Middletown Special Public Safety Commission Meeting – May 12, 2026

The Middletown Public Safety Commission met in a hybrid special meeting at the police department community room from 6:33 PM to 7:23 PM. The commission approved minutes, heard the police chief’s monthly report, discussed proposed ordinances on public marijuana smoking and concert noise exemptions, and received notices on a new stop sign and traffic cameras. No public comment was offered.

Note: The raw transcript states the meeting was held April 27, 2026, while the provided timestamp indicates May 12, 2026; this summary follows the provided timestamp.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the March 16, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers in the room or online.

Discussion Items

• Chief’s Report and Department Recognition: Chief Costum announced Officer Brendan Spencer received the Exchange Club “Salute to Connecticut’s Finest” Officer of the Year award. The Middlesex YMCA named MPD its Community Partner of the Year, with an award ceremony on June 9. Chief urged support.
• Staffing and Overtime: As of end of March, replacement overtime was at 99%, requiring transfers to cover a deficit. A roughly 20% increase in CT-40 personal leave days contributed. Patrol is down five positions: one in the academy, one with a conditional offer in hiring, and three frozen in the FY 26–27 budget. The chief stated the mayor’s proposed budget increase would protect the replacement line; full funding would require an additional $745,000. He also noted state mandates, such as a $50,000 Axion body-worn camera translation feature, raise costs.
• Community Reports and Calls: There were 4,600 calls for service in March. Complaints about officer demeanor were reviewed with body-worn camera footage and not sustained. The department is CJIS compliant for digital court reporting but behind on FOIA/redactions. Homelessness has increased, including younger individuals; the chief expressed concern about proposed state legislation allowing tent cities in public spaces.
• Accountability and Operations: The department is CLEAR certified; a new sworn officer evaluation process is under way. The open-door policy is being redefined to respect chain of command. The first SOP was introduced for purchase approvals.
• Proposed Cannabis Public Smoking Ordinance: Captain Piero and Officer Santostefano presented a draft ordinance to prohibit marijuana smoking in public spaces, modeled on the city’s drinking-in-public ban. Fines would be $50 for individuals and $1,000 for businesses. It passed the health department committee, but the final draft has not yet been completed by attorneys. Discussion covered enforceability, medical marijuana, vapes, warnings first, and outreach. The commission will review the final ordinance at its May meeting.
• Noise Ordinance Amendment (1000 Silver Street): Greg, representing economic development, explained the amendment adds 1000 Silver Street (the old Long River Village site) to the riverfront properties exempt from noise limits for concerts until 11 PM weekdays and midnight weekends, because the Harbor Park site is delayed. The city is working with the housing authority to use this site for temporary concerts. Concerns were raised about proximity to residential areas (Rushford, CJTS) and Portland across the river. The ordinance passed.
• Traffic Stop Sign Notice: Chief gave notice of a new stop sign on Silver Street at Eastern Avenue to stop eastbound traffic on Silver Street into the D.V.H. property, responding to near misses and construction safety concerns.
• Traffic Camera Study Notice: A request has been made for studies and public hearings on red-light cameras at Newfield/Washington and High/Washington, and a speed camera on Route 17 near Bush Hill Road. Data supports these locations; implementation would likely not occur until fall or winter.

Key Outcomes

• Approved minutes of March 16, 2026.
• Passed the noise ordinance amendment adding 1000 Silver Street (all in favor, no abstentions), with the meeting date corrected to April 27, 2026 in the ordinance (this reflects the transcript’s date; per the provided timestamp the meeting was May 12).
• Cannabis ordinance deferred to the May meeting, then to GCC and the June 1 council meeting.
• Received notices on the Silver Street stop sign and traffic camera study; no votes taken.