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Middletown council forgives $103,212 hydrant debt, adopts wiring code and approves staffing changes
Summary
At its June 11 meeting the Middletown Town Council unanimously approved a resolution forgiving $103,212 in fire-hydrant debt, adopted the Electric Wiring Code ordinance, and approved several personnel and operational changes including returning dispatch to police control and a dispatcher’s move to full time.
The Middletown Town Council on June 11 approved several fiscal and operational measures, including a unanimous vote to forgive $103,212 in outstanding fire-hydrant debt.
Council Member Donita Chambless moved to approve Resolution 2019-5-21-1 to forgive the hydrant debt; Dan Fountain seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The council also advanced and adopted Electric Wiring Code 2019-4 in second and third readings; the ordinance will be signed at the June 18 council meeting.
The meeting produced a series of personnel and operations votes. The council voted to return the Dispatch Department to Police Department control while keeping two budgets for the remainder of the year and a single department head and dispatch supervisor; Dispatch Supervisor Brenda Real agreed to the change and Police Chief Amanda Kirby made the request. The council approved moving Shea Kirk from part time to full-time dispatcher at pay grade 5, and approved giving dispatchers the same option as police officers to choose 1½ hours of comp time or overtime pay for hours worked over 80 in a pay period.
Other actions included a vote to keep the recycling dumpsters behind the municipal building (the motion carried 4–1, with Dick Schwalm voting nay) and approval of two new hires, Robert Barker (Grade 4) and Rick Hollingsworth (Grade 5). Town Supervisor Carl Spears reported those hires had been interviewed by Dick Schwalm and the hires were approved unanimously. Councilors discussed the possibility of moving to a single-company trash pickup service but took no formal action on that proposal.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2019-5-21-1 (forgive fire-hydrant debt): approved unanimously. - Electric Wiring Code 2019-4 (ordinance adoption): approved unanimously; to be signed June 18. - Keep recycling dumpsters behind municipal building: approved, 4–1 (nay: Dick Schwalm). - Return Dispatch Department to Police Department control and staffing structure: approved unanimously. - Shea Kirk to full-time dispatcher (pay grade 5): approved unanimously. - Dispatchers’ comp time/OT policy: approved (no roll-call recorded). - New hires (Robert Barker, Rick Hollingsworth): approved unanimously. - Removal of summer-sprinkling discount to shore sewer fund revenue: approved unanimously (see separate coverage).
The council adjourned after handling the agenda and public-service updates. The next council meeting was set for June 18, when the wiring-code ordinance will be signed.
