Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Common Council Special Meeting - FY26-27 Budget Adoption - May 13, 2026

Common Council & Commissions — Wednesday, May 13, 2026

BodyMiddletown, Connecticut

SessionCommon Council & Commissions

DateWednesday, May 13, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:38:08

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Is being recorded.

0:01

We are live streaming and recording.

0:12

Good.

0:13

Okay.

0:14

All right.

0:15

Welcome everyone.

0:16

If we would rise, please for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:20

Thank you.

0:22

And Councilwoman Hart, if you would lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

0:32

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:34

One nation under liberty and justice for all.

0:46

All right, welcome everyone to our special meeting, budget adoption 2627.

0:54

And now, if I can have the council clerk please read the call of the meeting.

0:59

Thank you.

1:00

The Chief of Police of the City of Middletown greetings.

1:03

By authority of the state of Connecticut, you are hereby commanded to summon and notify Vincent Shay Lafredo, Jeanette Blackwell, Darnell Ford, Grady Faulkner Jr., Kelly Sweeney, Anthony Mangiafico, Linda Salafia, Anthony S.

1:18

Gennaro Sr., Jonathan Polino, Leslie Spitola, Chine Fulton, Ava M.

1:24

Hart, members of the Common Council of the City of Middletown to attend a special meeting of said common council for the purpose of dopping of adopting the fiscal year 2026-2027 general fund budget and the five special budgets for the city of Middletown.

1:40

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 2349-6929173 on Wednesday, May 13th at 6 30 p.m.

1:56

Hereof fail not, but make due service and return to the clerk of said city three hours prior to the time of fixed meeting.

2:03

City of Middletown, April 9th, 2026, attested by Honorable Eugene P.

2:07

No Sarah Mayor, City of Middletown, May 5th, 2026.

2:11

I hereby certify that I've 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 uh Captain Michael DeSena.

2:29

All right, thank you.

2:31

And now uh we're going to move to the public hearing on the agenda items.

2:37

And so I'm opening that, and we'll go back and forth from uh chamber to online, and we'll start anyone in the chamber would like to address the council at this time.

2:53

And if I can just state the rules for everyone, uh it's a five-minute rule, and I'll give you a little warning, Rogers.

3:01

Uh, if you're getting close, uh state your name and address for the record, please.

3:07

My name is Roger Pyland 80 Browndale Road in the town.

3:12

Um speak here.

3:15

And uh for reviewing the budget uh from the agenda there uh see that there was not a lot of wiggle room in many uh areas with uh union contracts and deficits and uh insurance and all that, but um the American Rescue Plan Act of 20 uh 21 was put into place because of the the COVID crisis, and um that's over, and the funding has also is also over.

3:48

So the APRA was sold to the public as a temporary emergency relief.

3:52

It was never meant to become part of the permanent city budget.

3:56

The crisis is over, the federal money is gone, and anything anything created with APRAPA now falls onto the Middletown taxpayer.

4:08

We are in a temporary crunch.

4:10

Families, seniors, homeowners are all feeling it.

4:13

That's exactly why discretionary spending matters.

4:16

Discretionary means you have a choice.

4:19

In a year like this, the responsible choice is not to raise taxes.

4:23

Cutting distrust discretionary spending and eliminating temporary ARPA rollovers is how you the mill rate stays flat without touching essential services.

4:35

I also want to uh re I also want to uh I also want residents to hear this clearly.

4:42

We're not locked into this crunch forever.

4:45

The long-term way out is to grow the grand list.

4:48

A stronger grand list gives the city more flexibility, more discretion, more room to invest, and more ability to fund priorities without raising taxes.

5:00

And in every municipality in this in the state of Connecticut, growing the grand list is the responsibility of the mayor and the executive branch.

5:06

That is where leadership either expands tax base or or leaves the entire burden on the exact on the existing taxpayers.

5:15

Tonight, after reviewing the budget, I believe the Republican budget makes a strong right correct call to cut the APRA rollovers, cut discretionary spendings, protect essential services, and hold the mill rate flat while making long-term and making it clear that long-term relief comes from growing the federal grand list, not on the backs of the taxpayer.

5:39

Thank you very much.

5:40

Thank you, Rogers.

5:43

All right.

5:44

Is there anyone?

5:46

No.

5:46

No one on my next in the chamber, please.

5:53

Yeah.

5:56

Hello, I am Kelly Kraft.

5:58

I manage the coordinated access network in this region.

6:02

So I'm the director of the MMW can through new opportunities.

6:07

Yeah, it just Kelly Kraft, K E L L Y C R A F T.

6:11

Yeah, that's better.

6:12

We we're recording it, so we need to be close to the mic.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████████████████████████████53%

Procedural███████████████18%

Education Funding██████████12%

Homelessness████5%

Public Engagement████5%

Library Development███4%

Workforce Development███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Common Council Special Meeting – FY26-27 Budget Adoption

Date: May 13, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Hybrid – Municipal Building Council Chamber and WebEx

The Common Council held a special meeting to adopt the fiscal year 2026-2027 budgets for the General Fund, Fire District, Sanitation Collection District, Water Pollution Control Authority (Sewer and Water Departments), and the Special Business District. After a public hearing, the Council debated and voted on competing budget proposals.

Public Comments & Testimony

Roger Pyland (80 Browndale Road) expressed support for the Republican budget, arguing that discretionary spending should be cut and ARPA rollovers eliminated to keep the mill rate flat. He stated that growing the grand list is the responsibility of the mayor and executive branch.
Kelly Kraft (Director, Coordinated Access Network) urged the Council to restore funding for the warming center, noting that this winter saw 48 days of severe cold activation with no deaths due to freezing temperatures. She said the proposed budget forces an impossible choice between funding the warming center or domestic violence services, both life-saving.
Andrew Becker (101 Broad Street) thanked the Council for its support of the Russell Library and acknowledged the city’s fiscal constraints.
Ann Percival (22½ Silver Street) thanked the Council for respecting the library’s budget and noted that Representative Chafee secured $50,000 in state funding for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, which provides free books to children ages 0–5.
Vinny Rufino (16 Bluegrass Drive, President of Local 466) expressed disappointment that job vacancies will not be filled, forcing workers to cover multiple positions. He characterized this as “kicking the can down the road” and harming morale, while acknowledging the difficulty of the Council’s choices.
Adam Hain (70 Village Road) supported the Republican budget, stating that many families are struggling with taxes and that the Council should work to find cuts.
Amon Wozneeski (65 Sabona Drive) thanked the Council and urged them to keep an open ear about potential infrastructure needs at the Russell Library, noting that a feasibility committee has been studying the issue.
Stacey Hooker (Program Manager, Eddie Shelter) opposed the proposed $5,000 cut to the warming center, noting that the shelter adds 10 beds in winter and that without the warming center, the winter would have been more difficult.

Discussion Items

General Fund Budget – Republican Proposal

Councilwoman Linda Salafia presented the Republican General Fund budget, which proposed a mill rate of 31.7 (flat from prior year). Key reductions included:
- Elimination of ARPA-funded positions and rollovers
- $1,000 increase to Board of Education (over last year)
- $1 million reduction in police pension contribution
- $443,695 reduction in health insurance
- $3,196,646 reduction in education contribution
- Cuts to anti-racism task force, diversity training, Oddfellows, and other discretionary items.
Councilman Anthony Gennaro emphasized that the proposal reflected residents’ concerns about affordability and urged a “point where government also tightens its belt.”
Vote: Failed – 4 ayes (Gennaro, Polino, Salafia, Spitola), 7 nays (Blackwell, Ford, Fulton, Hart, Lafredo, Mangiafico, Sweeney), 1 abstention (Faulkner).

General Fund Budget – Democratic Proposal

Councilwoman (name not given in transcript, likely Councilman Mangiafico read it) presented the Democratic General Fund budget, which proposed a mill rate of 33.3 (a 1.6 mill increase, same as prior year). Key features:
- Restoration of 10 positions (grant writer, land records clerk, insurance benefits coordinator, youth development specialist, assessment aid tech, police officer (partial year), meter monitor, civilian dispatcher, accounts clerk, master mechanic, public health sanitation enforcement)
- $449,208 increase to Board of Education (plus $2.656 million in state aid and $505,000 insurance offset, totaling $3.61 million)
- Health insurance reduction of $443,695, partially offset by added positions
- Use of state education funding to reduce reliance on local property taxes.
Councilwoman (likely Blackwell) noted that 80% of the city’s general fund ($89 million of $111 million) is non-negotiable (salaries, overtime, benefits, debt service). She stated the goal was to “thread the needle” between community needs and fiscal reality.
Councilwoman Salafia questioned whether the state aid would become part of the Board of Education’s minimum budget requirement (MBR). Finance Director Carl Urlacher clarified that the state guaranteed this funding for the current year and next year; it does not affect the MBR going forward.
Vote: Passed – 8 ayes (Blackwell, Ford, Fulton, Hart, Lafredo, Mangiafico, Sweeney, Faulkner), 4 nays (Gennaro, Polino, Salafia, Spitola).

Fire District Budget

Councilman Darnell Ford presented the resolution, which reduced health insurance by $264,048 and set the mill rate at 7.5. The proposal was identical for both caucuses.
Vote: Unanimous (12 ayes, 0 nays).

Sanitation Collection District Budget

Councilwoman Kelly Sweeney presented the resolution, reducing health insurance by $22,370.
Vote: Unanimous (12 ayes, 0 nays).

Water Pollution Control Authority – Sewer Department Budget

Councilman Vincent Lafredo presented the resolution, reducing health insurance by $65,149.
Vote: Unanimous (12 ayes, 0 nays).

Water Pollution Control Authority – Water Department Budget

Councilman Vincent Lafredo presented the resolution, reducing health insurance by $95,977.
Vote: 11 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstention (Faulkner).

Special Business District Budget

Councilman Anthony Mangiafico presented the resolution setting the mill rate at 2.35 mills for the downtown business district.
Vote: Unanimous (12 ayes, 0 nays).

Key Outcomes

| Budget | Mill Rate | Vote Result | |--------|-----------|-------------| | General Fund (Republican) | 31.7 | Failed (4-7-1) | | General Fund (Democratic) | 33.3 | Passed (8-4-0) | | Fire District | 7.5 | Passed (12-0) | | Sanitation Collection | (no new rate) | Passed (12-0) | | Sewer (WPCA) | (existing use charges) | Passed (12-0) | | Water (WPCA) | (existing use charges) | Passed (11-0-1) | | Special Business District | 2.35 | Passed (12-0) |

The adopted General Fund budget includes a 1.6 mill increase and restores several city positions. The Board of Education receives a $3.61 million increase when including state aid.
All district budgets (Fire, Sanitation, Sewer, Water, Special Business) passed with broad or unanimous support.
The meeting was adjourned after the final vote.

Meeting Transcript

Is being recorded. We are live streaming and recording. Good. Okay. All right. Welcome everyone. If we would rise, please for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. And Councilwoman Hart, if you would lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under liberty and justice for all. All right, welcome everyone to our special meeting, budget adoption 2627. And now, if I can have the council clerk please read the call of the meeting. Thank you. 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 Shay Lafredo, Jeanette Blackwell, Darnell Ford, Grady Faulkner Jr., Kelly Sweeney, Anthony Mangiafico, 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 dopping of adopting the fiscal year 2026-2027 general fund budget and the five special budgets for the city of Middletown. 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 2349-6929173 on Wednesday, May 13th at 6 30 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 P. No Sarah Mayor, City of Middletown, May 5th, 2026. I hereby certify that I've 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 uh Captain Michael DeSena. All right, thank you. And now uh we're going to move to the public hearing on the agenda items. And so I'm opening that, and we'll go back and forth from uh chamber to online, and we'll start anyone in the chamber would like to address the council at this time. And if I can just state the rules for everyone, uh it's a five-minute rule, and I'll give you a little warning, Rogers. Uh, if you're getting close, uh state your name and address for the record, please. My name is Roger Pyland 80 Browndale Road in the town. Um speak here. And uh for reviewing the budget uh from the agenda there uh see that there was not a lot of wiggle room in many uh areas with uh union contracts and deficits and uh insurance and all that, but um the American Rescue Plan Act of 20 uh 21 was put into place because of the the COVID crisis, and um that's over, and the funding has also is also over. So the APRA was sold to the public as a temporary emergency relief. It was never meant to become part of the permanent city budget. The crisis is over, the federal money is gone, and anything anything created with APRAPA now falls onto the Middletown taxpayer. We are in a temporary crunch. Families, seniors, homeowners are all feeling it. That's exactly why discretionary spending matters. Discretionary means you have a choice. In a year like this, the responsible choice is not to raise taxes. Cutting distrust discretionary spending and eliminating temporary ARPA rollovers is how you the mill rate stays flat without touching essential services. I also want to uh re I also want to uh I also want residents to hear this clearly. We're not locked into this crunch forever. The long-term way out is to grow the grand list. A stronger grand list gives the city more flexibility, more discretion, more room to invest, and more ability to fund priorities without raising taxes. And in every municipality in this in the state of Connecticut, growing the grand list is the responsibility of the mayor and the executive branch. That is where leadership either expands tax base or or leaves the entire burden on the exact on the existing taxpayers. Tonight, after reviewing the budget, I believe the Republican budget makes a strong right correct call to cut the APRA rollovers, cut discretionary spendings, protect essential services, and hold the mill rate flat while making long-term and making it clear that long-term relief comes from growing the federal grand list, not on the backs of the taxpayer. Thank you very much. Thank you, Rogers. All right.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com