Middletown Human Relations Commission Meeting - October 25, 2026

The Middletown Human Relations Commission met on October 25, 2026, calling the meeting to order at approximately 5:13 p.m. and adjourning at 6:08 p.m. The meeting opened without a quorum, so the group discussed updates informally until a member arrived. Once quorum was reached, the commission approved routine items, reviewed a pending letter, and moved forward on a school pantry food-collection project.

Attendance & Quorum

• Initial roll call included Christy, Linda, Debbie, Howard, and Faith; the chair stated this was not sufficient for a quorum. Sanji arrived later, giving the commission a quorum and allowing formal votes.
• Councilman Tony Gennaro was absent because the Public Works Renovation Committee was meeting at the same time.
• Latasha was absent; Alicia had resigned, and her resignation letter was accepted without a vote.

Consent Calendar

• Motion and unanimous voice vote to approve the agenda for the meeting identified in the transcript as the October 21st meeting. (The meeting date provided for this summary is October 25, 2026.)
• Motion and unanimous voice vote to approve the September 16 minutes.
• Motion and unanimous voice vote to approve the 2027 meeting schedule, to be forwarded to the town clerk.

Discussion Items

• Vacancy update: The chair reported that Councilwoman Ava Hart had inquired about returning to the commission two months ago, when no vacancy existed. With Alicia's resignation, the chair will contact Hart and, if she accepts, send her name to the mayor's office to fill the vacancy.
• Beaman principal letter: The commission confirmed that the previously approved letter to the Beaman principal was sent and signed by the vice chair rather than Councilman Gennaro because he had been absent when the letter was approved. The commission is awaiting a response.
• Food-drive and grocery-sales coordination: The chair shared a Price Chopper e-coupon/flyer and discussed current can sales. Broader city food-drive efforts were reviewed, including Middletown Thanksgiving, which produced about 1,150 baskets last year, up from the 900s the previous year, with an anticipated increase of about 350 more people. First Church is obligated for at least 400 cans of cranberry sauce. Linda said she would ask St. Sebastian's about hosting collection boxes.
• St. Vincent's discussion: Howard described an older arrangement in which downtown churches directed people seeking cash help to St. Vincent's and contributed funds to it. The chair recommended that Linda first meet with St. Vincent's to find out how donated funds are used and whether the arrangement still exists before starting fundraising. Christy asked how this related to the school pantry project, and no motion was made on this topic.
• School pantry project: The commission affirmed that its collection goal is to stock the Middletown High School and Beaman school pantries for students. Sanji recommended including kid-friendly dry goods such as ramen noodles and microwave meals, not only cans. Christy, Howard, Linda, and Debbie volunteered to visit the school pantries, meet the coordinators, and report back. The group targeted a site-visit arrangement by November 3 and set a December 4 donation cutoff at the chair's office so supplies can reach pantries before the winter break.
• Attendance review: The 2026 attendance record was reviewed for recordkeeping purposes only.

Key Outcomes

• Quorum was established once Sanji arrived; all formal votes after that point were approved unanimously by voice vote.
• Agenda approved; September 16 minutes approved; 2027 meeting schedule approved.
• The chair will contact Ava Hart about the vacancy and send her name to the mayor's office if she is willing to return.
• A thank-you card will be sent to Alicia for her service. An honorary membership was discussed, but the chair said the charter does not allow it.
• School pantry site visits will be arranged with coordinators, with a target of November 3; donations should be brought to the chair's office by December 4.
• There is no December meeting. The next regular meeting is November 18 at 5 p.m.