City Of Middletown Citizens/' Advisory Committee Minutes October 17 ...
CITY OF MIDDLETOWN
CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
October-17-2007
Present
Absent
Also Present
L. Wallace, Chair
B. Plum
M. Wackers
A. Marino, Vice Chair
M. Podolin
T. Chase
D. Mitkoski
E. Noglow
J. Elmore
G. Faulkner Jr.
L. Charles
D. Bauer
Rev. Cotten
R. Pelletier
V. Amato
A. Watson
R. Bantum
Linda Wallace called the meeting to order at 5:00PM.
Linda Wallace called for the Committee to review the minutes from the previous meeting.
Vincent Amato moved to accept the August minutes. Richard Pelletier seconded the motion and the
minutes were approved.
Linda Wallace called for comments from the public for items on the agenda. No comments from the public.
Linda Wallace called for Old Business and asked the committee to submit and review the letter to the
Mayor concerning Court Street sidewalk disabled accessibility project.
Linda Wallace called for the first item under new business, the presentation of the draft report of the 2006
CAPER (Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report). Michiel Wackers summarized the
report.
Linda Wallace called for the second item under new business, the public hearing on the 2006 CAPER.
Seeing no member of the public wishing to comment on the 2006 CAPER, Linda Wallace closed the public
hearing.
Linda Wallace called for the third item under new business, the extension request from Friends of
McCarthy Park.
John Elmore represented Friends of MacCarthy Park’s request for an extension of their 2007 grant to make
improvements to McCarthy Park. Friends of McCarthy Park were working with the City’s Parks and
Recreation Department to do as much as possible with the CDBG grant. They are looking to regrade the
northern section of the park to provide better access to the park and make a terraced are to act as stadium
seating. They are also working to resurface the tennis courts to allow for a basketball court and tennis court
for use by the community. However the resurfacing estimate has come in at $60,000, which is more than
the $35,000 available with the grant. The Parks and Recreation Department is doing most of the grading at
cost or inkind. An additional year will provide enough time to expend the remainder of the grant.
Linda Wallace asked if the other sources of funding reported in the original application have been secured?
John Elmore reported that they have not been secure, but the Friends of McCarthy Park continue to look for
fundraising opportunities.
John Elmore reported that finding fill for the grading project has delay its progress. Richard Pelletier, who
also serves on the High School Building Committee reported that the high school project is looking to get
rid of fill, and the CAC requested staff to relay the information to John Milardo at the City’s Parks and
Recreation Department.
Avery Watson asked if any residents of Maplewood Terrace were members of McCarthy Park. John
Elmore replied that he did not know if anyone was, to his knowledge. Avery Watson followed up that
improvements should be made to reflect the needs of all members of the local community. John Elmore
agreed and commented that McCarthy Park had the opportunity to bring a community together and allow
its diverse members to benefit from open space, basketball, tennis, etc. It is conceived to be a space to
provide access that crosses boundaries of income or stereotypes.
Grady Faulkner asked if the proposed deadline of August 31, 2008 was realistic? John Elmore believed it
was, but a number of aspects depended on scheduling by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Davide Bauer requested that the CAC hear from the Parks and Recreation Department on the issue.
Vincent Amato commented that there are few projects that benefit all members of a community and moved
to grant an extension to August 31, 2008. Donna Mitoski seconded. Linda Wallace called for a vote and the
motion passed with David Bauer voting not in favor.
Motion to grant an extension for 2007 Friends of McCarthy Park grant to August 31, 2008.
MEMBER
Author
Second
YEA
NAY
ABSTAIN
ABSENT
Linda Wallace, Chair
X
(Social Service and Housing Relations Seat)
Anthony Marino, Vice Chair
X
(Real Estate Seat)
Vincent Amato
X
X
(Greater Middletown Preservation Trust Seat)
Ronnie Bantum
X
(Elderly Seat)
David Bauer
X
(Common Council Seat-GOP)
Grady Faulkner
X
(Common Council Seat-DEM)
Vacant
X
(Minority Seat)
Donna Mitoski
X
X
(Handicapped Seat)
Evan Noglow
X
(Middletown Housing Authority Seat)
Richard Pelletier
X
(Labor Seat)
Barbara Plum
X
(Planning and Zoning Commission Seat)
Matthew Podolin
X
(Youth Seat)
Avery Watson
X
(Low and Moderate Income Seat)
Vacancy (Banking and Insurance Seat)
X
Vacancy (At-Large Seat)
X
TALLY
8
1
0
6
Motion Approved
Linda Wallace called for the fourth item under new business, the extension request from the Water and
Sewer Department concerning the Harbor Park Accessible Dock Extension request.
Tom Chase, chairman of the Harbor Improvement Agency, reported that the extension request was
unanticipated, since a set of used docks at a substantial discount had been found but where sold
unknowingly by the vendor, and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection required a
lengthy permitting process.
Linda Wallace asked if an extension to August 31, 2008 was enough time to complete the project. Tom
Chase believe if the permitting process could be concluded soon then the project should be completed by
the deadline.
Vincent Amato moved that the extension to August 31, 2008 be granted. David Bauer seconded and the
motion was approved unanimously.
Motion to grant an extension for 2007 Friends of McCarthy Park grant to August 31, 2008.
MEMBER
Author
Second
YEA
NAY
ABSTAIN
ABSENT
Linda Wallace, Chair
X
(Social Service and Housing Relations Seat)
Anthony Marino, Vice Chair
X
(Real Estate Seat)
Vincent Amato
X
X
(Greater Middletown Preservation Trust Seat)
Ronnie Bantum
X
(Elderly Seat)
David Bauer
X
X
(Common Council Seat-GOP)
Grady Faulkner
X
(Common Council Seat-DEM)
Vacant
X
(Minority Seat)
Donna Mitoski
X
(Handicapped Seat)
Evan Noglow
X
(Middletown Housing Authority Seat)
Richard Pelletier
X
(Labor Seat)
Barbara Plum
X
(Planning and Zoning Commission Seat)
Matthew Podolin
X
(Youth Seat)
Avery Watson
X
(Low and Moderate Income Seat)
Vacancy (Banking and Insurance Seat)
X
Vacancy (At-Large Seat)
X
TALLY
9
0
0
6
Motion Approved
Linda Wallace called for the fifth item under new business, the request for a $7,500 planning grant by
Shiloh Manor.
Larry Charles and Reverend Cotton reported that the grant approved in July was unable to be funded due to
a HUD determination that the procurement process was not appropriately complied with. Since the grant
year ended on August 31, 2007, the $7,500 could not spent in the 2007 grant year with out resulting in an
overage in the planning spending cap. Michiel Wackers reported that their was the ability to spent up to
$3,500 in planning funds in the 2007 grant year without going over the 2007 planning cap. In addition the
request was that the remaining $4,000 be allocated from the 2008 grant year, which could be available in
October of 2008.
Larry Charles reported that Shiloh Manor have already started to hire a new property manager and started
the Capital Needs Assessment that would allow the rents to cover the $15,000 monthly loss that Shiloh
Manor is current experiencing.
David Bauer asked if $3,500 was enough of a lifeline. Larry Charles replied that it was a start.
David Bauer asked staff if there is any flexibility in coming up with the additional $4,000 to complete the
needs steps to make Shiloh Manor solvent. Michiel Wackers said that the only source that that might be
available if General Funds, but the CAC had no authority to allocation from this resource.
Richard Pelletier motioned to approve allocating $3,500 in planning funds to Shiloh Manor for their Capital
Needs Assessment. David Bauer and Avery Watson seconded. Anthony Marino requested to amend and the
motion to request staff find other ways to make the additional $4,000 available to Shiloh Manor. Richard
Pelletier accepted the amendment and the motion was approved with Grady Faulkner abstaining.
Motion to approve allocating $3,500 in planning funds to Shiloh Manor for their Capital Needs Assessment
and to request staff find other ways to make the additional $4,000 available to Shiloh Manor.
MEMBER
Author
Second
YEA
NAY
ABSTAIN
ABSENT
Linda Wallace, Chair
X
(Social Service and Housing Relations Seat)
Anthony Marino, Vice Chair
X
(Real Estate Seat)
Vincent Amato
X
(Greater Middletown Preservation Trust Seat)
Ronnie Bantum
X
(Elderly Seat)
David Bauer
X
X
(Common Council Seat-GOP)
Grady Faulkner
X
(Common Council Seat-DEM)
Vacant
X
(Minority Seat)
Donna Mitoski
X
(Handicapped Seat)
Evan Noglow
X
(Middletown Housing Authority Seat)
Richard Pelletier
X
X
(Labor Seat)
Barbara Plum
X
(Planning and Zoning Commission Seat)
Matthew Podolin
X
(Youth Seat)
Avery Watson
X
X
(Low and Moderate Income Seat)
Vacancy (Banking and Insurance Seat)
X
Vacancy (At-Large Seat)
X
TALLY
8
0
1
6
Motion Approved
Linda Wallace called for the sixth item under new business, the report by staff on the Consolidate Plan
Progress report. Michiel Wackers reported on the accomplishments achieve in implementing the 2005-2010
Consolidated Plan. However, there are a number of activities that have not seen any progress. Michiel
Wackers suggested that in the next grant round bonus points be awarded for applications that address
activities that have not been address yet in the Consolidated Plan. Michiel Wackers would provide a draft
of how that will work at the next meeting.
David Bauer motioned to adjourn. Grady Faulkner seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.
Motion to adjourn the meeting..
MEMBER
Author
Second
YEA
NAY
ABSTAIN
ABSENT
Linda Wallace, Chair
X
(Social Service and Housing Relations Seat)
Anthony Marino, Vice Chair
X
(Real Estate Seat)
Vincent Amato
X
(Greater Middletown Preservation Trust Seat)
Ronnie Bantum
X
(Elderly Seat)
David Bauer
X
X
(Common Council Seat-GOP)
Grady Faulkner
X
X
(Common Council Seat-DEM)
Vacant
X
(Minority Seat)
Donna Mitoski
X
(Handicapped Seat)
Evan Noglow
X
(Middletown Housing Authority Seat)
Richard Pelletier
X
(Labor Seat)
Barbara Plum
X
(Planning and Zoning Commission Seat)
Matthew Podolin
X
(Youth Seat)
Avery Watson
X
(Low and Moderate Income Seat)
Vacancy (Banking and Insurance Seat)
X
Vacancy (At-Large Seat)
X
TALLY
9
0
0
6
Motion Approved
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15pm.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Michiel Wackers, Deputy Director of Planning, Conservation and Development
