Middleton finance committee approves bills, contracts and appointment; awards $120,400 tree-removal contract

The Middleton Finance and Personnel Committee on July 7 approved a slate of invoices, contracts and personnel changes, including a $120,400 contract for street-tree removals and the appointment of Placido Rivera as building inspection manager.

Finance staff flagged three additions to the accounts-payable packet: an initial automated-materials-handling payment to Bibliotheca for $133,006.59; a $442.50 legal-services invoice to Murphy Desmond; and a $6,004.50 invoice listed in the transcript as to “Plant Moran” for ERP implementation assistance. Committee members accepted the invoices and the credit-card report with those additions in a voice vote (motion moved by Alder Madden; seconded by Baines).

The committee approved Resolution 2026-27, a budget amendment to increase the South Pond dredging project appropriation within the stormwater utility. “It is increasing the appropriation for this project account from 75,000 to 95,000,” finance staff (Bill) said, adding the additional cost will be covered by stormwater utility funds on hand. The resolution passed by voice vote.

Engineering agreements with MSA Professional Services were approved for two pond projects: a Confluence Pond weir modification not to exceed $36,000, and South Pond dredging design not to exceed $84,377. Committee members asked whether a public meeting was planned for Confluence; staff said the phrase “meeting with the public” in the draft agreement may be a grammatical error and that no specific public meeting is currently planned for that project.

The committee approved a parks and recreation management software agreement with Rec Desk LLC not to exceed $7,500 (subject to city attorney approval). Parks staff said the city was invoiced $6,602 this year and that the new contract formalizes an existing working relationship; the service is currently a one-year subscription with anticipated annual COLA increases.

On tree work, the committee awarded a contract to Bully Tree and Landscape for removals and stump grinding not to exceed $120,400, subject to city attorney approval. Forestry staff said the city completed a street-tree inventory in late 2024 and early 2025 that assigned priorities and identified trees recommended for removal because they were dead, dying or structurally unsalvageable. “As part of the forestry management plan, it identifies a capacity for tree planting within the city of about a 100 to a 120 trees per year,” staff said, and added the removals already scheduled will outpace that planting rate; staff described plans to target planting to particular neighborhoods.

The committee also approved a grant agreement and a land-use restriction agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Administration under the nonstate grant program for the Preci Park shelter. Committee members confirmed this is a $200,000 reimbursement grant; finance staff confirmed, “It’s a reimbursement grant.”

On personnel, the committee approved the appointment of Placido Rivera as building inspection manager and reorganized the building inspection division under Planning and Community Development. The motion to appoint Mr. Placido Rivera was moved by Alder Madden and seconded by Baines; the committee explained the reorganization is intended to create a seamless continuum from plan review through inspection and final occupancy.

All motions described above were passed by voice vote. The committee discussed forwarding time-sensitive items to the common council when necessary and adjourned at 06:50.

Votes at a glance: approved — acceptance of invoices and credit-card report (with listed additions); Resolution 2026-27 (South Pond budget amendment); MSA agreements for Confluence weir and South Pond dredging; Rec Desk LLC agreement; Bully Tree and Landscape contract award; Wisconsin Department of Administration grant agreement (Preci Park); appointment of Placido Rivera as building inspection manager.