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 at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI in person and by telephone conference call/webinar, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 6:02 P.M.

Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding

Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III

Councillor Terri Flynn

Councillor Christopher M. Logan

Councillor M. Theresa Santos

Councillor Dennis B. Turano

Councillor Barbara A. VonVillas, Members Present

AMENDED- JUNE 13, 2022

POSTED – June 7, 2022

SPECIAL MEETING – June 15, 2022

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 Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island. Said meeting will be conducted in person, by telephone conference call/ webinar, 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: 834 6036 6461 or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83460366461

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., 42-46-4., 42-46-5., and 42-46-6., RIGL, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Town Council to formally consider, discuss and act upon the following items of business. All items on this agenda, may be considered, discussed and voted upon.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

1. Resolution of the Council, re: Approve change order/contract Architectural services- School Building Projects.

2. Resolution of the Council, re: Approve change order/contract Owner Project Manager Consulting Services- School Building Projects.

3. Public Hearing (Advertised)

An Ordinance of the Town of Middletown (First Reading)

An Ordinance in amendment to the ordinances of the Town of Middletown General Fund, Parks and Recreation Fund, Sewer Fund, Refuse and Recycling Fund, Appropriating revenues for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

Said meeting will be held at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842 on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 6:00 P.M.

____________________________________

Paul M. Rodrigues, President

Middletown Town Council

cc : Town Council Public Library Finance Director

Town Administrator Town Solicitor School Committee

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 this meeting.

Posted on June 7, 2022 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.

1. Resolution of the Council, re: Approve change order/contract Architectural services- School Building Projects.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to withdraw said resolution at the request of the Administration.

2. Resolution of the Council, re: Approve change order/contract Owner Project Manager Consulting Services- School Building Projects.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, to withdraw said resolution at the request of the Administration.

Councillor Flynn inquired why the resolutions were being withdrawn.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown explained the Town Administration, Town Solicitor and School Administration are reviewing the process before a contract can be awarded. Mr. Brown noted with the change in project and scope of work, the project may need to be rebid.

Town Solicitor Peter Regan noted the school building project has changed from the original project and there may be a requirement to rebid the work.

Discussion centered around if the delay in awarding the contract would delay the submission of the Phase II report to RIDE, the deadline for submission has been moved to February of 2023, design plans up to 50% must be submitted, and it is likely that the project will need to be rebid.

A vote was taken.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to withdraw said resolution at the request of the Administration.

3. Public Hearing (Advertised)

An Ordinance of the Town of Middletown (First Reading)

Public Hearing was declared open.

Council President Rodrigues recused himself from acting on the following discussion of the Public Hearing.

Vice President Welch presiding.

Nicole Barnard, Attorney/Senior Staff Representative, AFSCME Rhode Island Council 94

American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, North Providence, RI addressed the Council requesting that the health insurance benefits for the members remain at the same rate and requested $1.20/hour increase per employee for the July 1, 2021, July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023 contracts. Ms. Barnard noted the School Committee does not control the finances for the School Department and requests Council support. Ms. Barnard explained Council 94 has not had any increase in pay for 5 years.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown reviewed the proposed plan to address the school deficit by using ARPA funds, noting the School Committee still controls the School Department budget, but all purchases must be approved by the Town Finance Director. Mr. Brown explained the Town Council does not have the authority to bargain with Council 94.

Town Solicitor Peter Regan noted the issue of contract negotiations must be done at the bargaining table with the School Committee, once an agreement is reached the contract would be ratified by the Council.

Council President Rodrigues presiding.

Paul Mankofsky, Middletown, thanked the Town Council for being fiscally responsible, assuring quality government, and requested the Town Council not fund the School Department the 4% increase requested in the budget. Mr. Mankofsky explained the need to know the answers to the school deficit before proceeding with a bond question. Mr. Mankofsky expressed the need for a performance audit for the School Department and inquired why the School Department did not take legal action against the town council for insufficient budget amounts in prior years.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown noted a bid went out for a performance audit of the school budget, but no bids were received. Mr. Brown explained the town is working with the auditor general to find someone to perform the performance audit. Mr. Brown noted the town finance department is working with the school and will be playing a greater role in the school finances.

Lucy Kinsley, Newport County Mental Health, thanked the Town Council for their past civic support, noting funds were used to renovate a primary care facility space within the 65 Valley Road location. Ms. Kinsley noted Newport County Mental Health’s request for the upcoming budget year has returned to the original amount, explaining the need for mental health services in the community.

Discussion centered around the effect of COVID on residents’ mental health, a larger percentage of police calls are mental health related, suicide is the 2^nd leading cause of death in the young and young adults, and no one is turned away from services at Newport County Community Mental

Health.

Kaity Ryan, Executive Director Norman Bird Sanctuary, joined the public hearing by zoom, thanked the Town Council for past support, requesting funding for environmental programs for Middletown youth in the upcoming budget.

Councillor Flynn inquired about the status of pending questions from the Saturday, June 4^th Budget discussion.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown responded that all questions will be answered.

Councillor Flynn inquired the proposed additional staffing at the Department of Public Works, and what current vacancies exist.

Public Works Director Robert Hanley, responding to Councillor Flynn, explained there are 16 public works staff currently, with 3 vacancies. There is currently one vacancy in the Sewer Department and he would like to add 2 positions to the Parks and Recreation Department as well as a Deputy Public Works Director.

Discussion centered around staffing at public works, there are not enough staff members to care for town parks, buildings and grass, the Deputy Public Works Director would oversee work related to stormwater which is currently being done by the Town Administrator and Town Planner, and trucks and mowers requested for the department.

Council President Rodrigues reviewed the budget discussion from the Saturday, June 4^th budget meeting to include the tiered tax program, proposed tax rate, addition of a floating clerk position between departments, the building and planning department budgets.

Middletown Prevention Coalition (MPC) Coordinator Lori Verderosa noted the change in the MPC budget was due to the request to expand the part time position at Gaudet to full time, explaining there is a greater need for services of the student population.

Discussion centered around collaboration between the Middletown Prevention Coalition and the Community Outreach Department, the targeted population of the Prevention Coalition is 7^th-12^th grade, and the data from the substance use surveys at the schools.

Council President Rodrigues continued to review the Saturday, June 4^th Budget meeting to include the Library Budget, IT Budget and IT Roadmap of projects, Fire Department Budget and School Budget. Council President Rodrigues inquired how much of the ARPA funds would be used for the School Department budget deficit.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown, responding to Council President Rodrigues, noted the deficit of the current year will be funded through monies that would have been used to additionally fund OPEB, explaining all required contributions to OPEB will be made. The remaining 900,000 will be funded with 100,000 of tax dollars and 800,000 from ARPA over the next 4 years.

Discussion centered around a contingency fund being put in the budget if any issues arise in the school budget, the need to have accurately budgeted numbers for the school budget, the impact if the tax rate was kept the same for residents, positions that were eliminated by the school department for the upcoming school year, the need and cost of a new chiller at the school department, class sizes at the high school, the school would know if contingency money is needed at the start of the school year based on enrollment, the interim business manager is leaving the School Department within 2 weeks, if the town can take over School Department finances, the school would still need an interim business manager, working on a plan for the Town and School Finance Departments to work together, the need to provide an itemized list of areas of overspending in the school budget, the cost of special education, the capital budget for the School Department, there are necessary capital items at the school now even with the passage of a school building bond and the need to have a plan in place if regionalization and a school bond do not pass during the election.

Joanne Nasser, Middletown, inquired what the ramifications of passage of new school buildings will have on taxpayers. Ms. Nasser noted concern with the amount of taxes she has to pay.

Council President Rodrigues reviewed the history of the proposed school building project and original bond amount, the possibility of regionalizing with Newport and the newly proposed school building projects that are being considered. Council President Rodrigues explained to Ms. Nasser that she should meet with the Tax Assessor regarding her taxes, if she has financial needs.

Council President Rodrigues continued to review the budget discussion from Saturday, June 4^th to include the Police Department budget and scheduled purchase of police cars, 3 candidates will be attending the police academy in August and there may be one lateral transfer.

Discussion centered around the Outreach Department/Children, Youth and Learning budget, the recycling budget using fund balance to offset the cost of the program for the upcoming budget year, the need to attract more participants into the Pay As You Throw program, summer interns checking to insure pay as you throw users are using Town trash bags and the use of ARPA funds to address the School Department deficit.

Councillor VonVillas noted the need for measurable outcomes for the Outreach Department job descriptions and the concern of using ARPA money only for the schools and not for other community projects. Ms. VonVillas suggested combining the Middletown Prevention Coalition with the Outreach Department.

Councillor Flynn explained that there are two different mission statements between the Middletown Prevention Coalition and the Outreach Department, the departments should collaborate and not combine.

Vice President Welch announced the Public Hearing will remain open.

There being no other persons present, public hearing will remain open.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to receive said ordinance on its first reading.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 8:57 p.m.

Wendy J.W. Marshall, CMC

Council Clerk

Supporting documentation is available at http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-ri