Middletown Common Council approves a series of resolutions including water-project match and parking garage award

The Middletown Common Council voted to approve a package of resolutions covering grants, budget transfers, equipment purchases, public hearings and construction awards, council members announced during the meeting.

The measures were presented as individual resolutions and carried by roll call; every recorded vote on the items in the meeting record was recorded as “Aye.” Key items included a $700,000 transfer for the city’s match on water-system improvements, acceptance of several grants and donations, a transfer of $999,977.50 for the courthouse project and authorization to award construction bids and project funding for the downtown parking garage project.

Why it matters: The approved transfers and awards commit municipal funds and set procurement and public-notice steps in motion for multiple capital and operating items, including water infrastructure and a multi-phase parking structure that city leaders say will add downtown parking capacity.

What the council approved (selected highlights): - Acceptance of a $6,210 grant from the County of Orange to support enforcement related to impaired driving (presented as a STOP-DWI enforcement grant in the meeting record). Resolution sponsor: Alderman Tobin. Outcome: approved by roll call (Tobin, Johnson, Ray, Kleiner, Green, Witt, Massey, President Rodriguez — all “Aye”). - Authorization to use the County fire safety trailer for National Night Out and Kids Day events. Resolution sponsor: Alderman Massey. Outcome: approved. - Acceptance of a donation from the Middletown Business Improvement District to purchase a new license-plate reader. Resolution sponsor: Alderman Johnson. Outcome: approved. - Transfer of $700,000 from debt-service fund balance as the city match for Water System Improvement Projects Phase 2. Resolution sponsor: Alderman Ray. Outcome: approved. - Adoption of an abandoned-property/unclaimed funds policy. Resolution sponsor: Alderman Kleiner. Outcome: approved. - Transfer of $999,977.50 for courthouse project costs. Resolution sponsor: Alderman Green. Outcome: approved. - Increase in the part-time police officer hourly rate. Resolution sponsor: Alderman Witt. Outcome: approved. - Transfer of $121,914.59 from the general fund to cover DPW vehicle replacements. Resolution sponsor: Alderman Massey. Outcome: approved. - Award of an alarm-system monitoring contract with Harry Fertollow and Sons Electric for city buildings. Resolution sponsor: Alderman Tobin. Outcome: approved. - Authorization to hold public hearings on multiple 2-lot subdivisions (including 15 Mercer Avenue/16 Warren Avenue and 20½–30 Lowe Avenue). Resolutions sponsors: Aldermen Johnson and Massey. Outcome: approved. - Authorization to award construction bids and project funding for the parking garage project (parking garage Phase 1). Resolution sponsor: Alderman Ray. Outcome: approved.

All items shown as carried in the meeting record passed by voice/roll call. Several resolutions were presented with minimal debate or questions; the meeting record shows no recorded “No,” “Abstain,” or “Recused” votes on the listed items.

Meeting process and next steps: Several of the approved items—most notably the parking garage award and water-project funding—trigger procurement and contractor-start steps. The parking-garage resolution authorizes award of construction bids; council discussion indicated further design and grant-seeking will continue for a future Phase 2 but that Phase 1 is intended to be structurally designed to support later expansion.

Votes at a glance (concise list): - $6,210 County grant (STOP-DWI enforcement): Passed (roll call: Tobin, Johnson, Ray, Kleiner, Green, Witt, Massey, President Rodriguez — all Aye). - County fire-safety trailer (National Night Out/Kids Day): Passed. - Donation from Middletown BID for license-plate reader: Passed. - $700,000 transfer from debt-service for Water System Improvement Projects Phase 2 (city match): Passed. - Abandoned property/unclaimed funds policy adoption: Passed. - $999,977.50 transfer for courthouse project: Passed. - Part-time police hourly-rate increase: Passed. - $121,914.59 transfer to DPW for vehicle replacements: Passed. - Alarm-monitoring contract with Harry Fertollow and Sons Electric: Passed. - Public-hearing authorizations for two 2-lot subdivisions: Passed. - Awarding of parking-garage construction bids and project funding: Passed.

Council members recorded as voting ‘‘Aye’’ in roll calls for the unanimous items included: Alderman Tobin; Alderman Johnson; Alderman Ray; Alderman Kleiner; Alderman Green; Alderman Witt; Alderman Massey; and President Rodriguez.

Ending: The meeting record shows the council then moved to audit and routine business items; no failed or tabled resolutions were recorded for the items introduced in new business.