Middletown Board of Estimate approves elevator contract renewal, policing grants and riparian-buffer design work

Middletown — The Middletown Board of Estimate on July 10 approved a package of routine contract renewals, budget transfers and grant acceptances, including a three-year renewal with Quality Elevator Inspection, acceptance of federal and state public‑safety grants for the police department and authorization for a riparian‑buffer design phase paid from existing water‑quality grants.

The actions, taken by voice vote during the board's July 10 meeting, included: renewal of an annual elevator inspection contract with Quality Elevator Inspection (annual fee increasing from $400 to $425); acceptance of the city's 2025 consolidated plan and an associated Community Development allocation of $426,960; insertion of a $10,000 camera replacement expense into the JAG grant budget; multiple intra‑departmental transfers to buy traffic‑analysis software and stop‑stick devices; acceptance of a $10,100,000 Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) grant administered by New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services; and authorization of CDM Smith to proceed with Phase 1 design for riparian buffer restoration funded by the state's Water Quality Improvement Projects (WQIP) grants rounds 14 and 15.

Why it matters: Several items affect public safety and stormwater management. The GIVE grant is intended to fund additional police patrols focused on high‑crime areas, while the riparian‑buffer work is meant to reduce runoff and protect drinking reservoirs. The WQIP grants used for the riparian project require a 25% city match but board members were told no additional city funding is requested for the Phase 1 design work at this time.

Board actions and context

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