THIS MEETING CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE WWW.MIDDLETOWNRI.COM OR THE DVD IS AVAILABLE AT THE MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY.
At a Special Meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Middletown, RI held by telephone conference at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 8:00 A.M.
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding
Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III
Councillor Terri Flynn
Councillor Christopher M. Logan
Councillor M. Theresa Santos, arrives at 9:00 a.m.
Councillor Dennis B. Turano
Councillor Barbara A. VonVillas, Members Present
All Councilors’ were present except Councillor Flynn who participated in the meeting by zoom.
POSTED – April 29, 2021
SPECIAL MEETING – May 8, 2021
The following items of business, having been filed with the Town Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at a Special Meeting to be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 8:00 A.M. - Said meeting will be conducted by telephone conference call/ webinar, in accordance with Executive Order 20-46 issued by Governor Raimondo on April 15, 2020, extended to May 27, 2021, which modifies certain provisions of the Open Meetings Act (“OMA”) and the Access to Public Records Act (“APRA”) as part of the State’s emergency response to COVID-19. Members of the public may access and listen to the meeting in real-time by calling 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) and entering Meeting ID: 868 7777 4139; or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86877774139
Wendy J.W. Marshall, Town Clerk
Town of Middletown
Town Hall – 350 East Main Road
Middletown, Rhode Island 02842
Dear Ms. Marshall:
Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 203 of the Town Charter and in accordance with Sections 42-46-2, 42-46-3, 42-46-4, 42-46-5 and 42-46-6, RIGL, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Town Council to formally consider, discuss and vote upon the following items of business:
Said meeting will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 8:00 A.M. Town Council will meet in accordance with Executive Order 20-46.
____________________________________
Paul M. Rodrigues, Council President
Middletown Town Council
cc: Town Council Town Administrator Town Solicitor
Finance Director Public Library
This meeting location is accessible to the handicapped. Individuals requiring interpreter services for the hearing-impaired should notify the Town Clerk’s Office at 847-0009 not less than 48 hours before the meeting.
Posted on April 29, 2021 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.
Council President Rodrigues noted that the meeting will recess at 9:30 am and reconvene at 11:30 am.
1. Review of Town of Middletown Proposed Budgets and Capital Improvement Plan-Generals Fund, Parks & Recreation Fund, Sewer Fund and Refuse & Recycling Fund of the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and matter related thereto.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin review of Town of Middletown Proposed Budgets and Capital Improvement Plan-Generals Fund, Parks & Recreation Fund, Sewer Fund and Refuse & Recycling Fund of the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and matter related thereto.
Fire Department Budget:
Interim Fire Chief Robert McCall participated by zoom to answer Council questions.
Finance Director Marc Tanguay reviewed the following slide:
Discussion centered around budget CIP projects always return to the Town Council for approval, the purchase of two pumper trucks, if one pumper truck could be deferred, and if the old pumper trucks could be traded in when purchasing the new truck.
Police Department Budget
Captain Jason Ryan and Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police Lisa Sisson were present to answer Council questions.
Finance Director Marc Tanguay reviewed the following slide:
Discussion centered around the purchase of four vehicles for the Police Department, the vehicle for the beach would allow for more visible Police presence at the beach, storing the beach vehicle at the campground during the summer and the Police station in the winter, one new permanent hire for the department, the summer intern program which will assist with short-term rental issues, dogs of the beach issues, and parking issues at the beach; all vehicles being purchased from the Rescue Wagon Fund, purchase of bullet proof vests, uniforms and ammunition for the department.
Public Works Budget
Interim Public Works Director Robert Hanley and Town Engineer Warren Hall were present by zoom to answer Council questions.
Finance Director Marc Tanguay reviewed the following slide:
Discussion centered around two new hires, purchase of a new truck, overtime for snow removal, SeeClickFix program, clean water, BMP’s (Best Management Practice) water testing, current staffing, the trench on Green End Avenue being Department of Transportation’s system which does not have a BMP, and the fence in front of Green End Pond.
Sewer Budget
Interim Public Works Director Robert Hanley and Town Engineer Warren Hall were present by zoom to answer Council questions.
Finance Director Marc Tanguay reviewed the following slide:
Discussion centered around the increase for sewer users, data received from the City of Newport showing the average per user amount, decrease in infiltration, some sewer users have wells and are not connected to the Town water, there is a meter residents can install to show their water usage, replacement of the Marshall Village pump station, Paradise force main replacement and upgrades to Town infrastructure.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to recess this meeting at 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 am.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to reconvene this meeting at 11:30 a.m.
Parks and Recreation Budget
Facilities Manager Will Cronin and HR Director Cassandra Bennett were present by zoom to answer Council questions.
Finance Director Marc Tanguay reviewed the following slide:
Discussion centered around the Town is bringing back Monday nights at the beach, concern with buses dropping off people at the beach, increase in grant funding with no match from the Town, Campers arriving at the campground on May 21, 2021, increase in compensation due to extending beach hours, 67 total staff at the beach, online beach sticker sales and the budget was prepared prior to the Council deciding on upgrades at the campground.
Refuse & Recycling Budget
Facilities Manager Will Cronin was present by zoom to answer Council questions.
Finance Director Marc Tanguay reviewed the following slide:
Discussion centered around the number of participants in the program, information is sent to residents to try the program, the need for the program to be self-sustainable, the tipping rate is set by the state, the current contract will be expiring, hiring a consultant for the upcoming RFP for the program and additions to the Town ordinance to make enforcement easier for violations regarding the program.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to recess this meeting at 12:07 p.m.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to reconvene this meeting at 12:25 p.m.
School Budget
Present representing the School Department were Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger, Assistant Superintendent Michele Fonseca, Business Manager Cindy Brown, Facilities Director Dave Fontes, Technology Director Sean Bouzan, School Committee Chair Theresa Spengler and members Liana Ferreira Fenton, Tami Holden and William O’Connell. (All joined the meeting by zoom)
Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger and School Committee Chair Theresa Spengler responded to Council questions.
Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger reviewed the following:
Discussion centered around the School Department requesting a 4% increase in their budget to maintain the current level of service, adding a Guidance Counselor, keeping all athletic programs, after school activities, page 300 in the budget book (see below), working with legislators for hold harmless, not knowing if the School will receive additional COVID dollars, what is or maybe done with the Little Oliphant building (use for maintenance, needs work, restoring the facility, use as a youth center), looking for a place to park the Town school buses, status of students, healthcare benefits for retired teachers, maintaining the fields, Council requested update on 10 million dollar bond, monies needed to maintain schools and bring them to this century, maintaining computers, Special Education and servicing the needs of the students, breakdown of Special Education cost by community, negotiating the teacher contract, negotiating custodial contract, salaries for long-term substitute teachers, ESSER dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act, contractual budget items, fund balance and the Council requesting information on what would be cut if the Schools received 3%, 2%, 1% or zero increase.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 2:08 p.m.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, CMC
Council Clerk
Supporting documentation is available at http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-ri