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Council presses directors on library theft, brewery lease, unpaid electric bills and emergency repairs
Summary
During the Feb. 3 workshop councilmembers asked city directors about a library theft under police investigation, a planned notice to quit for a departing tenant (Stubborn Beauty Brewing), a $160,000 appropriation to cover unpaid electric charges and an emergency repair to Liberty Bank funded by the water and sewer fund.
At the same Feb. 3 questions-to-directors workshop, councilmembers shifted from the Board of Education presentation to operational items and asked city directors for status updates on multiple matters.
Library theft and police follow-up
A councilmember raised a Hartford Courant article about alleged thefts of library books. A city director said missing items had been reported to Middletown Police in early 2024 and that an arrest had been made; the director said they would request the investigating officer’s itemized records of missing or sold books so the council could be briefed with specifics.
Stubborn Beauty Brewing lease
Councilmembers asked about Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company leaving after about ten years. City staff said they attempted to schedule a meeting with the tenant to discuss closing and removal of property but received no response; the legal department planned to file a notice to quit and staff agreed to follow up and report back to council.
Unpaid electricity charges and appropriation
Council questioned a roughly $160,000 appropriation for municipal electricity charges that had gone unpaid after a billing hand-off during staff turnover. Finance staff explained Constellation (the electricity supplier) had contacted the mayor’s office; the city re-appropriated funds into the current year’s electricity budget because last year’s budget was closed by audit and prior-year lines could not be used.
Emergency repair at Liberty Bank
A councilmember asked whether emergency repair costs for a Liberty Bank locker room discovered under a sidewalk would be reimbursable. Finance staff said the condition was unforeseen during water-main construction, the change order was funded from the water and sewer fund and the city did not expect to recover the cost through insurance or from the contractor.
Next steps
Directors and legal counsel agreed to follow up with written details requested by council (itemized missing-library records, lease status and any notice-to-quit filings, and confirmation on whether the notice to quit or related receivable reports were sent to committee members). The workshop adjourned to reconvene the regular meeting.
