Middletown officials say underground breaks drained about 500,000 gallons daily; council approves multiple transfers, grants and reappointments

The Middletown Common Council on Tuesday heard from the city's public works commissioner that crews have located numerous underground water-main breaks that, together, were losing "half a million gallons" of finished water per day and approved multiple budget transfers and other routine resolutions.

DPW Commissioner Jacob told the council the city had been pumping from Indigo Creek nearly nonstop for about a month under its water-taking permit and that repairs and camera inspections in sewer and storm lines helped crews find a series of underground breaks. "We've been losing about on top of the drought that we just came out from, we've been losing about half a million gallon per day in our finished water," Jacob said. He credited water department staff'Brian Smith, Scott Mills, Bob Reynolds and Ed Gallon'for working day and night to locate the leaks.

The finding followed an extended pumping effort the city described as necessary to maintain water supplies. Jacob said reservoir levels are now above 90 percent and that flows were returning toward normal after the repairs. He also said the 24-hour pumping increased fuel use and prompted transfers in the water department budget to cover unplanned diesel and other costs incurred during the operation.

Why it matters: large, sustained water losses increase operating costs, can strain capital repair budgets and risk service interruptions for residents. Council members pressed for clarity on the transfers and the departments involved; Alderman McCliner pointed the public to the meeting packet for line-item details.

Council action and key votes

The council passed a series of mostly uncontested resolutions by roll call. Sponsors, seconds and vote outcomes are recorded in the council minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Transfer of funds within the 2024 Water Department budget to cover shortages. Sponsor: Alderman Olman Massey; second: Alderman Green. Outcome: Approved (Tobin, Jean Francois, Johnson, Kleiner, Green, Witt, Massey, President Rodriguez: Aye).

- Transfer of funds for boiler repairs in the Recreation Department. Sponsor: Alderman Witt; second: Alderman McCliner. Outcome: Approved (unanimous roll call recorded).

- Approval of a proposal from IWS for hauling and disposal of city municipal solid waste in 2025. Sponsor: Alderman Jean Francois (motion and second recorded). Outcome: Approved (unanimous roll call recorded).

- Transfer within the Recreation (sports) budget for 2024. Sponsor: Alderman Green; second: Kleiner. Outcome: Approved (unanimous roll call recorded).

- Acceptance of a $30,000 grant from the Orange County Youth Bureau for youth leadership, junior police academy and outreach programs. Sponsor: Alderman Kleiner; second: Jean Francois. Outcome: Approved (unanimous roll call recorded).

- Acceptance of a $10,000 grant from the office of New York State Senator James Scoofus and the Department of Criminal Justice Services for 2025's National Night Out event. Sponsor: Alderman Johnson; second: Alderman Green. Outcome: Approved (unanimous roll call recorded).

- Acceptance of a $150,000 2025 SNUG grant award from the Department of Criminal Justice Services for anti-violence initiatives. Sponsor: Alderman Johnson; second: Jean Francois. Outcome: Approved (unanimous roll call recorded).

- A 2% pay increase for the secretary to the Civil Service Commission. Sponsor: Alderman Tobin; second: Alderman McCliner. Outcome: Approved (7 Aye, 1 Abstain; Alderman Massey recorded as abstaining).

- Agreement (recorded as "grama with H 2 O") for management services at the water treatment plants. Sponsor: Alderman Jean Francois; second: Alderman Green. Outcome: Approved (unanimous roll call recorded).

- Agreement with the Humane Society of Port Jervis in Deer Park (authorizing an agreement). Sponsor: Alderman Johnson; second: Alderman Tobin. Outcome: Approved (unanimous roll call recorded).

- Resolutions related to zoning and planning: notice and determination of non-significance for minimum square footage for new single-family dwellings and a separate amendment to city code to adopt minimum square footage for new single-family dwellings; notice and determination of non-significance for subdivisions at the Community Campus. Sponsors included Aldermen Johnson, Kleiner and Green. Outcomes: Approved (roll calls recorded).

- Reappointments and appointments: Maria Bruni reappointed director of Economic and Community Development; reappointments to the IDA, planning board, zoning and other boards; appointment of Kogani Ram Kasun as a nonvoting delegate to the Recreation Commission; award of ornamental light fixture bids to Bridal Brothers of Middletown. Outcomes: Approved (roll calls recorded).

Public comment and other department reports

During public comment, Phil, who identified himself as the owner of New Middletown store on North Street (the old Tompkins building), said his store is partnering with the city on Chinese New Year events this weekend and invited residents to attend. "It's gonna start promptly at 12PM. Doors open at 11:30 this Saturday," Phil said, describing music, dance, dragon and lion performances and free family-friendly activities.

Maria (Bruni), director of Economic and Community Development, gave a brief update on upcoming events at the Paramount and community programming and noted agency annual meetings her office has been hosting.

The Recreation superintendent listed ongoing winter programs and upcoming events including a Winter Fest on Saturday, Feb. 8, and a ''Sweetheart Skate' for Feb. 13.

Police Chief noted the swearing-in of Police Officer Jonathan Gay.

Discussion vs. decisions

The council distinguished between discussion and formal actions. Commissioners and department heads provided operational updates and background (discussion). Several items directed staff to continue interagency coordination (for example, ongoing meetings with the county and neighboring towns about additional water sources), but the council's formal, recorded outcomes were the roll-call resolutions summarized above.

Clarifying details

- Estimated water loss: about 500,000 gallons per day (DPW Commissioner Jacob's description of combined underground breaks).

- Water-budget transfers: council members said packet materials show three transfers in the water department for materials and supplies, contractual services and payroll/fuel (including diesel used during continuous pumping). Specific dollar amounts for these transfers were not specified in the meeting transcript.

- Grants: $30,000 (Orange County Youth Bureau); $10,000 (office of NY State Senator James Scoofus / DCJS for National Night Out); $150,000 (2025 SNUG DCJS anti-violence grant).

- Public event: Phil's Chinese New Year activities and a separate dragon/lion performance at Run For Downtown Park; Phil reported roughly 300 people had shown interest on social media and more than 100 free RSVPs.

Community impact and next steps

Council members repeatedly thanked public works and street crews for snow removal and water repairs. Officials said more detail on some transfers and contracts is posted in the meeting packet and on the city website. Staff were directed to continue coordination with the county executive, the Town of Goshen and other partners about water sources and infrastructure repairs.

The council did not set specific new deadlines at the meeting for long-term projects such as the Indigo reservoir idea, which was described as a long-standing aspiration dating back decades.