Common Council Special Meeting – Bond Referenda & Mayoral Appointments – August 20, 2026

The Common Council held a special meeting on August 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM to consider two proposed bond ordinances for referral to the November 3, 2026 ballot and to approve mayoral appointments. After public testimony and extensive discussion, the council approved a $30,426,000 bond for the Board of Education infrastructure project (amended to remove the “Phase I” label) and sent it to voters. The proposed $38,000,000 bond for a downtown parking arcade failed on a 3‑8 vote, thus not proceeding to referendum. The council also approved a special event permit for Zion First Baptist Church and confirmed multiple mayoral appointments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Roger Pilant (80 Round Hill Road) spoke in opposition to the $35–38 million parking bond, citing a pattern of poor capital planning, unfulfilled past promises (e.g., the boathouse project, the original 2020 Cork Street parking arcade replacement), and the need for a line‑item audit of the original $20 million parking allocation. He urged the council to deny referendum authorization until such accountability is provided.
• Paul John Frito (369 Pine Street, former mayor) expressed concern about the cumulative debt burden on taxpayers, noting that the two bonds together would add approximately $50 million net cost to the city. He suggested delaying the parking garage, exploring private sector investment, and considering 20‑year bonds to reduce annual costs. He also highlighted rising evictions (about 150 per year) as a sign of affordability stress.
• Pam (chair of the Parking Advisory Committee, business owner on Court Street) read a letter from the committee supporting both the parking garage at the arcade site and the parking deck at Millily Lot. She emphasized the parking deficit downtown and the negative impact on businesses since the old arcade was demolished.

Discussion Items

Board of Education Bond Ordinance ($30,426,000)

• Superintendent Joseph McCary and Facilities Director Marco Gaylord presented the proposal: a $30.426 million bond for district‑wide infrastructure improvements (roofs, HVAC, building management systems, security upgrades, and oil tanks/boilers). The state would reimburse 67.14% (approximately $20.4 million), leaving a net cost to the city of about $10 million over 2–5 years.
• Council members questioned the “Phase I” designation, the prioritization of projects, and the scope of security upgrades. The council voted unanimously (11‑0) to amend the ordinance by removing the words “Phase I” to avoid voter confusion. The amended ordinance was then approved 11‑0, and the resolution to place it on the November ballot passed 11‑0.

Downtown Parking Arcade Bond ($38,000,000)

• Mayor Nocera and Economic & Community Development staff (including an online representative) described “Option C” for a parking garage behind the police station. The ground level would provide 165 spaces, with a second level that could add up to another 165 spaces (exact number to be determined during design). The project would also serve as a platform for a future pedestrian bridge over Route 9 to Harbor Park (funded by the state) and as seed money to attract developers and state/federal grants.
• Councilwoman Salafia expressed concern that the concept plan left the upper level ambiguous (“to be determined”) and that the city was not maximizing parking spaces despite a claimed parking deficit. She also noted that the site had been vacant for 10 years. Other council members questioned the overall cost, the need for the garage, and the potential for private development to contribute.
• After a recess, the council voted on the bond ordinance: 3 ayes, 8 nays, 1 absent. The motion failed, so the parking bond will not appear on the November ballot.

Zion First Baptist Church Special Event

• Resolution 3D approved a free end‑of‑summer concert, “Soul on the Green,” on August 29, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the Middletown Green. The city waived Showmobile and personnel fees, capping expenditure at $1,000. The motion passed with one abstention (Councilman Lafredo, who raised procedural concerns about bypassing committee review).

Mayor’s Appointments

• The council approved appointments to the following commissions/boards (with votes as noted): Harbor Improvement, Human Relations, Inland Wetlands, LGBTQIA, Long Hill Estate Authority, Mattabassett District, Middletown Commission of the Arts, Preservation Design Review Board, Sustainability Commission, Parking Advisory, Public Safety Telecommunications, Walter C. Jones Fund, Youth Service Advisory, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Cross Street Fire House Building Committee. Councilwoman Sweeney voted against several appointments, citing a lack of Republican input in the selection process.

Key Outcomes

• Board of Education Bond Ordinance – Approved 11‑0 (as amended to remove “Phase I”). The resolution to place the $30,426,000 bond referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot passed 11‑0.
• Downtown Parking Arcade Bond Ordinance – Failed 3‑8 (ayes: Lafredo, Spatola, Ford; nays: Blackwell, Fulton, Gennaro, Hart, Mangifico, Polino, Salafia, Sweeney; absent: Faulkner). The related resolution to send it to referendum was not acted upon.
• Zion First Baptist Church Special Event – Approved with one abstention (Lafredo).
• Mayoral Appointments – All appointments were confirmed, with some dissenting votes regarding representation process.
• Next Steps – The BOE bond question will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot for voter approval. The parking garage project will not proceed to referendum at this time.