Middletown Board approves routine budget transfers, service agreements and 2% pay increase for department heads

The Middletown Board of Estimate and Apportionment on Nov. 27 approved a series of routine budget transfers, vendor agreements and policy actions, including a 2% salary increase for department heads and full-time nonunion employees effective Jan. 1, 2025.

The board unanimously approved intra-department transfers including a $2,340 reallocation within the sewer budget to fund sewage training and several police-department transfers to cover equipment and training costs (including a new drone, RBT equipment purchases, vehicle repairs and overtime shortfalls). The board also approved the RBT audit proposal for fiscal year 2025 and a renewal of the Perma workers' compensation contract for 2025.

Board members approved a 2025 agreement with Tri State Geese Police for Canadian geese control at a rate of $3.85 per week, a $10-per-week increase from last year. Members noted a typographical error in the packet where “parks” was misspelled. The board also authorized a renewal with Nearmap for semiannual aerial imagery to support the assessor’s office.

On ARPA funds, the board authorized obligating the remaining unspent federal recovery funds to meet the Dec. 31, 2024 compliance deadline and to appropriate portions toward an ambulance contract covering 2025–26; staff clarified this action reassigns already received ARPA funds rather than adding new dollars. A staff member said of consultant reporting, “For Don, it's about 400 a quarter,” and said RBT’s quarterly fee is about $1,700. The board approved agreements with Don Paris and RBT for ARPA consulting and authorized the mayor to sign pending corporation counsel review.

During the vote on a 2% increase for department heads and full-time nonunion employees, one council member who would have a conflict was removed from the eligible list before the board voted on the amended list; the amended list then carried. The board discussed the possibility of future adjustments tied to projected additional revenues but did not change the approved 2% rate.

Votes at a glance (each approved by voice vote): • Item 3.1 — Transfer within sewer budget: approved (yes: Unidentified Speaker 1; yes: Alderman Massey). • Item 3.2 — Tri State Geese Police agreement (2025): approved (yes: Unidentified Speaker 1; yes: Alderman Massey). • Nearmap aerial imagery renewal: approved (yes: Unidentified Speaker 1; yes: Alderman Massey). • Item 3.4 — Police budget transfers (equipment, training, repairs, overtime): approved (yes: Unidentified Speaker 1; yes: Alderman Massey). • Item 3.5 — RBT audit services FY25: approved (yes: Unidentified Speaker 1; yes: Alderman Massey). • Item 3.6 — Perma workers' comp renewal: approved (moved by O'Mahieu; seconded by Alderman Massey). • Item 3.7 — Security system upgrades and authorization for mayor to sign: approved. • Item 3.8 — Assessment collector's warrant for 2025: approved. • Item 3.9 — Agreements for ARPA consulting with Don Paris and RBT: approved. • Item 3.10 — Obligate remaining ARPA funds and appropriate for ambulance contract: approved. • Item 3.11 — Community development transfer ($650 advertising → equipment rental): approved. • Item 3.12 — 2% salary increase for department heads and full-time nonunion employees (amended eligibility list): approved.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn. The board did not record any recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript beyond the general voice votes; votes in the record were indicated by two affirmative responses for each item (the presiding speaker and Alderman Massey).