Downtown Middletown Business Improvement District to buy a license‑plate reader for the Middletown Police Department (the board asked staff to pass thanks along to the BID); and approved an agreement with Harry Rotolo and Sons for alarm‑system monitoring for city buildings.
On capital and fund transfers, the board approved a debt service fund balance transfer to cover the city portion of the Water System Improvements phases 1 and 2 (the motion referenced a $700,000 city match). Separately, the board authorized a temporary transfer of $999,977.50 from an infill development project account to the courthouse renovation project; the minutes record that the transfer will be reimbursed by a grant identified in the meeting as from "Senator Scoofus."
The board unanimously adopted a policy for handling abandoned property claims to comply with New York State unclaimed property law. Mr. Smith, who drafted the policy on behalf of the city, told the board that the policy implements the state requirement to report payroll and vendor checks that are more than one year old and turn unclaimed funds over to the state. He said the city had received compliance checklists and that noncompliance could carry penalties.
A request to waive two snow‑removal fines levied against a Veteran was discussed; the board voted to table the waiver and directed staff to investigate the circumstances and the photographic evidence presented.
Votes at a glance (items recorded on the agenda): - 3.1 Authorization to approve 2026 Stop DWI grant funding — motion passed by voice vote (mover: Mayor; second: Council President Rodriguez). - 3.2 Authorization to secure county fire safety trailer for National Night Out and Kids Day — motion passed by voice vote (mover: Mayor; second: Council President Rodriguez). - 3.3 Acceptance of $4,000 donation from Downtown Middletown Business Improvement District for license‑plate reader — motion passed by voice vote (mover: Council President Rodriguez; second: Mayor). - 3.4 Debt service fund balance transfer to cover city portion of Water System Improvements phases 1 and 2 (motion referenced $700,000) — motion passed by voice vote (mover: Mayor; second: Council President Rodriguez). - 3.5 Adoption of abandoned property/claims fund policy to comply with New York State unclaimed property law — motion passed by voice vote (mover: Mayor; second: Council President Rodriguez). - 3.6 Authorization to transfer $999,977.50 from an infill development project account to the courthouse renovation (temporary borrowing; to be reimbursed by a grant identified as from "Senator Scoofus") — motion passed by voice vote (mover: Mayor; second: Council President Rodriguez). - 3.8 Authorization of agreement with Harry Rotolo and Sons for alarm monitoring — motion passed by voice vote (mover: Mayor; second: Council President Rodriguez).
What the record shows: Most items were approved by voice vote with no roll‑call tally recorded in the transcript. The transcript identifies motions and seconds for each item but does not record individual yes/no votes or abstentions by name for these agenda items.
Next steps: City staff will implement the contract actions and the finance department will process the approved transfers. The snow‑removal waiver was tabled pending staff follow‑up.
