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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Middletown Fair Rent Commission Regular Meeting – September 22, 2026

Common Council & Commissions — Tuesday, September 22, 2026

BodyMiddletown, Connecticut

SessionCommon Council & Commissions

DateTuesday, September 22, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 4:30:37

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:04

On the meetings of order at 707, the first thing on our agenda is public comment.

0:10

If anybody from the public would like to speak to the seat.

0:19

I like to speak.

0:20

Oh, yeah.

0:21

I don't know how this works, but um, I'm not on agenda, but I was on accent for the Fair Rank Commission to try to um because I had a medical thing.

0:32

I was here back in June and uh sign a contract, but I had a medical issue with the person staying with me, and I was wondering if they hear me out uh bars uh extension an extension on the stipulated order.

0:50

Um are you asking for an extension for the stipulated order that you guys already signed?

0:56

Yeah, that's definitely not something to consider and consider right now for public comment, but maybe and reach out to council or to the other party to see if they would communicate with me about that, but we wouldn't be able to consider that tonight well you might be able to consider it if if someone moved to put it on the agenda, uh, since it's a regular meeting would have the power to evidence to the agenda, but the larger question is whether you would have any power to actually especially lack a like there's no notice the other side, but the party's not here.

1:40

The other party's not here.

1:41

There's an agreement that was already ordered uh by agreement of the parties through this uh so I'm not certain we've got for a number of reasons.

1:52

I'm not sure certain whether whether you put it on the agenda, but I don't know if you really do anything tonight, perhaps could I ask a question of um Mr.

2:05

McPherson?

2:06

Yeah, did you notify your uh landlord about being here tonight?

2:12

Uh no, not no, not tonight.

2:14

And weren't you represented the last time you were here?

2:17

Yes, uh I think she went on leave.

2:21

So I just came down in person.

2:23

I I did talk to a Miss White attorney white, uh-huh, and um I didn't even notify her that I was coming down.

2:31

I just you know the decision.

2:38

I don't believe there's anything we could do tonight, but if anyone else thinks otherwise, I'm doing well.

2:44

I I think that I think the last time we were here before it was a question that you addressed the uh committee on, and that was you needed extra time.

2:54

I think that came up for I believe you just stated that you were having some medical issues.

3:00

No, this is something different.

3:02

Okay, yeah.

3:03

This is uh something from the doctor and um what it was the person that's you know in a household apartment with me, had a stricken infection in her spine, and she had to go in, and um I have a doctor note that's recently that had a release she was in there for a couple weeks, so he also was actually maybe uh favorite commission because of uh some type of laws that maybe could just extend it because she can't have antibiotics and she can't be moved, she has to stay in a sterile condition in the in the apartment, and she had a I mean going through our part.

3:44

When is the date your move out date?

3:48

It's the end of uh this month.

3:51

End of September.

3:52

Have you talked to your landlord about getting an extension?

3:56

I haven't really talked to him because he's out the country.

3:59

I think we I think we had that issue before when we heard your case where when the landlord was actually out of the country, who's who's next and not, right?

4:08

And that was the son, if I'm not mistaken.

4:10

Yeah, but he's not really I don't know, they got a little thing that they don't get along, so that's where it's at.

4:17

So it's not really but did you talk to the son yet?

4:21

No, not at all, right?

4:22

How long's the extension gonna be for?

4:24

Do you know?

4:24

Well, then I have the and then he was saying at least like six weeks because they because the antibiotics and stuff is getting delivered to the apartment.

4:34

You have a nurse come in and um, you know, they flush the IV and everything.

4:41

Is that person on your lease?

4:43

Huh?

4:43

Is that person on your lease?

4:45

Uh no, uh only me was on a lease.

4:51

So while she was in the hospital, I had I would recommend with someone downstairs in that location.

5:02

I don't think we had that jurisdiction over that based on the stipulation that you guys had based on the move out time.

5:10

So I I would recommend that you speak with your landlord for that.

5:15

All right.

5:16

Yeah, I think you ought to do it anyway.

5:18

If they don't have a new tenant, I mean it's just free money, right?

5:24

Right if they don't have a tenant who's ready to move in.

5:27

Yeah.

5:31

I mean, that's how I'd put it to them.

5:37

So basically this shadow like reach out to the landlord because he was uh I I think the reason I said the sun because that was my question for the owner when he was out in the country and he was having some medical issues as well.

5:54

And I asked, who's the person in line next?

5:57

If you're unavailable and it was the sun, so that's why I'm asking you to reach out to the sun.

6:10

I don't know, maybe I tried it.

6:12

I text the landlord, but he never responded.

6:20

He works in the restaurant downstairs, doesn't he?

6:22

Well, he owns the he almost the complex, but he works in the restaurant downstairs.

6:27

Uh he know he comes in in the morning and then he worked in another restaurant or whatever.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Housing Code Enforcement█████████████████████████████████████████████48%

Pending Litigation█████████10%

Housing█████████10%

Procedural████████8%

Legal Affairs████████8%

Public Health Awareness███████7%

Public Engagement████4%

Affordable Housing███3%

Public Safety██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Middletown Fair Rent Commission Regular Meeting – September 22, 2026

The Middletown Fair Rent Commission met on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, beginning at 7:07 PM. The meeting included public comment, approval of minutes, withdrawal of one complaint, a lengthy hearing on a retaliation complaint in the Tillman matter, an underlying fair rent hearing for the Tillman tenant, and a full fair rent hearing for the Jacobs tenant. Commission action included a 4–2 finding of retaliation, a rent reduction order, and a separate rent abatement order.

Public Comments & Testimony

Mr. McPherson (tenant): Requested an extension on a stipulated order due to a medical issue with his roommate. He indicated he had not communicated with his landlord or attorney beforehand. The commission determined it could not act that evening due to lack of notice and absence of the other party, and advised him to contact the landlord and his counsel. No motion was made.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes (August 12, 2026 Regular Meeting): Approved unanimously after discussion of one commissioner’s vote record. No changes were made.

Old Business – Withdrawn Complaint

Sear Matter: Attorney Carlson confirmed that rent certifications were completed, the tenant had reached a balance, and wished to withdraw her complaint (which included no retaliation claims). The tenant confirmed via email. The complaint was withdrawn without objection.

Old Business – Tillman Matter (Retaliation & Underlying Hearing)

Background: The tenant, Roberta Tillman, filed a fair rent complaint alleging retaliation and excessive rent. The landlord, Charles Harris, had initiated eviction proceedings based on non-payment after the Middletown Housing Authority (MHA) terminated the HAP contract.
Testimony from Vanessa Delesandro (MHA): She explained that the HAP contract was abated in April 2026 and terminated around June 1, 2026 due to the landlord’s failure to complete repairs. The tenant’s voucher was not terminated; a relocation voucher was issued. The termination notice to the tenant (May 11, 2026) was sent in error – the MHA later decided not to terminate her and offered a voucher.
Landlord’s Position: Mr. Harris testified that the May 11 letter was the only communication from MHA, stating the tenant was responsible for full rent. He initiated eviction when she failed to pay. He claimed he completed all landlord‑responsible repairs but was never informed of the abatement or that MHA reversed the termination.
Tenant’s Testimony: Ms. Tillman described ongoing harassment, lack of heat, hot water issues, and retaliatory actions by the landlord. She stated she paid her portion of rent consistently.
Commission Deliberation: Arguments focused on whether the landlord knew about the abatement and whether the eviction constituted retaliation. Commissioner Fennell moved that the eviction was retaliation because the tenant was not on the hook for full rent during the abatement, regardless of the landlord’s knowledge. Commissioner Calvo opposed. The motion passed 4–2. An amendment to include a cease‑and‑desist order was also adopted 4–2.
Underlying Fair Rent Hearing: After the retaliation finding, the underlying hearing began. Mr. Harris stated he would withdraw the eviction and not renew the lease when it expired in November. The commission then determined the rent was excessive due to uninhabitable conditions. A motion to set rent at $5/month for September through November (deemed prepaid from September) passed. The landlord was ordered to cease eviction efforts.

Key Outcomes – Tillman Matter

Retaliation Finding (4–2): Commission found the landlord retaliated by filing an eviction based on non‑payment when the tenant was only responsible for her portion during abatement. A cease‑and‑desist order was issued.
Rent Reduction (4–2): Rent was set at $5/month for September, October, and November. Since the tenant prepaid September, the commission deemed that payment as covering the entire period. No further rent is owed.
Compliance: The written order will be issued by Friday, September 26, 2026.

Old Business – Jacobs Matter (Fair Rent Hearing)

Tenant’s Testimony (Jamika Jacobs): Ms. Jacobs, a tenant since April 2016 at 220 Rose Circle, reported mold and moisture problems since July 2025, a broken front door (nailed shut), rodent issues (squirrels for six months), and a disturbing incident with a maintenance worker under the influence. She provided extensive documentation, including videos, photos, work order histories, and medical records for her daughter (asthma). She stated she has not received a new lease due to income changes (worker’s compensation).
Landlord’s Position (Attorney for Carabetta): The landlord maintained that all repairs were completed as per work orders, the health department found no mold issues (report June 16, 2026), the rodent issue was resolved, and the employee involved in the incident was terminated. They offered to conduct an air quality test and an overall inspection.
Commission Deliberation: Commissioners noted the extensive mold evidence, safety concerns, and the tenant’s credible testimony. They found the rent excessive under 14‑78 factors (sanitary conditions, repairs needed) and moved to reduce rent.
Motion: Commissioner Fennell moved to reduce the rent to $100/month from June 2026 (complaint filing date) until the mold is remediated and the front door is replaced. The order also requires the landlord to credit the tenant for overpayments (difference between $373 and $100 for June through September). The motion passed 6–0.

Key Outcomes – Jacobs Matter

Rent Reduction (6–0): Rent reduced to $100 per month effective June 2026 until the entire unit is free of mold (including professional remediation) and the front door is replaced. The landlord must provide a full credit for excess rent paid since June.
Compliance Order: The landlord may request a compliance hearing once work is completed. If the tenant’s recertification results in a lower monthly amount than $100, that lower amount will apply.

Other Business

Alpha Capital Matter (Curran): Request for continuance due to a death in the family was granted over the landlord’s opposition. Matter continued to next meeting.
Extension for Attorney Mastriani: A 30‑day extension to file an answer on a separate complaint (693 Washington Street) was granted.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 PM. New commissioners were welcomed.

Meeting Transcript

On the meetings of order at 707, the first thing on our agenda is public comment. If anybody from the public would like to speak to the seat. I like to speak. Oh, yeah. I don't know how this works, but um, I'm not on agenda, but I was on accent for the Fair Rank Commission to try to um because I had a medical thing. I was here back in June and uh sign a contract, but I had a medical issue with the person staying with me, and I was wondering if they hear me out uh bars uh extension an extension on the stipulated order. Um are you asking for an extension for the stipulated order that you guys already signed? Yeah, that's definitely not something to consider and consider right now for public comment, but maybe and reach out to council or to the other party to see if they would communicate with me about that, but we wouldn't be able to consider that tonight well you might be able to consider it if if someone moved to put it on the agenda, uh, since it's a regular meeting would have the power to evidence to the agenda, but the larger question is whether you would have any power to actually especially lack a like there's no notice the other side, but the party's not here. The other party's not here. There's an agreement that was already ordered uh by agreement of the parties through this uh so I'm not certain we've got for a number of reasons. I'm not sure certain whether whether you put it on the agenda, but I don't know if you really do anything tonight, perhaps could I ask a question of um Mr. McPherson? Yeah, did you notify your uh landlord about being here tonight? Uh no, not no, not tonight. And weren't you represented the last time you were here? Yes, uh I think she went on leave. So I just came down in person. I I did talk to a Miss White attorney white, uh-huh, and um I didn't even notify her that I was coming down. I just you know the decision. I don't believe there's anything we could do tonight, but if anyone else thinks otherwise, I'm doing well. I I think that I think the last time we were here before it was a question that you addressed the uh committee on, and that was you needed extra time. I think that came up for I believe you just stated that you were having some medical issues. No, this is something different. Okay, yeah. This is uh something from the doctor and um what it was the person that's you know in a household apartment with me, had a stricken infection in her spine, and she had to go in, and um I have a doctor note that's recently that had a release she was in there for a couple weeks, so he also was actually maybe uh favorite commission because of uh some type of laws that maybe could just extend it because she can't have antibiotics and she can't be moved, she has to stay in a sterile condition in the in the apartment, and she had a I mean going through our part. When is the date your move out date? It's the end of uh this month. End of September. Have you talked to your landlord about getting an extension? I haven't really talked to him because he's out the country. I think we I think we had that issue before when we heard your case where when the landlord was actually out of the country, who's who's next and not, right? And that was the son, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, but he's not really I don't know, they got a little thing that they don't get along, so that's where it's at. So it's not really but did you talk to the son yet? No, not at all, right? How long's the extension gonna be for? Do you know? Well, then I have the and then he was saying at least like six weeks because they because the antibiotics and stuff is getting delivered to the apartment. You have a nurse come in and um, you know, they flush the IV and everything. Is that person on your lease? Huh? Is that person on your lease? Uh no, uh only me was on a lease. So while she was in the hospital, I had I would recommend with someone downstairs in that location. I don't think we had that jurisdiction over that based on the stipulation that you guys had based on the move out time. So I I would recommend that you speak with your landlord for that. All right. Yeah, I think you ought to do it anyway. If they don't have a new tenant, I mean it's just free money, right? Right if they don't have a tenant who's ready to move in.

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