Special Meeting of the General Council Commission - August 27, 2026
Special Meeting of the General Council Commission - August 27, 2026
This was a special remote meeting of the Middletown General Council Commission held on August 27, 2026, though the transcript indicates the meeting took place on Wednesday, August 26 at approximately 6:33 PM. The chair noted that all commissioners were present except Councilman Pellino. The meeting covered approval of previous minutes, a correction to a tax abatement ordinance for a historic property, and an executive session resulting in a resolution.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Minutes (July 16, 2026): The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the July 16, 2026 meeting via a motion and second with no discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public were present to comment. The chair confirmed with Attorney Watsneski that no attendees were in the virtual meeting.
Discussion Items
- Historical Structure Rehabilitation Tax Abatement Amendment for Aaron P's House (116 Washington Street): Attorney Watsneski explained that the commission had previously approved a tax abatement for this historic lawyer's office. During final paperwork review, the Economic and Community Development (ECD) department found that only $175,000 of the $239,000 in repairs qualified under the historic rehabilitation guidelines. As a result, the abatement was adjusted from 70% over 10 years to 65% over 9 years, which was noted to be more favorable to the city. The amendment had already passed through ECD and the Finance, Government, and Design Review committee. The commission heard no questions and unanimously approved the amendment to replace the original ordinance.
- Executive Session: The commission voted to enter executive session with Attorney Watsneski. The subject of the executive session was not publicly disclosed. After reconvening, a motion was made to approve a resolution that was discussed during the session.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: Unanimously approved.
- Ordinance Amendment Approved: Unanimously approved the correction to the historical structure rehabilitation tax abatement for Aaron P's House, reducing the qualifying amount to $175,000, with a 65% abatement over 9 years.
- Executive Session Resolution Approved: Unanimously approved a resolution discussed in executive session. The content and implications of this resolution were not publicized.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned shortly after the resolution vote.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. Okay, we're ready to ready to go. Yep. So uh good evening, everyone. Um, this is a special meeting of the general council commission. It's Wednesday, August 26th, uh, and it's approximately 6 33 p.m. Um, this is a remote meeting only. All of the commissioners are here online with the exception of Councilman Pellino. I am calling the meeting to order. Um, first or second item on the agenda is public comment. I don't believe attorney Watsneski. Let me just check, but I don't see anybody. Nope, I do not see anyone. And you're here as uh GCC staff, general counsel staff and director Richardson is not on this this evening. The next item on the agenda is the approval of the meeting minutes from July 16th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve those minutes? So move second. Is there a second? So it's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by stating aye. Aye. Okay. The motion carries. New business ordinance, historical structure, rehabilitation tax abatement for Aaron P's House at 116 Washington Street 272-16.2.4. Uh so attorney Wisneski, I'll turn it over to you. Sure. So you may remember this a couple months ago. We did already review and approve this. It was um a historical um building that's on Washington Street, it's a lawyer's office. Uh they put money into the property and applied for a tax abatement under our historical structure rehabilitation tax abatement ordinance, which was also approved through this commission. Um, and so what happened is uh when they had to submit the paperwork uh for justification of how much they spent and how much could qualify. Um I guess that they did repairs in in the amount of 239, but it was questionable whether some of those could qualify as as historic, you know, to the historic nature of the building. So um economic and community development um talked to them and decided that they would they could qualify 175,000, and um that would give them an abatement of uh 65 instead of 70 percent for a um nine-year period instead of a 10 year. So this is actually um in to the benefit of the city, but it was kind of due diligence of the economic and community development um department, making sure that you know they were in compliance. Um, and uh it made sense. So, really, this is kind of a correction um that this is the amount that can be um abated or was done, and then that's the amount that is abated, and it already went through ECD. Um, and it went through financing government and design review again. So this is the last stop before going back to the common council. This will replace the old ordinance. Yes. Uh are there any thank you, attorney Witzneski? Any questions? None. Okay, so is there a motion hearing none? Is there a motion to approve the amendment for this ordinance? Okay, there is there a second. Thank you. Is there a second?
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