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Record of Proceedings

Middletown Rent Review Commission Meeting - April 22, 2026

Common Council & Commissions — Wednesday, April 22, 2026
BodyMiddletown, Connecticut
SessionCommon Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, April 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

And you know what?

0:02

If you if you don't mind, um, I might as well swear everybody in now.

0:07

That's okay with you.

0:08

Yeah, okay.

0:09

Oh why don't you just call the meeting order?

0:11

Call in obedience to order is seven oatsu.

0:14

And first we'll start with swearing everybody in and speak in somebody.

0:20

Um you'd raise your right hand if you intend to if you're one of the tenants or or uh anybody who's gonna testify tonight, just raise your hand.

0:29

Um and I'll give you the oath.

0:33

Do you solemnly swear or solemnly and sincerely affirm as the case may be that your testimony uh that you give tonight uh concerning the case shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

0:42

So I hope you got our fund penalty departure.

0:46

Yes.

0:49

And Mr.

0:49

Bally, Miss Ms.

0:50

Dougley, I couldn't hear you.

0:51

That's all.

0:53

Yes, I swear.

0:54

Yes.

0:55

All right.

0:55

All right, all right.

0:57

Thank you.

0:58

So much.

0:59

So the first thing on the agenda is public comment.

1:02

If anybody from the public would like to speak, I'm seeing nobody.

1:07

So who wants approval of minutes from the March 11th 2026 regular meeting?

1:12

So motion to approve those minutes.

1:16

Second.

1:18

Any discussion?

1:20

All in favor of approving their minutes.

1:23

Any opposed or abstain?

1:27

So the minutes are approved.

1:29

Next we have correspondence.

1:31

Is there any new correspondence?

1:33

Uh no new correspondence other than um uh new complaint that I would so if we want says uh if move okay.

1:44

Um with respect to the crooks matter, um which was pending last time.

1:52

Uh we can for just a roll minutes.

1:57

This was the matter where the gentleman had moved out and there was no claim of retaliation.

2:03

Um, and I had recommended to the commission that you know consider whether you dismiss this matter uh for lack of uh you know for lack of a plaintiff, basically lack of jurisdiction, you know, whatever you want to call it.

2:18

Um I've heard nothing new from Mr.

2:21

Crooks or the landlord uh in the inner room, and so my recommendation would be case.

2:29

Do we have a motion to dismiss it or do we want to keep it safe?

2:36

I do any there's nothing in there's no changes because dismissal make the motion so any discussion around dismissing the which Brooks complaint all in favor aye.

2:57

Let me go around the table on this since it's dismissal.

3:01

Um Mr.

3:03

Chair, aye commissioner Cronenberger, aye, Commissioner Fennel, aye, Commissioner Calvo.

3:11

Aye, Commissioner Gonishau.

3:13

Aye, Commissioner uh Rosenthal.

3:16

Aye.

3:17

Thank you.

3:18

Motion passes in that cases to submit.

3:22

Looks like the next we have only other I apologize.

3:32

I just want to I think you uh you'd be better off relating it to uh procedures, yeah.

4:13

I apologize.

4:14

So I may I recommend uh a an amendment to your motion to dismiss so that it is done in accordance with with your rule 6.1 B, which allows you to uh dismiss a complaint summarily in a situation where the complainant has moved to new housing accommodations unless there is retaliation concerns, which here is not the case.

4:40

Does somebody want to make a motion to amend the motion?

4:46

Any discussion all in favor of amending the previous motion for dismissing the case?

4:53

The opposer abstain for the motion passes.

4:56

All right, so I'll do it again, Mr.

4:58

Chair.

4:58

Commissioner Cronenberger.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Pending Litigation█████████████████████████████████████████████67%
Affordable Housing█████████████20%
Procedural█████████13%
Summary of Proceedings

Middletown Rent Review Commission Meeting - April 22, 2026

The Middletown Rent Review Commission met on April 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM, with the meeting adjourning at approximately 8:20 PM. The commission handled a dismissed case, a new complaint, several stipulated rent orders, and a compliance hearing regarding a mold repair and associated rent reduction.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the March 11, 2026 regular meeting.
  • Dismissal of Crooks Matter: On the recommendation of the attorney, the commission voted unanimously (6-0) to dismiss the complaint of Mr. Crooks under Rule 6.1B because the complainant had moved out with no retaliation claim, leaving the commission without jurisdiction.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

  • New Complaint – Nestor vs. Middletown Housing Authority: The attorney reported a new complaint filed by a tenant, Nestor, against the Middletown Housing Authority. The tenant claims excessive rent due to a change in family size affecting her Section 8 subsidy. The attorney raised a jurisdictional question because the rent change stems from federal regulations governing the housing authority. The commission decided to send notice to the housing authority and await their position while the attorney researches jurisdiction.
  • Stipulated Order – Lynch / Summer Hill Main Partnership: Ms. Lynch (complainant) and Attorney Carabetta (respondent) presented a stipulated order. The agreement sets rent at $1,390 per month from May 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027 (a $100 increase from the prior $1,290), with the landlord having completed five repairs (mildew removal, caulk replacement, fan replacement, window screens, heating knob repair, and filling cabinet gaps). One remaining repair (floor polyurethane in the living room) must be completed by August 31, 2026, with the tenant responsible for her own expenses during the temporary vacate. Ms. Lynch expressed reluctance but agreed to sign the next day. The commission conditionally accepted the stipulation pending her signature.
  • Stipulated Order – Malley & Dunkley / Gottlieb Respondents: Mr. Malley and Ms. Dunkley (complainants) reached a stipulated agreement with the respondents’ attorney (Gottlieb). Terms: March rent of $1,850 was discounted by $300, with $950 already paid and the remaining $650 (including late fees) paid on or before March 31 via the rent portal (confirmed paid). The complainants agreed to withdraw their fair rent and retaliation claims, and the respondents agreed to rescind a notice to quit upon payment. Because Attorney Gottlieb was unavailable due to a holiday, the commission conditionally accepted the stipulation pending confirmation of payment and rescission by Monday, April 27.
  • Compliance Hearing – Barnaby Matter: The commission reviewed compliance with a prior order regarding mold in Ms. Barnaby’s unit. A health department report (March 18, 2026) confirmed the mold was corrected, though the report also noted a hallway and basement floor flood, which was not part of the original order. The commission voted (5-0) to accept compliance, finding the mold issue resolved. The landlord then requested restoration of the $100 monthly rent reduction that had been imposed until the mold was fixed. The tenant had already paid April rent without the $100. After discussion, the commission ordered the tenant (Ms. Barnaby) to pay the $100 within 10 days (by May 2, 2026). The vote was unanimous (5-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Dismissal of Crooks complaint: Unanimous vote to dismiss.
  • Acceptance of Stipulated Orders: Three stipulated orders were accepted—two unconditional (Downey/Stone Press Towers and Oxford Road/Company) and two conditional (Lynch and Malley/Dunkley), all by unanimous voice or roll call votes.
  • Compliance Finding: The commission found Barnaby’s unit in compliance with the mold order, based on the health department report.
  • Restoration of $100: The commission ordered Ms. Barnaby to pay $100 within 10 days to restore the rent reduction that had been in effect during the mold issue.
  • Executive Session: The commission entered executive session for legal advice from 7:48 PM to 8:20 PM, then adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

And you know what? If you if you don't mind, um, I might as well swear everybody in now. That's okay with you. Yeah, okay. Oh why don't you just call the meeting order? Call in obedience to order is seven oatsu. And first we'll start with swearing everybody in and speak in somebody. Um you'd raise your right hand if you intend to if you're one of the tenants or or uh anybody who's gonna testify tonight, just raise your hand. Um and I'll give you the oath. Do you solemnly swear or solemnly and sincerely affirm as the case may be that your testimony uh that you give tonight uh concerning the case shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So I hope you got our fund penalty departure. Yes. And Mr. Bally, Miss Ms. Dougley, I couldn't hear you. That's all. Yes, I swear. Yes. All right. All right, all right. Thank you. So much. So the first thing on the agenda is public comment. If anybody from the public would like to speak, I'm seeing nobody. So who wants approval of minutes from the March 11th 2026 regular meeting? So motion to approve those minutes. Second. Any discussion? All in favor of approving their minutes. Any opposed or abstain? So the minutes are approved. Next we have correspondence. Is there any new correspondence? Uh no new correspondence other than um uh new complaint that I would so if we want says uh if move okay. Um with respect to the crooks matter, um which was pending last time. Uh we can for just a roll minutes. This was the matter where the gentleman had moved out and there was no claim of retaliation. Um, and I had recommended to the commission that you know consider whether you dismiss this matter uh for lack of uh you know for lack of a plaintiff, basically lack of jurisdiction, you know, whatever you want to call it. Um I've heard nothing new from Mr. Crooks or the landlord uh in the inner room, and so my recommendation would be case. Do we have a motion to dismiss it or do we want to keep it safe? I do any there's nothing in there's no changes because dismissal make the motion so any discussion around dismissing the which Brooks complaint all in favor aye. Let me go around the table on this since it's dismissal. Um Mr. Chair, aye commissioner Cronenberger, aye, Commissioner Fennel, aye, Commissioner Calvo. Aye, Commissioner Gonishau. Aye, Commissioner uh Rosenthal. Aye. Thank you. Motion passes in that cases to submit.

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