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FEBRUARY 4, 2008 MIDDLETOWN TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Preceding the regular meeting was a Special Meeting concerning the Substance Abuse Task Force and its Strategic Plan. Since the Special Meeting ended at 6:59pm and discussions occurred on the floor of the Council Chamber thereafter, President Paul Roderiques was not able to convene the Regular Meeting until 7:10pm. Councilman Edward Silveira Jr. was absent.

Fifteen-item Consent Calendar

Two items on the consent calendar received additional comment:

President Roderiques inquired into three items in the Financial Statement, receiving answers from Interim Town Administrator Shawn Brown
Resident Antone Viveiros addressed the updated report of the Pay-As-You-Throw Program and commended Town personnel since the “program is moving along well.”

Commendation for Girls Volleyball Team

Observing teenage girls in the audience, President Roderiques assumed that the volleyball team was in attendance for the presentation of their commendation. However, the volleyball team was not in attendance and the girls from the tennis team were attending in order to speak on a later docket item. After this mild embarrassment, the Council decided to continue the commendation for the volleyball team until the next meeting and directed Town Clerk Wendy Marshall to notify the appropriate personnel to ensure their attendance.

Business Development Coordinator Consultant

Robert Silva, Chairman Economic Advisory Committee, presented a proposal to the Council to hire a consultant to serve as the “Town’s Business Development Coordinator.” An RFQ was advertised for this project and only one response was received; however, that response was from the Mayforth Group that has done previous work for the Town and has been voluntarily assisting the Economic Development Advisory Committee since August at no pay. Richard McAuliffe, Chairman of The Mayforth Group, then presented the Council a description of the deliverable items that would result from the one-year, $50,000 contract. Councilman Robert Sylvia said that there is “no doubt in my mind that our $50,000 investment will result in significant returns to the Town” and Councilman Louis DiPalma said “This is the right way to go.” The Council unanimously approved the contract with $25,000 coming from the Planning Department Operating Budget and $25,000 coming from the Undesignated Fund Balance.

Slate Hill Farm Sewer/Water Betterment Assessment Review

Last summer the Council established a procedure whereby residents of Slate Hill Farm could appeal their assessments for the Sewer/Water Betterment project (see Middletown Newsletter 6/18/07.) The report from the subcommittee for three appeals was before the Council for consideration and approval. The Council unanimously approved the recommendation of the subcommittee as follows:

Alan and Susan Bernard, 16 Circle Drive – frontage reduced from 200.5’ to 150’ (25% reduction)
Daniel and Lesley Faria, 17 Circle Drive – frontage reduced from 202.5’ to 171’ (15.6% reduction)
Russell Ferretti, et. al., 8 South Drive – no change

Pre-Employment/Employee Term of Service Agreement

Citing the recent decision of three rookie police officers to leave Middletown for jobs in other states, Councilman Robert Sylvia proposed that a committee be established to determine a policy whereby Middletown could require a term of service or tuition rebate for every police cadet that Middletown sends for training at the Police Academy. Councilman Sylvia cited a $17,000 cost to train each police recruit and upon graduation from the Police Academy the recruit could take a job anywhere, not necessarily in Middletown. The Council unanimously decided to establish a committee to study this situation and make a recommendation to the Council and also directed Town Solicitor Francis Holbrook to examine state law on the matter. The committee will be comprised of: the Police Chief or his designee, the Town Administrator or his designee, a representative from the police union, a retired Middletown Police Officer, and two members from the Town’s civilian community.

Gaudet School Courts (outdoor basketball and tennis)

Citing the recommendation of the Open Space and Fields Committee, Councilwoman M. Theresa Santos proposed “to renovate the Gaudet School court facility and to appropriate funding from the Open Space Bond.” Members of the Girls tennis team and a few adults all spoke in favor of this project and cited the terrible condition and safety hazard of the outdoor courts. Interim Administrator Brown suggested that a funding source other than the Open Space Bond would be a better solution since the courts are school property and would be eligible for a 30% rebate from the State. With Councilwoman Santos stating that “the courts are in terrible condition, let’s take care of them”, the Council unanimously agreed to move forward on the project and directed Interim Administrator Brown to determine a funding source.

Appointments

The Council made the following unanimous appointment:

Richard Adams – Planning Board (reappointment)
Audrey Rearick – Planning Board (reappointment)
Andrew M. Leys – Mooring Assignment Committee*
William A. Saunders – Mooring Assignment Committee*
Karen Day – Tree Commission

* This committee has not yet been officially formed (objectives and member’s length of service)

Town Administrator Search Committee

The list of names submitted by Council members to be considered for the Town Administrator Search Committee included eight residents (one of whom cannot serve) and three non-residents. Councilwoman Shirley Mello made a motion to appoint only the seven residents and Councilman Louis DiPalma offered an amendment to include the three non-residents. When no second for Councilman DiPalma’s motion was forthcoming, the Council unanimously approved the original motion for the appointment of seven members as follows:

Lucie-Anne Dionne-Thomas
Frank Forgue
Carole Hale
Mason Hawes
Manny Mello
Jack Richardson
Attorney Arthur R. Thomas

PUBLIC FORUM SESSION

No one requested to address the Council during the public forum session.

The Council recessed the regular meeting at 8:32pm in order to reconvene in Executive Session. As noted in the docket, the purpose of the Executive Session was “potential litigation.”

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