Middletown officials approve ordinance allowing tax exemption for Riverbend music venue operated by New Haven Center of Performing Arts

Middletown officials voted to approve an ordinance that would enable state-authorized tax exemptions for a proposed outdoor Riverbend music venue operated by the New Haven Center of Performing Arts.

The director explained the request, saying, “This is the proposed outdoor Riverbend music venue,” and that the operator—identified in backup materials as the New Haven Center of Performing Arts—has nonprofit status federally but needs a municipality to pass an ordinance under the state tax statute (referenced in the record as 12-81(58)) to permit local exemptions for both real and personal property.

The body discussed logistical and legal details before voting. A committee member asked whether the town owned the land and noted, “We own the property, right? So there's no property tax,” prompting the director to clarify that while the town owns the land, there are lease arrangements in other cases where real estate taxes can be imposed and that the ordinance language would cover both real and personal property in certain leasing scenarios. The director also described that the operator would lease the site, supply equipment and fixtures and likely be the primary tenant while allowing vendors and subcontractors as needed.

Committee members flagged a drafting problem in the ordinance that referenced refunds being handled by “the treasurer of the city of Middletown,” noting the town no longer has a treasurer. The body agreed to amend that language to reference the finance director. The director said she would work with a committee member to add clarifying verbiage in the agenda/backups so readers can match the operator’s legal name to the shorthand used in the draft ordinance.

The chair additionally noted that the municipality previously provided ARPA funding for some of the operator’s equipment, which is currently in storage; no dollar amount was provided in the record.

After the amendment to replace the treasurer reference with finance director language was proposed and seconded, members voted by voice and the motion carried. The meeting also approved the minutes and accepted the calendar subject to later adjustments for scheduling conflicts raised for January 9 and July 10.

Votes at a glance: the body approved the minutes for 10/29/2024, accepted the calendar with planned later adjustments, approved the ordinance (272-6) as amended to reference the finance director, and thereafter adjourned.

Next steps: the director and a committee member will revise the ordinance language and backup materials to clarify the operator’s legal name and the mechanics of refunds/adjustments for finance staff; no further timeline was specified in the record.