Votes at a glance: Middletown council adopts Vision Zero, approves school‑and‑library governance changes, and funds middle‑school trip

Below are the principal formal actions recorded during the meeting. Where a roll‑call tally was not requested, votes were recorded as voice votes in the transcript.

1) Vision Zero resolution — adopted Motion: To pass the Vision Zero resolution (see agenda item 4). Outcome: Approved (voice vote). The resolution puts the town on record in support of a 10‑year goal to eliminate fatal and serious‑injury crashes and authorizes staff to finalize a local safety action plan for grant eligibility.

2) Gaudet Middle School seventh‑grade New York City trip — contribution authorized ($3,000) Motion: Receive memorandum and authorize a contribution from the council president’s discretionary fund. The council amended an initial $1,500 figure and approved $3,000. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). Note: Council asked for updates on fund status prior to the bus deposit deadline in February.

3) Mobile sauna (facility use) permit for Surfers’ End — approved, subject to conditions Motion: Grant the facility use permit for a mobile sauna and cold plunge on weekends in the off‑season (through April 20) occupying 1–2 parking spaces. Conditions recorded in the motion: certificate of insurance naming the Town of Middletown as certificate holder, CPR certification (or equivalent safety credential) and confirmation of required insurance; permitted use limited through 2025‑04‑20. Outcome: Approved (voice vote).

4) Ordinances and code amendments — second readings adopted (voice votes) - Tree preservation and protection (amendments to Chapter 96) — adopted with minor edits. - Short‑term rental code amendment (Chapter 98, window definitions and related enforcement language) — adopted; change allows building official to apply the residential code to historic windows in some short‑term rental cases. - School Building Committee organizational clarifications (Title 3, Chapter 32) — adopted (clean‑up to committee duties and minutes responsibility). - Library Building Committee creation and membership (Title 3, Chapter 32) — adopted with minor edits (interior design expertise added to expected member experience and the secretary role clarified). - Traffic code: school zone addition and speed unit clarification (Title 7, Chapter 75) — adopted. - Fees schedule (Title 3, Chapter 36) — adopted (building/zoning permit fee updates). Notes: Each ordinance adoption recorded as a voice vote during second reading; where edits were proposed they were passed as amendments prior to final adoption.

5) Planning & engineering contract award — authorized Resolution approving award of on‑call development plan‑review and engineering services contract (MIDD‑025‑001) and authorizing the finance director to execute the contract with the recommended firm. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). The town’s planner recommended continuing with a preferred, competitively selected firm.

6) Board and committee appointments — several appointments approved (voice votes) Council voted to fill multiple municipal committee seats, including reappointments and new appointments for the Beach Commission, Open Space and Fields Committee, Outreach Committee, Personnel Board, Tax Exploration Committee and others. (Individual appointment lists are available in the meeting minutes.)

7) Other routine motions The council received routine reports (quarterly tax‑collector report) and procedural motions (e.g., referral of a zoning sign window change to the Planning Board) and approved the consent calendar with exceptions noted on the record.

If readers want the full verbatim action language (motions as read into the record), the clerk’s docket and the posted meeting minutes contain each motion and the procedural record of mover/second where available.