Middletown Common Council Regular Meeting – July 6, 2026

The Common Council met on July 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM in a hybrid meeting. Key actions included unanimously approving the naming of the city’s new Public Safety 911 Center after Chief George P. Dunn, appointing Cathy Sargent as Deputy Director of Central Communications, approving multiple grants and resolutions, hearing public concerns about the Guida property commercial license, and debating a proposed one-way change on Court Street. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda: Approved as presented.
• Minutes: Approved minutes of the May 4, 2026 Regular Meeting and the June 1, 2026 Special Workshop (Saybrook Road Improvement Project).
• Department Reports & Grants (Item 7): Approved en bloc, including:
  • Police: Connecticut Drug Investigation Fund – $92,396.64; Speed & Aggressive Driving Grant – $60,000.
  • Health: Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant – $39,235.80; Building Healthy Families Scale Up – $6,000.
  • Board of Education: Miscellaneous grants – $1,366,497.93; Food Services grant – $344,819.82; HVAC IAQ grant return (negative) – ($244,780.76).
  • Public Works: Eastern Connecticut Recovery Authority (ECRRA) sanitation grant – $200,000; LoCIP grant – $487,394.45.
  • City Clerk Certificate, Finance Transfer Report, Appropriation Report, LoCIP Report (all accepted).
• Payment of Bills (Item 9): Approved all properly approved city bills.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing – Naming of 911 Center: Two speakers expressed support: Bobby Brower (Director of Central Communications) and Sebastian Giuliano (former mayor and building committee member). Both praised Chief Dunn’s decades of service.
• Public Hearing – All Other Agenda Items: Three speakers addressed the Guida property:
  • Malady Rogers (80 Round Hill Road) criticized the process, stating her FOIA request (filed April 29) was answered 7 weeks late and lacked foundational documents. She argued the nine‑month commercial license on protected open space was issued without council review, bypassing the Conservation Commission and Inland Wetlands Agency. She asked for three commitments: no renewal of the license, no future commercial use on open space, and full document release. She warned that “taxpayers are watching.”
  • Sebastian Giuliano argued the transaction should have received an 8‑24 review by the Planning and Zoning Commission, and that the city “looks for a way to go around the law” rather than comply with its spirit.
  • Rob Van Ryan (136 Round Hill Road) noted the Guida family sold at substantially below market value for preservation and requested the city honor that original intent.

Discussion Items

• Interview and Appointment of Cathy Sargent (Deputy Director of Central Communications): Mayor Nocera stated the candidate was chosen unanimously from 22 applicants. Sargent delivered a prepared statement highlighting 21 years of experience, building a training program from scratch in New Haven, and her vision for community outreach (Bridge to Community 911 Engagement Plan: junior dispatcher school, youth leadership, Friday Friends tours, STAR 911 senior program). She addressed burnout by supporting staff and celebrating wins. Council members asked about her experience with discipline, union interactions, and why she chose Middletown. The appointment was approved unanimously.
• Guida Property (Mayor’s Report): Mayor Nocera acknowledged process flaws, stated the property will be returned to original condition, and noted that alternative sites are being explored. He assured the council that the city is “looking at other sites” and that the current farmer has done everything asked.
• Court Street One‑Way Proposal: Mayor Nocera announced a plan to change Court Street to one‑way westbound, potentially by August 17, to improve safety at the bottom of the street where courthouse vans block visibility. Council members Salafia and Ford objected that the Public Safety Commission had not been consulted and that the media learned of the plan before the council. The mayor agreed to fully vet the proposal through the Public Safety Commission before implementation.
• Reports:
  • Land Use: Written update provided; director not present.
  • Baker Tilly Compensation Study: Still under deliberation; a decision expected by January 2027.
  • America 250 Project: July 4 parade canceled due to extreme heat; rescheduled to Labor Day. Other events (mansion concert, historical society exhibit) were successful.
  • Route 9: Railroad bridge meeting scheduled for August 3 at Middletown High School; DOT public forum on overall project planned for late November/early December.
  • Riverfront Master Plan and Arcade: Phased plan presented – first a parking deck on Washington Street, then redevelopment of the police station parking lot, then a larger arcade. Mayor noted potential for a mixed‑use apartment building with 20% affordable units.
  • Anti‑Racism Task Force: Written report submitted; Amistad ship visit postponed.
  • Bond Reports: No update; standing item to be removed if no further info.

Key Outcomes

• 911 Center Naming: Unanimously approved Resolution 10A naming the facility “City of Middletown, Chief George P. Dunn, Central Communications Center.”
• Deputy Director Appointment: Cathy Sargent appointed unanimously with a salary of $56.09/hour (Grade 15, Step 5, 40 hours), effective upon adoption.
• Resolutions Approved:
  • 10B: Antique Car Show & Flea Market (Oct. 4, 2026) – city expenditure capped at $3,000.
  • 10C: 29th Annual Cruise Night (Sept. 2, 2026) – city expenditure capped at $14,000.
  • 10E: UPSU Local 6457 and BOE Local 6458 labor contracts (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029) – cumulative cost $1,002,268.
  • 10F: Water Department FY26/27 capital non‑recurring fund – $600,000 (itemized list).
  • 10G: Health Block Grant allocation – New Horizons Battered Women’s Shelter ($22,500) and Warming Center ($20,500), total $43,000.
  • 10H: Neighborhood Assistance Act grants – Church of Holy Trinity ($1,500), Mercy High School ($1,500), Northern Middlesex YMCA ($150,000).
  • 10I: Agreement with Town of Cromwell for sharing Acting Director of Health services.
  • 10J: Five‑year contract with The Cylinder Collective for gas cylinder disposal/recycling.
  • 10K: Two‑year agreement with Murphy Road Recycling for cardboard delivery.
• Resolution Tabled: 10D (Westfield Fire District alarm system upgrade – $55,000 LoCIP grant) tabled to next meeting.
• Mayor’s Appointments: Approved Robert Grauer (ex‑officio to Public Safety & Telecommunications Commission), Rogers Palant (Board of Ethics and Commission on Conservation & Agriculture), and Robert C. Van Ryan (Commission on Conservation & Agriculture).
• Commitments: Mayor agreed to (1) involve the Public Safety Commission before implementing Court Street one‑way, (2) provide Court Street traffic data to the council, and (3) schedule a workshop on parking deck and referendum questions.