Common Council Special Meeting Workshop on Bond Referenda - August 5, 2026
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Common Council Workshop on Proposed Bond Referenda
The Common Council held a special workshop on August 5, 2026, to discuss the scope of two proposed bond referenda: (1) a Board of Education Capital Improvement Plan totaling $30.4 million (with a local share of approximately $10 million after 67.14% state reimbursement) and (2) a new parking arcade behind the police station for $38 million. No votes were taken; the council will deliberate and vote on the amounts and scope at a special meeting on August 20, 2026. The bond questions must be finalized by September 4, 2026, to appear on the November ballot.
Discussion Items
- Process Overview: Mayor clarified that tonight is a workshop to decide the scope of the two bond questions. The council will send the full proposed amounts to bond counsel for drafting, and on August 20th they can reduce the amounts and modify the list of projects but cannot add money or new projects. The deadline for legal advertising is August 14th.
- Board of Education Capital Improvement Plan: Superintendent Dr. McCarry and Marco Gaylord presented a $30.4 million plan covering roof replacements, air conditioning/RTU upgrades, building management systems, oil tanks/boilers, and student safety/security enhancements across all schools except McDonough (already under separate project). The plan is based on a 2023 assessment and would be executed over 4–5 years, prioritizing the two most critical roofs. The state reimbursement rate of 67.14% is locked in once the bond is authorized, regardless of when projects are completed.
- Debt Management Discussion: Finance Director Carl Urlacher explained that the city’s debt service is currently $27 million in FY2027, dropping to $25.5 million in FY2028. He noted that if the council authorizes the full amounts, strategic phasing of spending is critical to avoid a mill rate spike. He recommended using general fund cash and bonding only when necessary, and warned against authorizing too many projects simultaneously. Council members requested visual aids (e.g., timelines, charts) to help the public understand the debt impact.
- Parking Arcade Proposal: Economic Development Director Christine Marks presented a $38 million bond for a 165-space parking garage behind the police station, plus renovation of the deteriorating Riverview Plaza. The garage would provide public parking, some spaces for the police department, and a plaza connection for a future pedestrian bridge to the riverfront. The project is expected to be built in phases, with major expenditures during construction. The city will use the bond as seed money to apply for state Community Investment Fund (CIF) grants to potentially expand the garage.
- Other Updates: Public Works Director Brian Gardner reported on current projects including 10 miles of road repairs, $400,000 in City Hall upgrades, and $900,000 in roof repairs at City Yard. Christine Marks also noted ongoing riverfront brownfield redevelopment, a planned 90-space parking deck at the North Millily lot (funded from the existing 2020 infrastructure bond), and 245 new public parking spaces at the former Tate’s site once the Route 9 interchange is complete.
Key Outcomes
- The council will forward the full proposed amounts to bond counsel: $30.4 million for the BOE plan and $38 million for the parking arcade. The scope language will be drafted broadly to allow flexibility, but the council will have the option to reduce amounts and remove specific projects on August 20th.
- The council will receive updated quotes for BOE projects and a data report on parking permit waitlists from Director Marks.
- Finance Director Urlacher agreed to work on producing visual aids (e.g., color-coded debt service timelines) to improve public understanding.
- The next step is the August 20th special meeting, where the council will vote on the final bond ordinances and resolutions to send to the November ballot.
Meeting Transcript
Recording. All right. Welcome everyone again. We'll begin the meeting uh workshop at 6.04 on August 5th at 6 p.m. Welcome again, everyone. And uh Councilwoman Hart, can you lead us in the pledge, please? Sure. I Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of the United States of America and to the Republican which it stands. Under God, indivisibility with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And if I can have our council clerk, please read the call to meeting. 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 Shea Lafredo, Jeanette Blackwell, Darnell Ford, Grady Faulkner Jr., Kelly Sweeney, Anthony Mangefico, 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 holding a workshop on proposed bond ordinances for the following. A proposed bond ordinance for Board of Education Capital Improvement Plan, including critical school infrastructure, and B proposed construction of a new parking arcade behind the existing police station. Said meeting shall be fully remote via WebEx at Join and Meeting Event 2343 7210231 on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, 6 o'clock PM. Here off the 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, August 3rd, 2026, attested by Honorable Eugene Pinocchio Mayor, City of Middletown, August 3rd, 2026. I hereby certify I have 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 Police Eric M. Costa. Thank you. And before we start, um Linda is uh Stephen Kovac on to uh yes, he is. Yeah, he's an attend. I move him up from attendees. Yeah. Okay. Anyone else? Uh no, that that and the attendee box is now empty. Okay, perfect. Everybody's up. Okay. And should everyone should people turn their cameras on Jean? Um well, sometimes on these we lose if people aren't gonna lose their volume, yes. Yeah, okay. I'm just thinking of the comments the other night. Thank you. Yeah. Um, I do want to recognize uh our new superintendent who's on um our our first his first uh city uh webinx and council meeting. So welcome, Joe. Thank you very much, Marin. Thank you for having me. And it's been great. I've only here been here a month, but it's been a great month in Middletown, so thank you for having me. Welcome, welcome. So let me explain um our task tonight, and then we'll get right into it. Um tonight is a workshop to discuss the scope of the two um referendum questions. That the two questions would be um on first presenting is the board of education on their infrastructure and pro improvements that are necessary, and they'll present the the full plan. Um, and we'll we'll look at the amount, but the amount tonight is only important toward the end.
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