Middletown Common Council Regular Meeting – August 3, 2026

The Middletown Common Council met remotely via WebEx on Monday, August 3, 2026. The meeting was held fully online because early voting had begun at City Hall; the mayor explained this after several speakers criticized the virtual format. The agenda listed the meeting at 7:45 p.m., but the clerk’s notice and the mayor’s call to order referenced 7:00 p.m., with the mayor calling the meeting to order at approximately 7:02 p.m. The council approved routine minutes, appropriations, grant reports, contracts, leases, appointments, and a 19-acre open-space purchase, and heard lengthy public testimony on the proposed FLOCK drone pilot and proposed Court Street changes.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda accepted as presented.
• Minutes approved for the Common Council special meeting (Questions to Directors, July 6, 2026), regular meeting (July 6, 2026), and community meeting (July 9, 2026).
• Payment of all city bills, when properly approved, was approved.
• The omnibus Item 7 list of department/committee/commission reports and grant confirmations was approved, including transfer reports, appropriation reports, LoCIP and vacancy reports, and multiple grants and grant reductions for Fire, Health, Board of Education, and Recreation. Councilwoman Sweeney noted that the purchasing report listed as the annual report is actually the quarterly report for April 1–June 30, 2026, and that it would be read again next month.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public speakers appeared at the public hearing on the two proposed Keating Park leases; the hearing was opened and closed, and the leases were approved later in the meeting.
• Rogers Pilant (80 Round Hill Road) argued the state underfunds PILOT payments. He described Middletown’s budget as a $100 dinner bill, with the state supposed to pay $45 and local property owners $55, but Middletown receiving about $19.2 million instead of the statutory $44.1 million because tier 2 municipalities are capped at 43% of the formula, leaving a $25–26 million structural deficit for local taxpayers.
• More than 20 residents spoke against the FLOCK drone-as-first-responder program. Speakers included Ethan Gotterman, Meredith Pollack, Jennifer Jasenski, Brienne Schroth, Justine Kihada, Mads Reed, James Calabrasi, Rainier Tyson, Megan Cahill, Ruby Clark, Luis Morero Silis, Erica Morgan, Anson Mellick, Amy Hernandez, Michaela Morris, Alisa Reed, Brendan Barry, Warren Lucas, Georgia Sorensen, Ed McKeon, and Kara McDonald. Their concerns included Flock’s contract enforcement record, data ownership and sharing, ALPR expansion potential, ICE and federal data sharing, racial profiling, officer misuse and stalking incidents, costs, and the absence of resident consent. Several speakers also said the meeting should have been in person or more clearly publicized.
• Jen Alexander, Diane Gervais (Amato’s Toy and Hobby), Tina Loomis, Diana Martinez, and Ed McKeon opposed making Court Street one-way, with several arguing it would hurt businesses and that proposed parking/kiosk and parking-deck changes were moving in the wrong direction. Tina Loomis said the bus depot’s planned rerouting through the alley behind Court Street had not been publicly discussed.
• Members of the Connecticut Tenants Union and tenants of 142 South Main Street described unsafe conditions at the Alpha Capital-owned building, including a decommissioned elevator, water leaks, power issues, and mold. They asked the city to increase code-violation fines. The mayor and council leaders said the matter would be placed on the September 9, 2026 Public Works meeting agenda.
• Merrick Kazakowski, the city’s Land Use director, and property owner Robert Saranowitz spoke in support of Item 10L, the purchase of about 19 acres on Boston Road as open space; Saranowitz said his family had farmed the land for generations.

Discussion Items

• FLOCK drone pilot (Item 8C): The mayor reported that the contract has not been signed and said the current contract contains no license-plate reading, no facial recognition, and no general surveillance, but acknowledged that many residents do not trust Flock. Councilwoman Blackwell said the Democratic caucus had already opposed signing and asked the mayor to commit not to sign; the mayor agreed, saying he also had doubts. The item will come back for discussion, with the administration exploring other options.
• Court Street two-way to one-way proposal: Director Marks said the change was based on observation and would add 20 parking spaces; no traffic study had been done. Chief Costa agreed to perform a comprehensive traffic count and study. Mayor Nocera and Chief Costa indicated the previously scheduled August 17, 2026 implementation would be postponed while the study is done.
• Mayor’s reports: Guida Property concerns addressed; America 250 work focused on a historical Labor Day parade; Route 9 public session scheduled for November 18, 2026, 6–8 p.m. at Middletown High School; railroad bridge reconstruction informational meeting scheduled for August 4, 2026; National Night Out also scheduled for August 4, 2026, 4–8 p.m. at the South Green.
• Riverfront Master Plan and Arcade: Director Marks gave updates on the Jackson Corrugated site (surveys completed, demolition planned, pending criminal case with a September 29, 2026 court date), Peterson site geotechnical work, and wastewater treatment plant redevelopment planning.
• Bond reports were noted but required no council action.
• On Item 10D, the tax assessor explained that the motor vehicle depreciation ordinance update was required by state statute and would reduce taxable grand list values by about $4 million; the council approved it.
• On Item 10K, a deputy director said Cardinal Engineering’s Amendment #9 covers a scaled-down Saybrook Road design, and optional construction-management services listed in the amendment would require a future council vote if exercised. Councilwoman Salafia voiced opposition, saying she considered the project a waste of money.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 72-26 (LoCIP), as substituted, was approved: the mayor is authorized to apply for $30,000 in state LoCIP funds for the Westfield Fire District fire alarm detection system upgrade, replacing the earlier $55,000 request.
• All five appropriation items were approved: Fire $121,096.25; Water $80,000 for replacement water meters; Public Works $235,000 for a bulky waste truck; Central Communications $48,444.18 for overtime shortfall; Police $1,033,686.11 for the Private Duty line shortfall.
• Two Keating Park leases were approved: a 5-year lease with a 5-year option for The Smith & Bishel Co. (80 sq. ft.) and a 5-year lease with a 5-year option for First Chance, Inc. dba The Bridge (900 sq. ft.).
• Item 10C approved the revaluation services contract with Municipal Valuation Services.
• Item 10D approved the amendment to Section 272.24 of the City Code, modifying the motor vehicle depreciation schedule.
• Item 10E added Industrial Drive, Warner Street, Thomas Street, and Flower Street to Schedule A of the 21st Century Infrastructure Development Bond Program, authorizing about $120,000 for repair, paving, and construction.
• Item 10F allocated the $40,000 FY26/27 Recreation youth grant: Ahern Whalen $5,000; Middletown Youth Lacrosse $10,000; Middletown Youth Football and Cheer $15,000; Middletown Youth Baseball and Softball $10,000.
• Item 10G approved the Cross Street AME Zion Church Back 2 School Community Day for August 22, 2026, 12:00–3:00 p.m., waiving Showmobile and personnel fees, with city spending capped at $1,000.
• Item 10H approved the Memorandum of Agreement with the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority.
• Item 10I approved creation of the 169 Cross Street Firehouse Renovation Building Committee.
• Item 10J approved the multi-year contract with O&G Industries as construction manager for the Macdonough Elementary School renovation and extension, with the title corrected from project manager to construction manager.
• Item 10K, the Cardinal Engineering Amendment #9 for the Saybrook Road Improvement Project, was approved 8–3–1: ayes Blackwell, Ford, Fulton, Hart, Lafredo, Manjifico, Spitola, Sweeney; nays Gennaro, Polino, Salafia; one absent, Faulkner.
• Item 10L approved the purchase of three Boston Road parcels totaling approximately 19 acres as open space; Mayor Nocera was authorized to sign the purchase agreement, and naming hearings are planned for September and October.
• The mayor’s appointments to city boards and commissions were approved.
• The council voted to amend the agenda to allow testimony about 142 South Main Street. The building-code fine discussion will be on the September 9, 2026 Public Works meeting agenda.
• FLOCK drone: the mayor agreed not to sign the contract and to return with alternatives; no council vote was taken on the drone contract itself.
• Court Street: the August 17, 2026 one-way conversion is postponed pending a traffic study.