Common Council Special Meeting – Questions to Directors – May 4, 2026
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Common Council Special Meeting – Questions to Directors – May 4, 2026
The Common Council held a special workshop on May 4, 2026, from 6:00 PM to approximately 6:25 PM to allow council members to ask questions of city directors. The meeting was hybrid, with some members participating remotely. Key discussions included clarifications on police department appropriations, the Guida property status, and a GIS contract renewal.
Discussion Items
- Police Department Appropriations (Items 4 & 5): Councilman Lafredo asked Chief Costa to clarify the relationship between two agenda items: a $31,939.40 request for emergency repairs (lighting and access control) and a $10,310.40 "emergency purchase memo request." Chief Costa confirmed that the $10,310.40 is included within the $31,939.40 and serves as an itemized breakdown. Thus, the separate line item for the emergency purchase memo is redundant.
- Guida Property: Councilman Lafredo noted that the Guida property is city-owned. He stated that the Economic Development Commission had not considered the possibility of using that public land in the manner currently under discussion. He indicated he would address the matter further during public comment at the full council meeting.
- GIS Contract Renewal (Resolution 8E): Councilwoman Blackwell questioned Technology Services Director Brianna Scavera about the renewal of ARCIS services (powering the city’s geographic information system) from the sole provider Esri. Scavera explained that because the purchase uses an established state contract and involves no professional or technical services, no sole-source justification or bid waiver is required. The council’s approval is needed only because the multi-year total exceeds $100,000. Councilwoman Blackwell emphasized the importance of the recently amended purchasing ordinance for accountability.
Key Outcomes
- The workshop concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was moved by Councilwoman Blackwell, seconded by Councilwoman Schnafelson, and carried unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
We all rise, please. Welcome. And thank you for being here. Councilwoman Hart, if you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please. And to the Republican stands. One nation. Undergival with liberty in justice for all. All right, welcome again. And to our questions, directors, that we need to conclude by 6 40, because we have a special meeting on water and sewer departments. At 640s. And I can have the council clerk read the call of the meeting, please. The chief of police of the city of Middletown greetings. By authority of the state of Connecticut, you are hereby commanded to summon and notify Vincent J. Lafredo, Jeanette Blackwell, Darnell Ford, Grady Faulkner Jr., Kelly Sweeney, Anthony Mangifico, Linda Salafia, Anthony S. Gennaro Sr., Jonathan Polino, Leslie Spitola, Chine Fulton, Ava M. Hart, members of the Common Council of the City of Middletown, to attend a special meeting of said common council for the purpose of holding the questions to directors workshop on department agenda items for the regular common council meeting. Said meeting shall be a hybrid meeting to be held in the council chamber of the municipal building in said city and remotely via WebEx at Join A Meeting, event 2342-286-2562 on Monday, May 4th, 2026 at 6 o'clock p.m. Hereof fail not, but make due service and return to the clerk of said city three hours prior to the time of fixed meeting. City of Middletown, April 9th, 2026. Attested by Honorable Eugene Pinocchar Mayor. City of Middletown, April 30th, 2026. I hereby certify that I have delivered an attested copy of the foregoing order and attached agenda of the Common Council meeting to each and every council member named above via electronic mail, attested by Chief of Police Eric M. Costa. All right, thank you. And now I will open up the workshop for questions of directors. And we will go back and forth. Who is online? Online this evening, we have Councilman Jonathan Polino and Councilman Anthony Gennaro Sr. Okay. All right. Come to the Fredo, please. Thank you, Your Honor. Chief Costa, please. Hello? All right, there you go. Good evening, Councilman. Good evening. I just wanted to get pro have you clarify if you would. So under item four of our agenda, our appropriations request, one is for the police department for 31,93940, dealing with uh emergency repairs, lighting and access control. Then under uh section five, which is reports and approvals of grant confirmations, like there's an item referred to as uh the uh police emergency purchase memo request uh for 10,31040. Uh so my question is um maybe you can clarify is one well the relationship or there the need for both of these are clear. For the 10,000, sir is included in the 31,000. The I think the purpose of the item with the emergency letter was for the letter. Uh it's a breakdown itemization of what was in the cost of the 31,000 dollars that you'll see in that letter if you open up that attachment that we came with it. Okay, so in the 31,000 is clarification of the emergency lighting. Correct. So therefore, uh to avoid any misunderstanding. Uh 5k uh that item would not be necessary. Correct, it should be in the 31,000. Right.
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