Common Council Special Meeting: Questions to Directors – October 5, 2026

This special meeting of the Middletown Common Council was held on October 5, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format. The meeting focused on a Questions to Directors workshop, allowing council members to ask department heads and officials about agenda items ahead of the regular council meeting. Technical difficulties with microphones and remote participation were addressed early in the session. Key topics included the Court Street one-way pilot, ethics concerns regarding city officials serving on the YMCA board, the LGBTQ+ Commission’s programming and funding, and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation.

Court Street Pilot Program

• Councilwoman Spotola raised concerns from a courthouse employee about emergency vehicle access and traffic congestion on Court Street following the October 1 launch of the one-way pilot. Chief Costa reported that the pilot is in its fourth or fifth day and that feedback is being collected. He acknowledged significant congestion between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m., with backups taking 10–15 minutes to clear. Remedies under consideration include lengthening the green light duration, removing parking spaces near the intersection with Main Street to extend turning lanes, and designating parking spots in front of the courthouse for emergency vehicles only. The pilot is scheduled to run until November 2, after which results will be reported to the council in collaboration with UConn for data analysis. Chief Costa also noted positive feedback from business owners and that snow removal is not expected to pose a problem.
• Councilman Lefrito questioned whether the congestion was anticipated, noting that the prior report had identified 4–5 p.m. as peak hours but that the one-way configuration now makes congestion more visible. Chief Costa confirmed that the peak hours were known and that the pilot aims to address them.
• Councilwoman Sweeney asked about snow removal coordination with public works; Chief Costa stated that coordination is ongoing and that the issue has not yet been discussed but will be incorporated.

Ethics and YMCA Building Fee Waiver

• Councilwoman Blackwell asked General Counsel Briggs Smith about potential ethics implications because two city employees (Police Chief Costa and Budget Analyst Rowan Manning) serve on the board of the Middlesex YMCA, which is seeking a building permit fee waiver. Attorney Smith opined that neither employee has the ability to influence official action on the fee waiver in their city roles, and he saw no ethics issue under the city ordinance. He noted that only the Ethics Board can make a final determination.

LGBTQ+ Commission Programming and Funding

• Councilwoman Spotola questioned Brianna Squevera, chair of the LGBTQI+ Commission, about the commission’s activities and the use of taxpayer money. Squevera clarified that the commission runs nine programs per month (including support groups, social events, and annual events like a community dinner and Stargazing at Wesleyan) in addition to Pride Fest. She stated that no taxpayer money directly funds any program; the city allocates funds to a financial agent (currently the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce) for administrative and fundraising services, which raised approximately $120,000 last year through donations, sponsorships, vendor slots, and merchandise sales. That revenue pays for all programming.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Allocation

• Councilman Lafredo asked Director Marks about the CDBG item added to the agenda. Director Marks explained that the application process is public, with a public notice. This year’s allocation is approximately $513,000, similar to previous years. Most awardees are recurring social service organizations (e.g., Gilead, Coon Center, Futures). She confirmed a quorum was present at the August committee meeting and that the number of applications was lower than in prior years (under $600,000 in requests versus $1 million last year). Several items are listed as “program support,” with each organization required to detail how funds will be used.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken during the Questions to Directors workshop; it was purely informational.
• Council members received clarification on multiple agenda items, including the Court Street pilot, ethics review, LGBTQ+ funding, and CDBG details.
• The meeting was adjourned by motion without further discussion.