Legislative committee advances Winter Street parking resolution, backs outreach plan

The Middletown legislative committee voted to move a Winter Street parking resolution out of committee after members endorsed a public‑communications plan and discussed steps to keep streets passable during snow events. Chair (unnamed) made the motion to accept the resolution as presented and the committee voted in favor, with the Chair announcing the motion carried.

The Mayor told the committee, “You have a draft resolution in front of you,” and described a multi‑channel outreach effort that will include direct mailings to each residence ward‑by‑ward, the city’s Civic Ready alert system, social media and a proposed dedicated phone line for residents to check daily emergency and snow‑related conditions. “We’re going to communicate it in many, many ways,” the Mayor said, adding the city is looking for ideas from aldermen and staff.

The Mayor said the communications will include guidance to residents about overnight parking and a reminder to avoid parking on lawns. He said the city would also provide contact numbers for aldermen and the council president on mailed notices and noted some residents lack access to computers or cell phones.

On operational responses to heavy snow, the Mayor said the city may consider temporarily prohibiting parking on one side of narrow streets if plows or emergency vehicles cannot pass. He asked public works for a report on streets where parked cars impede plowing, citing examples of narrow sections around Du Bois, Earl and Prospect streets. “According to Jacob, it’s the end of the world,” the Mayor said when relaying the foreman’s concerns about some routes.

Members signaled support for moving the resolution forward. Miss Ray said the committee has reached the action phase of the project and urged moving ahead. Mister Kleiner asked whether the city had identified alternate parking spaces for residents who must move cars during storm events. The Mayor pointed to several city‑owned vacant lots that could be developed into public parking — for example, the large lot on North Street near the old Newberg Banana Place and parcels on Linden Avenue — but cautioned such conversions would require engineering and funding for drainage and construction.

When the Chair asked whether the committee could vote the measure out that night, the Mayor confirmed a public hearing had already been held and the committee could vote. The Chair moved to accept the resolution as presented, asked for and received a second, and announced the vote carried, moving the item out of committee. The committee then moved to adjourn.

The measure will advance out of committee for the next steps in the council process; no additional dates or implementation details were specified at the meeting.