Regular Common Council Meeting – May 4, 2026

The Middletown Common Council held its regular meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM in a hybrid format (Council Chamber and WebEx). The meeting covered a public hearing on a $750,000 bond for Fire Station #2 renovations, three appropriation requests totaling $281,939.40, numerous grant confirmations, and a series of resolutions. Extended public testimony focused on two key issues: the city’s license for a commercial flower farm (Highland Soul Farm) on conserved Guida Farm land, and the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposal to remove traffic signals on Route 9, which would impact city streets. Council members debated process gaps and voted to fund architectural studies for roof replacements at Spencer and Wesley Elementary Schools using the 2025 Infrastructure Bond.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approved: Common Council Regular Meeting (April 6, 2026); Budget Workshops #1, #2, #3 (April 13, 14, 20, 2026). All approved unanimously.
• Appropriations (Item 4): Approved unanimously.
  • 4A: Public Works – $80,000 for snow overtime.
  • 4B: Public Works – $170,000 for vehicle costs.
  • 4C: Police – $31,939.40 for emergency repairs (lighting/access control).
• Department Reports & Grants (Item 5): Approved as amended (Item 5K Police emergency purchase memo deleted as it was incorporated into 4C).
• Payment of all City bills (Item 7): Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Fire Station #2 Bond Ordinance: One speaker, David Rybnicky (52 Apple Lane, Secretary of Local 1073), spoke in strong support. He highlighted deficiencies at Cross Street Station #2: no separate sleeping quarters for female firefighters, a failing alerting system that stresses cardiovascular health, and general disrepair. He urged the Council to approve the $750,000 bond.
• Guida Property / Highland Soul Farm (Item 6A): Multiple speakers addressed the license for a commercial “pick-your-own” flower farm on the Guida Conservation Area.
  • Diana Martinez (Conservation & Agriculture Commission member) criticized the lack of a clear public process for leasing city-owned land, noting that the commission was not given a proper opportunity to weigh in. She requested that future leases follow a transparent procedure.
  • Merrick Kozakowski (Land Use Director) provided background: the farm is a nine-month license (less than one year) for Joe and Michelle Engel of Portland, who sought to expand a home-based flower business. He acknowledged process gaps and proposed letting the farm operate for the season while developing clearer guidelines.
  • Brian Stewart (citizen/hiker) urged the city to better maintain passive recreation areas and to engage the Conservation Commission.
  • Kate Miller (researcher) stated that the pond on-site cannot support irrigation and that the commission’s February warning to avoid the pond was ignored. She called for all open-space modifications to require commission approval and public notice.
  • Donna Druin (descendant of Guida family) opposed the commercial use, stating the land was sold below market for conservation; she noted neighbors were not informed.
  • Michael Thomas (steward of Guida area) expressed concern that the process bypassed the Conservation Commission and the voters.
  • Rogers Pilant (neighbor) requested that the license not be renewed beyond nine months and that a policy be established barring commercial activity on protected open space.
  • Paul Suzik (longtime neighbor) complained about lack of notice and called for performance bonds on all land-use permits.
  • Natalie O’Brien (neighbor) objected to sudden changes without communication.
• Route 9/DOT Proposal (Item 6E): Eight speakers opposed DOT’s plan to remove traffic signals and make DeCoven Drive and Rapallo Avenue one-way, which would add ~7,000 vehicles per day to downtown streets.
  • Lucy McMillan criticized city leadership as passive.
  • Ed McKeon asked whether the Mayor or Police Chief had signed off on city street changes.
  • Eugene Flanagan (Rapallo Ave resident) strongly opposed.
  • Jennifer Alexander (business advocate) documented that one-way streets harm businesses and that the project will not reduce congestion long-term.
  • Monica Bellier (downtown resident) voiced vehement opposition.
  • Diane Gervais (Amato’s Toy & Hobby owner) warned that DOT’s changes would destroy the downtown’s viability.
  • John Sterry Jr. (Fox Becker Granite Co.) explained practical difficulties for truck deliveries if Rapallo becomes one-way.
  • Sarah Sterry Rudder (employee) argued that increased traffic on local streets would cause more accidents and endanger lives.

Discussion Items

• Guida Property / Highland Soul Farm: Council members expressed frustration at being unaware of the license. Councilwoman Salafia noted she had repeatedly requested a list of city licenses but was given incomplete information. Councilwoman Blackwell questioned Director Kozakowski about inconsistencies with a previous farm lease (Middletown United Fathers) that went through EDC and the Council. Kozakowski acknowledged the gap for short-term licenses and said new policies would be developed. Mayor Nocera recommended allowing the farm to proceed this season while the Conservation Commission’s recommendations are brought to the Council in June.
• Route 9 / DOT: Councilman Lafredo requested a clear, unequivocal Council resolution opposing the DOT plan before the June 3rd meeting. Councilwoman Blackwell read into the record her email exchange with DOT, confirming DOT does not want the public to attend the June 3rd meeting; she insisted the public must be allowed per FOIA. The Mayor announced a public information meeting on August 4, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Middletown High School regarding the railroad bridge and Route 9.
• Baker Tilly Compensation Study: A second Council workshop is tentatively set for May 26, 2026.
• America 250 Project: Update promised for June meeting.
• Riverfront Master Plan and Arcade: Christine Marks reported that demolition plans for Jackson Corrugated will be advertised in about two months; a parking deck at Millie Plaza will add ~100 spaces. A resolution for the arcade parking garage application for state funds will come in June.
• Land Use Update: Director Kozakowski noted a new state law (Public Act 25-1) regarding housing, which requires zoning code changes by July 1, 2026, and creation of a housing growth plan by 2027/2028. These will be hot topics for the summer.

Key Outcomes

• Fire Station #2 Bond (Item 3a): Public hearing held; no vote taken during the hearing. (The bond ordinance itself is typically voted later; the transcript shows a motion to approve was not recorded—the bond passed under Consent? Actually, the resolution was part of the public hearing and would be voted later. The transcript does not show a separate vote on this bond after the hearing, but the agenda implies it would be under Resolutions later. There is no explicit vote in the transcript. Likely it will be voted at a future meeting. The summary should note only the public hearing.)
• Appropriations (Items 4A, 4B, 4C): All passed unanimously.
• Department Reports (Item 5): Approved as amended (dropped 5K).
• Resolutions:
  • 8A & 8B – Roof Studies for Spencer & Wesley Elementary Schools: After debate, the Council voted 8-4 to amend the funding source from the General Fund to the 2025 Infrastructure Bond. The resolutions as amended passed 8-4.
  • 8C – Water Billing Schedule: Approved unanimously.
  • 8D – Nutmeg State Games five-year renewal: Approved (vote not specified, likely unanimous).
  • 8E – ESRI renewal: Approved with friendly amendment removing bid waiver language.
  • 8F – Arts Engagement Grants: Approved.
  • 8G – Middlesex Aero Modelers license: Approved.
  • 8H – Juneteenth Festival: Approved after friendly amendment to limit city expenditure to the amount stated in the fiscal impact statement (Town Clerk calculated the total; final amount not specified in transcript but amended to match the fiscal impact).
  • 8I – Proofpoint Email Security renewal: Approved.
• Mayor’s Appointments (Item 9): Approved unanimously.
• Guida Property: No formal vote taken; Mayor committed to bring Conservation Commission recommendations to the Council in June. The license remains in effect for the 2026 growing season.
• Route 9: Council agreed to develop a formal resolution by the June meeting to state opposition to DOT’s plans. The June 3rd meeting will be a special meeting of the Council, open to the public per FOIA. The August 4th public meeting at MHS will cover the railroad bridge and Route 9.