General Council Commission Regular Meeting - July 21, 2026
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General Council Commission Regular Meeting - July 21, 2026
The General Council Commission held a regular meeting on July 21, 2026, at approximately 6:32 p.m. The meeting included approval of minutes, discussion and unanimous adoption of an ordinance updating the motor vehicle depreciation schedule, a report on recruitment efforts, a detailed review of the vacancy report, and a discussion of the Baker-Tilly compensation classification plan deadline.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the May 20, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously (motion by Councilman Polino, seconded by Councilwoman Sweeney).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 272-25 – Motor Vehicle Depreciation Schedule: The city's assessor, Damon, presented an ordinance to amend the local motor vehicle depreciation schedule in response to a state law change. The new state law mandates that all vehicles over 20 years old be assessed at a fixed $500, replacing the previous graduated depreciation table. The ordinance removes the outdated table and instead references the enabling state statute. The change is expected to reduce the city's grand list by approximately $4 million in assessment value, which could lead to a mill rate increase if other revenues do not offset the loss. Council members expressed concern about the fiscal impact but noted the city must comply with state law. The ordinance was moved by Councilman Polino? (motion unclear), seconded by Councilman McLean, and passed unanimously.
- Recruitment Efforts: A council member reported on recent recruitment activities led by Maria, including participation in Juneteenth and Pride events, an internal career fair, a career fair at Wesleyan University, recruitment for truck driver eligibility, and an open house for adult education. The council member also highlighted the launch of an employee newsletter (quarterly) and a mayoral newsletter (monthly) to improve communication. The council agreed to invite Maria to present in September.
- Baker-Tilly Compensation Classification Plan: The council discussed the timeline for approving a new compensation classification plan. The current labor management process is on hiatus, but if the council does not approve a new plan by January 5, 2027, the process will revert to the previous system, allowing up to 20 job reviews per year. Council members emphasized the need to decide soon to allow for implementation.
- Vacancy Report: The council reviewed a detailed list of vacant positions, including those restored by the council. Key updates: Assessment Aid position closed and under review; Civilian Dispatcher Trainee requisition pending approval; Deputy Director of Central Communications anticipated start August 3; Firefighter positions (grant-funded) starting mid-August; Public Health Sanitarian recruitment active; Building Department deputy director on hold until director hired; several positions in Public Works and other departments in various stages of hiring or unfunded. The council requested an updated vacancy report and a list of temporary employees be sent to the full commission.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Minutes of May 20, 2026 (unanimous).
- Adopted: Ordinance 272-25 updating the motor vehicle depreciation schedule (unanimous).
- Next Steps: Maria to present to the council in September on recruitment efforts. Council to receive an updated vacancy report and list of temporary employees. Council to consider the Baker-Tilly plan soon to meet the January 5, 2027 deadline.
- Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned by motion of Councilman Polino, seconded by Councilman Sweeney, at approximately 7:25 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Okay. So good evening, everyone. Um, we are here for this is actually uh a regular meeting. It's not a special meeting of the general council commission. Um we move this meeting due to last week's uh community meeting. And so I'm calling the meeting to order, and it is approximately 6 32 p.m. on Thursday, July 16th. I don't believe anyone is online. I do see Mr. Brass probably butchering his name, but Ross, he's here. Fresh, he's here, he's here, um, but he's here for an item on the agenda. So I will open and close public comment and move to item three approval of minutes. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of May 20th, 2026? So moved, Caltima Polino. Thank you. Thank you. So it's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by stating aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. The motion carries unanimously. New business. Okay. Sir, it's it's your turn now. We have an ordinance, motor vehicle schedule of depreciation, uh 272-24. And so I'll allow you to do the presentation, and um then we can just write into questions if anyone has any questions. Okay. Thank you. So the basic outline of this is that as you may or may not remember, the state of Connecticut changed the way that we value motor vehicles or we assess them. The assessment now is no longer based on a market value, it's based on a depreciated value based on the vehicle's original MSRP. Uh Middletown has adopted an optional schedule which starts at a 90% good as opposed to the state standard, which is at 85% good. Um first that passed as a resolution, but because resolutions are not permanent, it was secondarily passed as an ordinance. We're back before you to change the ordinance again because the state has changed the law again. So the prior depreciation table that was in there no longer applies. They reviewed they have revised it. And so what we've done is instead of adding another table, which could be changed again depending upon what they do, uh, we just eliminated all that and we just chose to put the ordinance as referring to the enabling statute itself. Um, not necessarily recreating what was in the statute, but go see whatever the current language is there. Um what has it been changed to? So what they've done now is they have said that all vehicles over 20 years old um are assessed at 500. So before you used to have to get an antique plate to get a 500 assessment, uh the state has just enacted a statewide uh change to that law that now says that everything is a 500. Um so in the depreciation tables at the end of it, uh our language is now wrong. Um, and it allows for not just um uh you know it should state that the all vehicles are the 500, but again, rather than putting that language from the statute in there, we'll just move it over there. Right. I understood. I just um just want to clarification on what had actually changed. So now uh cars that are 20 years or more because of this new law around depreciation, the the cost is 500. Correct.
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