Public Meetings - Middletown, Connecticut

The Public Works Commission met on April 13, 2026, at 6:32 PM. The meeting focused on a report from Police Chief Costa covering department operations, budget, community outreach, and technology initiatives. No public comments were received. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The commission approved the minutes of the special meeting from March 5, 2026, after correcting the date (originally listed as March 6, 2025). The motion passed unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public were present either in person or online. The chair opened and closed the public hearing portion. Discussion Items - Chief Costa's Report: - Promotions and Awards: Announced a swearing-in ceremony and awards event scheduled for April 6, 2026, at Beaman Middle School. Promotions include Captain Derek Piero, Captain Aura Smith, Lieutenant Zlewski, Lieutenant Michael Thompson, Sergeants Austin Smith and Arroyo. - Crime Statistics: Reported a 30% crime rate reduction over the past two years. - Budget: Overtime balance stands at $65,000 remaining in the replacement line; expects to go into deficit next month. Upgrading sidearm firearms after 10 years; training overtime may push budget into the red. - Community Outreach: Highlighted social media presence, Read Across America, DARE program (Officer Murphy), Bear program, and Penguin Plunge for Special Olympics at Crystal Lake. - Homeless Outreach: Officer Jesse Sances Stefano leads downtown ownership patrol, addressing homelessness and opioid services, working with Columbus House. - Incident Reports: 4,600 incidents last month; focusing on curbing vandalism and destruction of property downtown. - Accountability: Drug testing (20% of agency notified), body cameras and in-car cameras up to date. Exploring "First Sign" early intervention system (estimated cost $20,000–$25,000) to identify officers with complaints or issues. - Technology: IT department working on Power BI and Next Gen projects to make crime data publicly interactive on the city website (estimated cost $45,000). Also rebuilding the private duty rotation list. - Ordinance Update: General Counsel passed an ordinance regarding private duty rates to the Common Council for vote. The FLOP contract is being reviewed with a target completion of April or May. - Commissioner questions clarified that Power BI and Next Gen are separate but require integration. Key Outcomes - Approved minutes from the March 5, 2026, special meeting. - Chief Costa's report was received; no formal votes taken on budget or technology items. - The meeting adjourned at 6:47 PM. Note: The transcript of this meeting contained references to March 2025 and March 2026 dates, but the official meeting date provided is April 13, 2026.

The Public Safety Commission met in hybrid format on April 13, 2026, convening at 6:48 PM and adjourning at 6:59 PM. The commission approved prior meeting minutes, received the fire chief's monthly report, discussed ongoing operational and facility issues, and accepted a donation from Liberty Bank. Note: The raw transcript indicates the meeting was scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026, but the officially provided meeting date is April 13, 2026. Consent Calendar - Approval of the March 5 meeting minutes: moved, seconded, passed unanimously with no abstentions. Public Comments & Testimony - No public attendees were present in person or in the WebEx queue. The public hearing for matters on the agenda was opened and closed. Discussion Items - Chief’s Report (Chief Albert): 346 calls for service during the month. The department responded mutual aid to a small fire in South Fire Districts and conducted a water rescue for a kayaker the previous weekend. - Budget: Chief Albert met with the mayor and finance department and submitted the FY budget. - Training: The department performed a bailout kit refresher using a house donated by Wesleyan University, conducted simulation training for company officers (including a drill on 8 Liberty Street), and ran aerial truck pre-planning trips in the north end due to access challenges. - Old Business — Overtime & Staffing: Overtime remains elevated. 17% of suppression staff (10 of 60 members) are out on FMLA, comp, light duty, military, or similar leaves. - Apparatus Repair: The repair line is expended. A detailed report on the last two fiscal years (labor, service charges, fuel, parts, rehab) will be presented at the next meeting. Chief noted $90,000+ in parts paid last fiscal year, part markups of 20–100%, and pump test costs of $1,200–$1,500 per rig plus labor. He expressed interest in sharing City Yard resources to reduce outside repair costs. - Facilities: Cross Street station is awaiting final roof inspection (all rotted wood/cornice/fascia removed, new flashing installed). HVAC is nearly complete, awaiting electrical hookup. Training building PL setup is still in progress. - EMS: 806 EMS calls in the reporting period, with three mutual aid ambulances used. - Telecommunications: 19 dispatchers staffed; two vacant positions are on hold. Deputy director position closed March 2; HR is reviewing applicants. The center handled approximately 5,900 incidents: 1,845 total 911 calls and 5,019 routine calls. - Downtown Officer Praise: A commission member expressed strong praise for downtown police officer Jesse [Santanastasio], calling him a phenomenal resource and asset to downtown businesses, echoing Chief Costa’s earlier comments. - Uniform/Extractor Question: Councilman Slotman asked about extractors/dryers ordered previously; Chief Albert reported they are on order, delivery pending, and that three quotes saved several thousand dollars. - New Business — Donation: Liberty Bank donated $3,000 for smoke detectors and CO alarms to be distributed to the public. The commission unanimously voted to accept the donation and forward it to the finance and government committee. Key Outcomes - Approved minutes of the March 5 meeting (unanimous). - Accepted the $3,000 Liberty Bank donation and referred it to finance and government (unanimous). - No other formal votes were taken.

This was the first of three budget workshops for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, convened by the Middletown Common Council. Mayor Eugene Ocera delivered an opening overview of the city's fiscal challenges, followed by presentations from eight departments: Arts & Culture, Probate Court, Youth Services, Health Department, Fire Department, Emergency Management, Transit District, and Russell Library. Council members questioned department heads on proposed budgets, staffing, and operational needs. No votes were taken; the workshop was informational to inform council decisions. Mayor’s Opening Remarks - Mayor Ocera summarized a projected $14 million deficit between current revenue and next year's needs, driven by minimal grand list growth, exhaustion of federal relief funds, rising health care costs (16.8% increase on city side), and contractual salary increases after five of seven union contracts expired in mid-2025. He noted the city's bond rating was downgraded from AAA to AA+ by S&P, citing inadequate reserves. The proposed budget includes a 5.449% general fund expenditure increase, with the Board of Education receiving a 3.11% increase. 21 city positions are funded at $1 (effectively frozen) to save over $2 million. The mayor stressed the need for multi-year planning and noted potential state aid decisions by May 6, 2026. - Finance Director Carl Erlacher explained that employee benefits rose 20.31% due to pension smoothing from a prior investment loss and three-year health insurance increases. He cautioned against reducing pension contributions below the actuarially determined amount ($7 million). - Council members questioned the S&P downgrade, the lack of multi-year financial forecasting, and the use of salary reserves. Mayor Ocera and Director Erlacher defended the budget's prudence and noted that the state's ECS funding to Middletown has remained flat while the Board of Ed receives additional Alliance District grants. Arts & Culture (Keisha Michaels) - Keisha Michaels, Arts Office Director, presented changes to the Oddfellows Playhouse circus program. The city had historically handled registration and collected fees ($34,000), which went to the general fund. Starting this year, Oddfellows will take over registration and keep those fees, reducing the city's contribution from $99,000 to $65,000 (a $34,000 decrease). - Council members expressed concern about the total city support for Oddfellows (including building ownership) and questioned the program's cost-effectiveness. Councilwoman Salafia noted she is considering cutting the line item. Ms. Michaels stated she is working toward a more equitable financial relationship over time. - A request for Wesleyan University to co-sponsor the circus with $120,000 was declined by President Roth. Probate Court (Judge Francis Leverts-Suzick) - Judge Suzik requested full funding of $59,602.05 (Middletown's 57% share of the court's $104,565 total operating budget) rather than the mayor's proposed flat $42,930. The additional $17,000 is needed for mandated upgrades (phone system, recorder, security) and higher postage/supply costs. The court's HR costs are paid by the state. - Councilman Lafredo acknowledged that the probate court is a state-mandated expense and the city likely must fund the full request. Judge Suzik provided documentation of the four-town cost allocation. Youth Services (Director Justin Carbonella) - Director Carbonella noted the loss of a diversion coordinator (youth development specialist) due to a hiring freeze. This position manages first-time youthful offenders, diverting 30-70 youth per year from the justice system with a 92% success rate. The state has shifted status offense responsibilities to Youth Service Bureaus. He also highlighted a new data-sharing agreement between the city, police, and Board of Ed. - Council members asked about the difference between the two youth worker positions. The diversion coordinator is a licensed clinical master's-level role; the youth worker is a bachelor's-level non-clinical role. The diversion position is critical for case management. Health Department (Director Joseph Elack – online) - Director Elack presented the health department budget online from a conference. He noted the relocation assistance line is set at $30,000, though actual costs were $115,000 last year; policy changes aim to reduce future outlays. The warming center grant was reduced from $25,500 to $20,500 at the mayor's request for a 5% cut. - A public health sanitarian enforcement officer position is funded at $1 (vacant since February). This role handles inspections of 362 food establishments, 73 personal services, 21 daycares, 27 pools, and lead poisoning investigations (threshold lowered to 5 µg/dL). The remaining two sanitarians are stretched thin. - A new on-call stipend for sanitarians and the housing code enforcement officer (per the 466 union contract) requires $16,200, but the budget line is only $15,000. Director Elack requested the line be adjusted to $16,200. Fire Department (Chief David Albert) - Chief Albert submitted a $17,418,518 budget, a 3% decrease from initial proposals due to $300,000 in cuts. Major increases: health insurance (+17%), pension (+13%), and overtime (+17%) due to CT Paid Leave and FMLA. Overtime for minimum manning is projected at $530,000 expended this year. - The alarm technician position saw a salary decrease because a retiree was replaced at step one. Chief Albert discussed a proposed shared mechanic position with Public Works to reduce escalating apparatus repair costs (currently $200/hour labor, $90,000 in parts last year). He expressed concern about the fleet's age and emissions-related failures. - Councilwoman Spitola asked about warranty status of apparatus; all equipment is out of warranty. Emergency Management (Director Rob Cronenberger) - Director Cronenberger presented a $109,000 budget, reduced by 5% as requested. Reductions came from contractual services (eliminated AV equipment warranty), phone lines, and building repairs ($2,000 reduction). The only increase was workers' comp ($600). He requested the $2,000 be restored as a contingency for generator repairs at the high school shelter and a $30,000 water leak at the Maya Lane facility (old Army Reserve base). - A custodian position (5 hours/week) is funded at $1. Transit District (Brendan Gardy, Planner; Helena, Finance Director – online) - Transit District reported a 3% increase request (to $345,725), but the mayor's budget reduced it to $342,565. The district provides fixed-route, ADA paratransit, dollar ride, and extra-mile on-demand services. Recent service expansions (evening and Sunday service) are 100% state-funded. Ridership increased 25% in the past year (to 256,000 fixed-route rides). The required local match for state grants is about 13%. - Councilmen asked about a route change on Saybrook Road; the district explained a time-saving detour onto the highway. Councilwoman Hart praised new bus shelters. Russell Library (Director Ramona Berkey) - Director Berkey reported the library received the Connecticut Library Association's Excellence in Public Library Service Award and is a top-five finalist for Best Cultural Attraction for Families (CT Magazine). The mayor's recommended budget is a 1.4% total increase, but non-contractual lines decreased 5.1% (cuts from repairs/maintenance, general admin, network maintenance). - The library's budget is 1.31% of the total city budget, down from 1.53% in 2018. Inflation has risen 31% since 2008; the library budget has increased only 18%. Despite this, usage is up: circulation +3.2% (vs. statewide -7.5%), children's materials +63%, program attendance +22.4%. Four full-time clerk positions remain funded at $1. - Director Berkey noted the aging building (elevator, chiller, plumbing) and that a city grant writer could help secure grants for a potential rebuild. Contractual salary adjustments for FY27 ($43,916) are in the city's salary adjustment line, not the library's budget. Key Outcomes - No votes were taken; this was a workshop. - The council received requests for budget adjustments: - Probate Court: increase line item from $42,930 to $59,602.05 (additional $17,000). - Health Department: increase stipend line from $15,000 to $16,200. - Emergency Management: restore $2,000 to building repairs line. - Transit District: council to decide whether to accept the mayor's reduced figure or the district's request. - The council will receive a detailed list of positions funded at $1, including vacancy durations and a list of temporary positions, as requested by Council members. - The council will receive further details on contractual services ($40,000) and training line items as promised by the mayor. - The next two budget workshops will cover remaining departments and allow for further deliberation.

The Design Review & Preservation Board met to consider a new drive-through coffee shop proposal, approve previous meeting minutes, and hear a board member's warning about fraudulent invoices targeting applicants. The board voted to accept the conceptual design of the Seven Brew establishment. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments were made for items on the agenda. Discussion Items - New Construction of Seven Brew Drive-Through (733 Washington Street / 35 Boston Road): Applicant attorney Richard D. Carella, franchise owner Rohan Kapoor, and engineer Josh Klein presented plans for a 510-square-foot retail beverage establishment. The drive-through-only concept features staff meeting customers at their cars, with a target service time of three and a half minutes. The building is prefabricated with a thin brick panel facade (shale brown and midnight black) and a signature blue illuminated canopy. The site includes a pylon sign (10 feet tall, similar to neighboring signage), employee-only parking, and a landscaping plan with evergreen screening along the southern property line and street trees along Boston Road and Washington Street. The applicant noted that the Zoning Board of Appeals approved variances for lot size (0.58 acres vs. required 1 acre) and signage the previous night. Board members discussed building colors, canopy illumination timing, tree placement to maintain visibility, and the absence of sidewalks on Boston Road. - Board Member Fraud Warning: Board member Richard Pelletier alerted the commission to fraudulent invoices being sent to applicants. The invoices use City of Middletown logos and forged staff signatures, exploiting contact information from publicly available application forms. He suggested redacting email addresses from future public postings to curb the scam. Key Outcomes - The board approved the conceptual design of the Seven Brew drive-through (motion by member, seconded, vote 5-0 in favor) with the understanding that final colors, retaining wall design, and the landscaping plan be confirmed through staff coordination with the Planning and Zoning Commission. - Minutes from the October 8, 2025 regular meeting were approved unanimously.

The meeting of the Middletown Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) was called to order at 6:30 PM on April 9, 2026. The board addressed a public hearing, two presentations, routine reports, and several action items including goodwill adjustments and a financial hardship request. The meeting was adjourned at 7:54 PM. Public Comments & Testimony - Amy Carlberg (141 Julia Terrace, Middletown) spoke about receiving a high water bill ($1,317) due to an inadvertently left-on outdoor hose. She requested forgiveness for the sewer portion since the water did not enter the sewer system. She noted the meter reading indicated more charges would follow. Staff later addressed this under agenda item 5.3. Consent Calendar - Minutes of March 5, 2026 – Approved unanimously. - Goodwill Adjustment – 141 Julia Terrace (Item 5.3) – Moved to the top of the agenda. Staff recommended a sewer-only adjustment of $465.64 based on average usage due to a hose malfunction. The motion included a friendly amendment to also capture the next quarterly billing. Passed unanimously. - Goodwill Adjustment – 570 East Main Street (Item 5.4) – Staff calculated a consumption discrepancy; the customer had paid half. A one-time adjustment of $1,274.09 was approved unanimously per standard policy. Discussion Items - Connecticut Water Linebacker Program Presentation – Dunel Dylan, representing Connecticut Water, presented a service line protection plan (Linebacker) for water, wastewater, and in-home plumbing. The program is offered at no cost to the WPCA, with a proposed $10 per enrolled customer annual fee paid to the authority. Coverage costs range from $109 to $243 per year for residential customers. Staff asked about local contractors and coordination with existing operations. No action was taken; the board will review the proposal and a formal agreement. - Mattabassett District Budget Presentation – Arthur Simonian (Executive Director) and John Dunham (Board Chairman) presented the FY2027 budget overview for the Mattabassett District, which serves Middletown, New Britain, Berlin, and Cromwell. The overall budget increased 17.7% due to significant capital projects (e.g., sewer trunk line planning, tank rehabilitation, odor control). Middletown’s assessment would rise 1.7% (approximately $88,000), partly offset by $2.25 million from reserves and a $55,000 credit for grit removal. The district highlighted a 5.6% operating budget increase, debt service reductions, and ongoing permitting issues with DEEP regarding discharge permit and inflow/infiltration concerns. No vote was taken. - Fund Balance Report – Director Joseph Casino reported water cash and pool as of March 2026 at $4,061,891 (year-over-year increase of $1.7 million). Sewer cash and pool at $3,815,428 (increase of $707,704). - Income and Consumption Report – March sewer consumption was 6,453,000 (slightly above average); water consumption was 6,387,000 (significantly higher than the March average of 5,762). Staff noted quarterly billing has stabilized consumption spikes. - Collection and Delinquent Report – Collections for December-February totaled $374,908. Total delinquent amount is $3,896,381, with $2 million from the first year and decreasing amounts from prior years. Staff is working with the attorney’s office. - Old Business – Metro Square (Item 4.1) – Tabled; no new information from general counsel. - Old Business – Draft Shutoff Policy (Item 4.2) – Tabled to allow Mayor to attend the next meeting. Board discussed concerns about tenant protections and conflicting statements from city officials. A revision had been made to delete language on termination of services to tenants, stating the city would not pursue shutoffs for occupants of rental units at this time. Further discussion awaited. - Old Business – Goodwill Adjustment for 120 Clover Street (Item 4.3) – No action taken; the property owner is filing bankruptcy. Board expressed frustration over communication with attorneys and the foreclosure process. Key Outcomes - Goodwill Adjustment – 141 Julia Terrace – Approved unanimously for sewer-only credit, with a commitment to review next quarter’s bill. - Goodwill Adjustment – 570 East Main Street – Approved unanimously as a one-time adjustment of $1,274.09. - Financial Hardship Request – 55 Bird Drive (Item 5.5) – After discussion about the lack of a formal hardship policy, a motion was made to wipe out the entire arrears ($3,992.63) as a one-time adjustment. The vote passed 4-1 (Councilman Lapreto opposed, citing lack of policy). The board directed staff to develop a formal hardship policy for future cases.

The Common Council held a community meeting on April 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber and via WebEx. The sole purpose was to receive public comment on any issues of concern within the council's jurisdiction. No council discussion or votes occurred. Public Comments & Testimony - Drew Crandall (14 Webster Road, Ellington; volunteer president of Connecticut Radio Fellowship which operates WIHS 104.9 FM in Middletown): Reported that a beloved on-air announcer, Anissa Porticelli, died the previous night. He explained that the station, a 501c3 nonprofit on the air since 1969, had its property tax exemption denied by the assessor's office on March 23, 2026 due to an administrative error in filing a required quadrennial report. He asked the council to help resolve the issue without going to court. - Frank Marcese (583 Pine Street, Middletown; Middletown Youth Soccer): Described the club's history, including the construction of turf fields on Country Club Road in 2019 under a capital lease with PNC Equipment Finance. He stated that the club was initially understood to be tax-exempt but received a tax bill for $53,000 in 2025 without prior notice. He explained that an ordinance is needed to correct the assessment and asked the council to pass it. He noted the club serves 800–900 children per year, charges $140 for rec, and has a monthly mortgage of $12,000–$13,000. - Steve Crouch (128 Skylar Avenue, Middletown): Supported Frank Marcese’s comments, emphasizing hundreds of volunteer hours to acquire the property. He stated that raising fees to pay the tax bill would hurt families. - Joanne Mosmecchi (73 Wildwood Lane, Middletown): A volunteer for 20+ years, she asked the council to sponsor a vote on the ordinance to correct the tax bills. - Rosemary Sarshaw (93 Bartholomew Road, Middletown): Presented a letter from the club’s accounting firm stating that the turf field is owned by Middletown Youth Soccer, not the finance company, and is exempt from personal property tax under 501c3 status. She also spoke as a former player and current coach/director, asking the council to reconsider the tax assessment. - Alexander (478 Main Street, Middletown): A coach for two years, he argued that raising fees to pay taxes would burden families already struggling with the economy, and urged the council to consider the kids. - Unnamed speaker (Nighty Timber Road, Middletown): Former professional soccer player whose children played for the club. He highlighted that the program is among the cheapest and that over 80% of coaches are volunteers. He stated that the turf fields allow training year-round with zero rain cancellations, and that 15–20 kids annually earn college soccer scholarships. He noted the club saves the city about $88,000 per year since taking over field maintenance, and that tournaments bring outside visitors who spend money in local businesses. He warned that a tax bill would be passed on to families. - Bill Wilson (220 Woodbury Circle, Middletown): Criticized Wesleyan University for not contributing financially to the city, contrasting with Yale’s $30 million annual payment to New Haven. He urged the council to hold Wesleyan accountable. He also raised concerns about road conditions, speed camera revenue use, and rising rents (average $1,950 for a two-bedroom). He blamed state mandates for increasing costs. - Brendan Berry (Wesleyan student; organizer of the Wesleyan Good Neighbor Project): Agreed with Bill Wilson and stated that Wesleyan students are working with residents to push the university to pay its fair share. He noted that Wesleyan’s endowment is $1.5 billion and its annual budget ($270 million) exceeds Middletown’s ($240 million). He claimed 40% of fire department calls go to Wesleyan, and that at the lowest mill rate the university would owe $11.5 million per year. He argued that a payment of $1 million per year (0.4% of endowment) is affordable and called for a mass movement similar to New Haven’s to achieve it.

A regular meeting of the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers, City Hall, and via WebEx. Vice-Chair Tyler Eckstrom presided, with Secretary Nathaniel Spencer, Commissioners Emery, Reagan, Szynkowicz, and Alternate Commissioners McEvoy and Cunningham present. The meeting included a public hearing on a special exception and site plan for a drive-thru beverage stand, a presentation on a new warehouse facility, and routine administrative items. Public Hearing: Special Exception and Site Plan for Seven Brew Drive-Thru (SE2026-2) - Proposal: Attorney Richard Carella, on behalf of applicant Rohan Kapoor (Seven Brew), requested a special exception and site plan approval to construct a 510-square-foot retail beverage establishment with a two-lane drive-thru at 733 Washington Street and 35 Boston Road, within the MXC zone. The property is approximately 0.57 acres (25,000 sq. ft.) with a 10-foot grade change. The building would be drive-thru only, no indoor seating, with 11 employee parking spaces, a 23-vehicle queue (10 inner, 13 outer lanes), and a 250-square-foot remote storage unit. The operation would employ about 60 people (mostly high school and college students), with hours Sunday–Thursday 5:30 AM–10:00 PM, Friday–Saturday 5:30 AM–11:00 PM. Traffic impact study indicated a 50% pass-by rate, peak trips below 50, and level of service A at the Boston Road signal, with queues typically 138–177 feet (50th percentile) and up to 240 feet (95th percentile) but not adversely affecting the intersection. The design includes LED lighting (2700K, full cutoff, dark-sky approved), a pylon sign, and landscaping (11 trees, 20 including evergreens, 6 shrubs). Snow storage was addressed, and a queuing management plan for grand openings was described. - Public Comments: Three residents spoke. Pete Smith opposed the project, citing removal of established trees (planted 2010), increased impervious surface, stormwater runoff, idling pollution, litter, and competition with existing nearby coffee shops (Dunkin', McDonald's, Starbucks). He questioned the community benefit. Howard Thody also opposed, raising concerns about traffic impact on Heritage Commons (convalescent home) and emergency vehicle access, noting difficulty exiting Enterprise driveway, and questioned the need for another coffee shop. Bill Wilson spoke in favor, highlighting the business's success in Wallingford, job creation for local youth, tax base relief, and competition. He argued the location is appropriate (not residential) and that the town should be open to development. - Commission Discussion: Commissioners asked about snow removal plans (on-site storage with off-site removal if needed), whether walk-ups or bicycles are allowed (technically yes, but not encouraged – only 1–2% of transactions nationally), and concerns about queue spillover onto Boston Road during peak times. Commissioner Szynkowicz noted a personal experience with longer wait times at a similar location in Texas. Director Kozikowski requested clarification on the LED branding light hours (on during business hours, off one hour after close) and recommended a written queuing management plan as a condition of approval. - Key Outcomes: The public hearing was closed. A motion was made and seconded to approve the special exception and site plan with two conditions: (1) the applicant shall provide a queuing management plan to city staff for general operations and adhere to it, and (2) all lights, including branding lights, shall be turned off no later than one hour after closing. The motion passed unanimously (all in favor, none opposed). The applicant also needs to merge the two parcels prior to permits. New Business: Site Plan for Winair Warehouse (SPR2026-41) - Proposal: Brian Coggan, Mark Reynolds (engineer), and Alan Lamson (architect) presented a request for site plan approval to construct a new 50,000-square-foot warehouse, office, and showroom facility at 1345 Newfield Street (Map-Lot 09-0006) in the NPC zone. The applicant, Winair, has been in Middletown since 1974, currently operating from a 2,000-square-foot building with 35 employees and 15 trucks per day. The new building would be a pre-engineered steel structure with warehouse space, a showroom, and nine offices. It would include a ramp connecting to the existing building for material movement under a canopy. The site plan includes a new entrance from Newfield Street, parking for customers and employees, loading docks for semi-trailers and box trucks, and stormwater detention. The project would require removal of an existing house and garage. Comments from staff and the Water and Sewer Department (dated April 6, 2026) require additional revisions, including drainage work. No traffic signal is proposed; a traffic impact study showed no diminished level of service. - Commission Discussion: Commissioner Szynkowicz asked about a traffic light for the new entrance; the applicant stated a study found no need. No other questions were raised. The application was not ready for action. - Key Outcomes: The commission agreed to keep the application open for further revisions. The item is expected to be placed on the April 22, 2026, or May 13, 2026, agenda once revised plans are submitted. Other Business - Consent Calendar: No items. - Public Comment on Non-Hearing Items: None. - Minutes: The minutes of the March 25, 2026, regular meeting were approved unanimously. - RiverCOG Report: No meeting held; no report. - Staff Report: Director Kozikowski reported that a first meeting with a consultant through RiverCOG regarding zoning changes for compliance with Public Act 25-1 (housing growth) is scheduled for the following day. - Commission Affairs: None. - Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:23 PM.

The Public Safety 911 Center Building Committee met in hybrid format in the Middletown Police Department Community Room and via WebEx. The audio transcript says the meeting was on March 26 and was called to order at 5:03 p.m., while the supplied meeting metadata says 2026-04-08 10:00 UTC; this summary uses the supplied date and notes the discrepancy. The main business was reviewing schematic design cost estimates for the new 911 center, discussing a telephonic recorder purchase, and approving two invoices. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public offered comment, either in the room or through WebEx. Consent Calendar - Meeting minutes from January 22, 2026 and February 26, 2026 were approved by voice vote. Director's Report - The director said he has been working with specialty vendors on quotes, including municipal radio alarm consoles that monitor fire alarms, burglar alarms, and Wesleyan security alarms throughout the city. - The design team is also working with Cybex for dispatch consoles, NORCOM for local radio work, and other specialty vendors for the radio project. - GeoDesigns, the geotechnical engineer, had delayed its site visit; the crew was expected on site the following Monday or Tuesday. - Juliano Associates, the land surveyor, was progressing and expected to be done by the next meeting. - The telephonic/recorder issue remains unresolved: there is still no city-side funding in CIP or CNR, a workaround exists but is not ideal, and a decision is still needed. - The director will be on vacation April 10-20, 2026, returning for the budget meeting near April 20. Discussion: Schematic Design Cost Estimates The design consultant presented a large schematic design cost estimate comparing two project scopes for the new emergency communications center. Option A / All-in option: - About 7,760 square feet, including the emergency communications mission spaces, a training room, conference room, fitness area, and public amenities. - Net construction cost estimate: $6.142 million, with about $4.3 million for the building and $1.8 million for site work. - Contractor markups, contingencies, escalation, general requirements, bond, insurance, and profit total about $2.1 million, bringing total construction costs to about $8.2 million. - Soft costs, including design fees, loose equipment and furniture, radio systems, fire alarm systems, and project development, are about $1.937 million. - With 5% contingencies on hard and soft costs, the total project cost is about $10.6 million, roughly $600,000 over the $10 million limit. - With selected alternates, the summary total was about $10.5 million. Option B / Value-engineered option: - About 5,657 square feet, removing the training and conference rooms, as well as the associated parking and storm-water work. - Net construction cost: about $4.8 million; total construction cost about $6.436 million. - Soft costs are about $1.8 million; the total project cost is about $8.7 million, or about $8.6 million with selected alternates. Alternates considered: - Centralized UPS power system: $87,000 add alternate. The dispatcher-side staff said the current 911 center operates well with a centralized UPS system, includes about 45 minutes of battery backup, and has a good maintenance contract with Eaton; others noted a centralized UPS is a single point of failure. - Redundant power feed from the high school fuel cell: about $560,000 add alternate. This requires a long trench, conduit, and panel work at the school. The fuel cell runs almost continuously except for roughly one week a year and already produces excess power. It could also be provisioned for later if not selected now. - Brick masonry instead of insulated metal panels: about $250,000 deduct for Option A and about $174,000 deduct for Option B. The brick was described as more inherently ballistic-resistant and cost-effective. Committee discussion: - The chair repeatedly said the common council sent a clear message that the project must not exceed $10 million: “We have 10 million to spend on this, not a penny more.” - Several members were reluctant to put the over-budget Option A out to bid and hope for savings, calling that approach potentially insincere and saying the committee should not knowingly bid a project that has no way to pass the budget marker. - Operational staff emphasized that Option B eliminates needed training and meeting space; there would be nowhere to host telecommunicator meetings, interviews, or training. One participant raised that the existing emergency training/EOC room is dated and was configured for training needs. - An online member said they “love Option A” and suggested trying to keep the training space while reducing size through consolidation, such as combining break room/kitchenette space and absorbing the conference room. - The committee asked for a “Plan C”: reduce the training room from 40-person capacity to roughly 25-30 person capacity, remove the conference room, simplify the kitchenette/break room, reduce restrooms, and cut about 750 square feet. Because the estimate is about $1,000 per square foot, the committee believes this may save about $750,000 and enable the project to stay within the $10 million cap while retaining some training capability. Old Business: Telephonic Recorder Purchase - The committee untabled the item for discussion. - The current analog recorder cannot be updated to record new radio channels under the existing workaround. If police or fire added an new radio channel, the 911 center could not record it as required by FOIA obligations. - The recorder purchase was tied to the existing project budget, but many members were concerned that the new building is two or more years away and the equipment could be productively obsolete by then. - The committee decided not to the buy the recorder from project funds; the motion to approve failed. The item should instead be handled through city-side CIP/CNR funding if still needed. New Business — Approvals - Approved $8,250 to Tecton for work performed through February 28, 2026. - Approved $3,900 to Juliano Associates, the land surveyor, to complete the remaining survey work and the retainer authorization. Key Outcomes - Approved the January 22, 2026 and February 26, 2026 minutes. - Deferred final scope decision on the 911 center; design team was directed to prepare a “Plan C” with reduced training/meeting spaces and bring a revised cost estimate to the next meeting. - Reaffirmed the $10 million absolute project cap. - Declined to approve the telephonic recorder purchase from project funds; referred the need to normal city-side funding channels. - Approved Tecton and Juliana Associates invoices. - The meeting adjourned at about 6:02 p.m. according to the audio transcript.

This special meeting of the Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals was held on April 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The board considered a single application for a variance to allow a drive-through coffee shop (Seven Brew) on a substandard lot and to permit additional signage. After a public hearing and deliberation, the board voted unanimously to approve both variances. Note: The agenda listed the meeting as Thursday, April 7, 2026, but April 7, 2026 is a Tuesday; the transcript records the meeting as Tuesday. Consent Calendar - Minutes of the February 5, 2026 special meeting were approved by a motion and unanimous vote. Public Comments & Testimony - Peter Frank Smith (212 Sisque Street, Middletown) raised concerns about tree removal, compliance with the Dark Skies ordinance for illuminated signs, air pollution from idling cars, traffic impacts, and the proximity of two existing coffee retailers. The board clarified that these issues pertain to the Planning and Zoning meeting scheduled for the next evening (April 8, 2026) and are not within the scope of the variance request. The applicant noted that 13 trees would be removed but 31 would be planted. Discussion Items - Variance Request V2026-1 – Applicant Attorney Richard D. Carella and engineer James Vagel (Stonefield Engineering) presented a proposal for a two-lane drive-through coffee shop at 733 Washington Street and 35 Boston Road in the MXC zone. The site is a combined parcel of two lots, resulting in approximately half an acre, created by the state's widening of Route 66 in 2010. The requested variances were: - Section 5.6.13 (Drive-Through Businesses) – Minimum lot area of 1 acre; the combined site is less than 1 acre. - Section 4.18.4.6 (Directory Signs) – Number of permitted signs; the applicant proposed 60 square feet of signage, exceeding the allowance by about 10 square feet. The applicant reduced directional signs to 3 square feet each (exempted by code) and added a pylon sign. The building has only 50 linear feet of storefront, limiting the sign area calculation. - Board members discussed the hardship: the lot's irregular shape and size resulted from the state's taking, making it unsuitable for a sit-down restaurant. The building's small size (15 ft × 35 ft) also constrained sign placement. Member Andrew Santaniello noted that signs on Route 66 are often larger, and the proposed signage is appropriate for the road. Member Nicholas Ficaro expressed mild concern that the sign size was a self-imposed hardship from the franchise's branding standards, but he ultimately voted in favor after hearing that the building's configuration limited sign options. Key Outcomes - Motion to approve the variance request (Section 5.6.13 and Section 4.18.4.6) was made and seconded. The board voted unanimously in favor (all members present: Callie Grippo, Andrew Santaniello, Richard Pelletier, Nicholas Ficaro, with Tom Hazel as staff). The motion passed. - The meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote following the decision.