Middletown Board of Estimate approves routine contracts, budget transfers and 2% raises for department heads

The Middletown Board of Estimate on Nov. 27 approved a slate of routine contracts, intra-department budget transfers and a 2% salary increase for department heads and full-time nonunion employees, and moved to obligate remaining ARPA funds toward ambulance services.

Most items were approved by voice vote with two members voting "aye" and Council President Rodriguez recorded absent. Approvals included vendor agreements for wildlife control, aerial imagery, auditing services and workplace-comp insurance, targeted transfers inside the sewer, police and community development budgets, and authorization of an assessment collector's warrant for 2025.

The board authorized a transfer within the 2024 sewer budget moving $2,340 from "sewage material and supplies" to "sewage training." It approved a one-year agreement with Tri State Geese Police for Canadian geese control in 2025 at a rate the board recorded as $3.85 per week, a $10 increase from the prior year; minutes reflect that the vendor's work last year "met expectations in reducing the geese population in our parks." The board also renewed an agreement with Nearmap for twice-yearly aerial imagery for use by the assessor's office and authorized the mayor to sign the contract.

Within the police department 2024 budget the board approved multiple within-department transfers to cover equipment purchases and training: $15,000 from personal services to other equipment (for RBT equipment), $3,700 from personnel training to other equipment (for a new drone), $1,250 for chemical analysis to meet OSHA requirements, funds to cover background investigations for new hires, $5,000 from personal services to repairs to cover a new engine for Car 12, $2,000 from personal services to office expense for a replacement board for classrooms, and $15,000 from personal services to overtime to cover a 2024 shortfall. Motions were seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board approved an agreement for auditing services (referenced in the minutes as the RPT/RBT proposal) for fiscal year 2025 and authorized the mayor to sign; it also approved renewal of the PERMA workers' compensation contract for 2025.

The board approved a contract for security-system upgrades (described in the record as proposed Stratagem security upgrades) for multiple municipal locations including Jerry's Park, Robert Street, Orchard Street, City Hall, the Senior Center and recreation facilities. Members voted to amend the authorization to explicitly allow the mayor to sign the contract and then approved the amended motion.

Finance staff asked the board to obligate remaining unspent ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds so the city would meet federal deadlines. Staff said an earlier round of obligations left a remaining balance of $29,000 from a cancelled project; the board approved appropriating that remaining balance toward an ambulance-services contract. Staff stated contracts or purchase orders would be in place by Dec. 31, 2024, and that reporting for the funds continues through a later date noted in the meeting transcript as "02/1926." The board also approved an agreement with Don Paris and RBT CPA for ARPA consulting services; staff stated the consultant fees as an hourly arrangement and said Don Paris' filing work runs about $400 per quarter and RBT's costs about $1,700 per quarter.

Community Development staff (Maria Bruni) received approval to transfer $650 within the 2024 Community Development budget from advertising to equipment rental.

On personnel, the board authorized a 2% salary increase for all department heads and full-time nonunion employees effective January 2025. The board removed Alderman Joseph G. Massey from the list of eligible recipients before the vote because, members said, his name appeared on the list and he would otherwise need to abstain; the amended list excluding Massey was approved.

Other routine business approved included the assessment collector's warrant for 2025 and authorization for the mayor to execute various agreements. No substantive public debate or appeals were recorded in the minutes; most items were approved by voice vote with two "aye" responses recorded and Council President Rodriguez noted as absent.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes of Nov. 27, 2024 — motion moved by Alderman Joseph G. Massey; second recorded; approved by voice vote (ayes recorded). - Transfer $2,340 within 2024 sewer budget (sewage material and supplies → sewage training) — approved by voice vote. - Agreement with Tri State Geese Police for Canadian geese control in 2025 at $3.85/week (noted as $10 increase) — approved by voice vote; mayor authorized to sign. - Renew agreement with Nearmap for biannual aerial imagery for assessor's office — approved by voice vote; mayor authorized to sign. - Police department intra-budget transfers (multiple lines totaling various amounts for equipment, training, OSHA chemical analysis, background checks, repairs, office expenses, overtime) — approved by voice vote. - Audit services agreement (RPT/RBT) for FY2025 — approved by voice vote; mayor authorized to sign. - Renew PERMA workers' compensation contract for 2025 — approved by voice vote; mayor authorized to sign. - Contract for municipal security-system upgrades (Stratagem; locations listed) — amended to authorize mayor to sign; amended motion approved by voice vote. - Approve assessment collector's warrant for 2025 — approved by voice vote. - Agreement with Don Paris and RBT CPA for ARPA consulting services — approved by voice vote; staff noted estimated quarterly fees of about $400 for Don Paris and $1,700 for RBT. - Obligate remaining ARPA funds (including $29,000 from a cancelled project) and appropriate to ambulance services contract; board approved and recorded required deadlines for obligation and reporting in the minutes. - Transfer $650 within 2024 Community Development budget (advertising → equipment rental) — approved by voice vote. - Authorize 2% salary increase for department heads and full-time nonunion employees effective Jan. 2025; amended list excluding Alderman Joseph G. Massey approved to avoid conflict — approved by voice vote.

Local officials who spoke during the session included the presiding board member (name not specified in the transcript), Alderman Joseph G. Massey, finance staff member Leonor/Leonora (last name not specified), Maria Bruni (Community Development staff), and an individual referenced as Joe (staff). The meeting record shows routine approvals with limited discussion; no contested or failed motions were recorded.