Middletown Roundup: School Building Committee Picks Construction Manager, Mattabassett Board Sets Executive Director Salary
The MacDonough School Building Committee unanimously approved hiring O&G Industries as Construction Manager at Risk, the most consequential decision among Middletown-area government meetings over the past two weeks. The Mattabassett District Board's Human Resources Committee also unanimously recommended a $196,650 annual salary for its executive director.
MacDonough School Building Committee
On July 7, the committee unanimously approved O&G Industries to serve as Construction Manager at Risk for the MacDonough School project. The committee also unanimously voted to hire Johanna Iguina to perform financial work at $50 per hour. Members unanimously approved minutes from four prior meetings dated June 18, 22, 23, and 30, 2026.
Mattabassett District Board
The Human Resources Committee unanimously recommended that the Board of Directors approve a $196,650 annual salary and a $3,500 life insurance allowance for Executive Director Arthur G. Simonian, effective July 1, 2026. The committee also unanimously approved creating a new Utility Operator position to expand field staffing capacity and updated the district's organizational chart to include the role. A review of the Personnel Policies Manual with Halloran and Sage legal counsel is ongoing.
A separate Mattabassett committee reviewed reserve capacity figures for several communities and their budget impacts. The committee deferred a decision on Berlin pump station flow adjustments pending a technical review.
Common Council
The Council held a July 6 workshop discussing a proposed agreement with the Town of Cromwell for shared health director coverage. The Health Director discussed a $6,000 grant for a two-year healthy weight program for children under the Building Healthy Families initiative.
A second July 6 Council agenda — minutes not yet published — listed a public hearing and vote on naming the new Public Safety 911 Center the "City of Middletown, Chief George P. Dunn, Central Communications Center," plus the appointment of Cathy Sargent as Deputy Director of Central Communications at Grade 15, Step 5 ($56.09/hr). That agenda also included a $600,000 Water Department capital fund authorization and tentative collective bargaining agreements with UPSEU Local 6457 and BOE Local 6458 covering July 2026–June 2029. Outcomes for those items are not yet available.
On July 9, the Council held a special community meeting where Mayor Nocera announced a public forum on the $50M Route 9 project, scheduled for November 18 at 6:30 PM at Middletown High School.
Zoning Board of Appeals
The board approved a variance request for 169 Cross Street (V2026-2), submitted by Paul Pizzo of Landmark Architects, to reduce rear and side yard setbacks to 5 feet. The variance allows construction of a 2,016 square foot garage for fire station equipment, trailers, boats, and apparatus storage. The board also approved minutes from its May 7, 2026 meeting, passing 4-0-0.
Fair Rent Commission
The Commission accepted jurisdiction over multiple rent and repair complaints on July 8. Votes included accepting jurisdiction over Berroa/Mota v. Woodbury Realty Co./Carabetta Management Co. (unanimous), Jacobs v. CR Rose Gardens Ltd. Partnership/Carabetta Management Co. (unanimous), Alpha Capital complaints (5-0, one abstention), and Hoggard v. 18 Glover (unanimous). The Commission dismissed Williams v. Middletown Housing Authority (6-0) and approved three stipulated agreements: Lynch v. CR Summer Hill LP (6-0), Russo v. Woods Realty Co. (6-0), and McPherson v. Beskovic (6-0).
Planning & Zoning Commission
The Commission continued the public hearing for a special exception and site plan to establish a permanent year-round farm market at 1171 Randolph Road (7-0). Members approved June 24, 2026 meeting minutes (6-0-1).
Code Enforcement Committee
The committee voted unanimously to table the Fire Pit Ordinance discussion for one month to allow three fire marshals to review the revised ordinance format. The Office of the General Counsel reported that a brief was filed regarding an appeal by property owners at 455 & 465 Middlefield Street and noted a pending ordinance prohibiting cannabis consumption on City property.
Cancelled Meetings
Several meetings were cancelled: Public Safety Telecommunications Commission (July 6, lack of quorum; next meeting October 5), Committee Concerning People with Disabilities (July and August, per Chairperson Marty Knight; next meeting September 8), Insurance & Claims Committee (July 7), Design Review & Preservation Board (July 8, lack of business), Anti-Racism Task Force (July 9; next meeting August 13), Boathouse Building Committee (July 15), and Human Relations Commission (July 16).
Coming Up
- **July 20 — Mattabassett District Board:** Financial reports, budget statement, and committee reports from Engineering, Finance, HR, Property Management, and Public Relations.
- **July 20 — Public Safety Commission:** Fire Department monthly report, Flock Drone Agreement presented by Brig Smith, and one-way traffic discussion for Court St.
- **July 21 — Clean Energy Taskforce:** Leadership elections (Cat Young for Chair, Emily Gorlewski for Vice Chair, Krishna Winston for Secretary) and discussion of the Thermal Energy Network Initiative.
- **July 22 — Planning & Zoning Commission:** Public hearings on the 1171 Randolph Road farm market and rezoning petitions for Church Street, High Street, and William Street parcels.
- **July 22 — Downtown Business District:** Consideration of a $1,000 grant for the Holy Trinity Summer Music Series.
- **July 23 — Mattabassett District Finance Committee:** FY25-26 operating and capital budget transfers review.