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, on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 6:01 P.M.
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding
Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III
Councillor Peter D. Connerton, Sr.
Councillor Christopher M. Logan
Councillor M. Theresa Santos
Councillor Emily M. Tessier, Arrives at 6:03 p.m.
Councillor Dennis B. Turano, Members Present
*AMENDED AND POSTED – JANUARY 23, 2023
POSTED – *January 19, 2022
SPECIAL MEETING – January 25, 2023
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, January 25, 2023 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: 882 5790 9700 or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88257909700
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
____________________________________
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 *January 19, 2022 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.
Posted on January 23, 2023 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.
The Town Council President called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
The School Committee Chair Theresa Spengler called the meeting to order.
The School Building Committee Co-Chair Charlie Roberts called the meeting to order.
1. Joint Meeting with the Middletown Town Council, Middletown School Committee and Middletown Public Schools Building Committee, re: To discuss the School Building Program in the Town and matters related thereto.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin discussion of the School Building Program and matters related thereto.
Town Solicitor Peter B. Regan was present.
Town Administrator Shawn Brown and Finance Director Marc Tanguay were not present.
School Committee Chair Theresa Silveira Spengler called the roll for the School Committee, present were Vice Chair Tami Holden, Members Wendy Heaney and William O’Connell. Member Gregory Huet joined by zoom.
Also, present representing the School Administration was Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger.
School Building Committee Co-Chair Charlie Roberts called the roll for the School Building Committee, present were Co-Chair Ed Brady, William Nash, Don Morin, Poe George, Tami Holden, Rosemarie Kraeger, Bill Niemeyer and Jeff Heath.
Consultants for the School Construction Projects, present were Owner’s Project Mangers representing Colliers Project Leaders-Derek Osterman, Team DBVW Architects- Douglas L. Brown, Senior Principal of DBVW and Edward Cifune, Associate Principal of DBVW, Lead Architect – HMFH Tina Stanislaski and Matt LaRue, Financial Advisor representing Hilltop Securities, Inc. Matthew Blais, Vice President.
Charlie Roberts, Co-Chair of School Building Committee, addressed the Council noting the need for upgrades in the school facilities and requesting the Council to make the school facilities a priority for the kids.
Ed Brady, Co-Chair of the School Building Committee, addressed the Council noting this is plan b, and the stages/phases/timeline for state funding to be received for the school building project.
Colliers Project Leader-Derek Osterman presented a PowerPoint presentation, Middletown School Department Town Summit, January 25, 2023, Prepared by: Colliers Project Leaders, which is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.
Team DBVW Architects- Douglas L. Brown, Senior Principal of DBVW and Edward Cifune, Associate Principal of DBVW, Lead Architect and Lead Architect – HMFH Tina Stanislaski and Matt LaRue presented the architectural portion of the PowerPoint.
Financial Advisor representing Hilltop Securities, Inc. Matthew Blais, Vice President, presented the financial portion of the PowerPoint.
Discussion centered around the impact on town taxes will be discussed at a later date, Council concern with maximum borrowing causing a down grade in bond rating, reimbursement rates from the state for construction and interest rates on the bonds.
Antone Viveiros, Middletown, addressed the Council noting concern with the interest rate on bond and the cost to the taxpayer.
Discussion centered around the bond would be for the construction of a new middle school/high school and improvements to the elementary schools, grades K through 5 will go to the elementary schools, grades 6 through 8 will go to the middle school and grades 9 through 12 will go to the high school; $20 million of the bond will go to the current elementary schools for capital improvements, the need for career technical space at the high school, moving the school administration to the new middle/high school, putting the administration with the 4th and 5th graders and using the area at the new high school for career technical programs, security at the schools, safety improvements at the schools, the next step in the process is the educational planning for the new facility, concern with two schools on one campus, the Council touring a newly built school, life expectancy of the a newly built school and budget season is on the horizon.
Julia Moisiades, Middletown, addressed the Council noting concerns, based on personal experience as a teacher, with new building construction and classroom set up. Ms. Moisiades noted the importance of teachers being involved in the classroom construction process.
Antone Viveiros, Middletown, addressed the Council noting the need to think about future needs and emergencies that may come for the Town.
Ron Heroux, Middletown, addressed the Council noting that monies could be saved if the school administration remained at Oliphant School.
Discussion centered around the Town is considering using Oliphant School for senior/affordable housing, putting the administration at the current high school and using the proposed school administration area for career technical programs and the School Building Committee to continue moving forward on the project.
Building Committee adjourned.
School Committee adjourned.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 8:22 p.m.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, CMC
Council Clerk