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.
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding
Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III
Councillor Christopher M. Logan
Councillor Emily M. Tessier
Councillor Dennis B. Turano
Councillor Barbara A. VonVillas, Members Present
Councillor Peter D. Connerton, Sr., Absent
POSTED – July 19, 2023
SPECIAL MEETING – July 26, 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, July 26, 2023, 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: 854 7980 9055 or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85479809055
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.
1. Public Hearing (Advertised)
Public Hearing Remains Open.
An Ordinance of the Town of Middletown (Second 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, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
2. Resolution of the Council, re: Tax Levy.
Said meeting will be held at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842 on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 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 July 19, 2023 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.
Also present were the Town Administrator Shawn Brown, Finance Director Marc Tanguay, Deputy Finance Director Patrick Guthlein and Town Solicitor Peter B. Regan.
Present representing the School Department were Superintendent of School Rosemarie Kraeger, School Attorney Lori Miller, School Attorney Benjamin Scungio and IT Director David Annesse.
Present representing the School Committee were School Committee Chair Theresa Silveira Spengler, Vice Chair Tami E. Holden and member William R. O’Connell (arrives at 6:13 pm).
1. Public Hearing (Advertised)
Public Hearing Remains Open.
An Ordinance of the Town of Middletown (Second 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, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
Public Hearing remains open.
Town Administrator Shawn Brown and Finance Director Marc Tanguay reviewed a power point FY2024 Budget Second Public Hearing, which is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.
Discussion centered around the funding for the School Department, the prior year deficit at the School Department, there is no deficit at the School Department this year, the Town requested to exceed the tax cap from the RI Department of Revenue, there are strict laws that allow for exceeding the tax cap, concern that the funding for the school is accurate and the Town is not creating a structural deficit, all Town ARPA funding is being dedicated to the schools, unfunded mandates from the state and the proposed budget is a balanced budget.
Martha Koziara, Middletown, addressed the Council reviewing a handout she presented to the Council, entered here:
Ms. Koziara noted concern with the tax increase and the timing of the increase due to the revaluation process starting at the end of the year.
Jennie Grant, School Libarian at Aquidneck School, addressed the Council noting the need for librarians at all the schools. Ms. Grant explained that librarians also teach technology and other programs to students.
Councillor Turano noted that the Town Council has no say if a position in the School Department is cut, explaining the decision is made by the School Administration and School Committee.
Paul Mankofsky, Middletown, addressed the Council noting the School Department needs to do a better job with their budget. Mr. Mankofsky suggests the Council continue the public hearing to get more information from the school department regarding their budget request.
Ronald Heroux, Middletown, addressed the Council noting he has no confidence in the School Administration, explaining the School Department needs a change in command.
Antone Viveiros, Middletown, addressed the Council noting different scenarios from the School Department from the past. Mr. Viveiros expressed concern about the proposed tax increase for people on a fixed income.
Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger addressed the council reviewing the following slides:
Dissolution of Regional Special Education Financial Impact:
Special Education Staffing:
MPS Potential Specialized Program Classes/Services 2023-2024:
Discussion centered around the cost of in-house special education, cost of regional special education, cost of out of district placement for special education students, state aid and federal aid for special education, cost per student for special education services including Aquidneck Island schools per pupil cost for special education services and budgeting for union contracts by the schools.
Theresa Spengler, Middletown, School Committee Chair, addressed the Council noting that the Council should have been raising taxes yearly to make up for the loss with the state funding formula. Ms. Spengler explained that ESSER grant funds were used by the school department for positions after COVID.
Jennifer Mulcahey, Middletown, addressed the Council noting that she is a Special Education teacher and has a son with special needs in the Special Education program. Ms. Mulcahey invited the Town Council to come and visit her classroom. Jennifer Mulcahey explained that it takes a lot of money for special education services.
Discussion centered around the Council supports Special Education and all Education, the need to balance the requests from the School Department with the taxpayer’s ability to pay, the need to work together on a solution that works for the taxpayers, combining of the Town and School finance offices, software expense for the combine finance offices, and continuing the public hearing for more information from the school department regarding their proposed budget.
There being no other persons desiring to be heard, public hearing remains open.
2. Resolution of the Council, re: Tax Levy.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to continue said item to a future meeting.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 8:33 p.m.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, CMC
Council Clerk