Late Summer Council Meeting Avoids Storm

A huge storm cell passed over Middletown shortly before an August Common Council meeting that threatened a bit of storminess itself until the most controversial resolution was dropped from the agenda.

A potentially-contentious debate was avoided after the resolution to make improvements at the MAT bus station with federal transit funds was removed.

There was some debate on the funding of control amendments for an Emergency Operations Center in City Hall when Council member Bob Santangelo took strong exception to the room as the location for the center.

"When you make command decisions during an emergency you need quiet," Santangelo said, noting that the room was neither secure, nor quiet.

Council member Deborah Kleckowsky noted that the antenna was being sought now to take advantage of state grants.

The authorization to submit the application for the grants was approved by the Council.

The Council returned a resolution to grant free-parking for handicap permits back to committee for further study.

The Council also heaped praise on Middnight On Main organizers.  The New Year's Eve celebration is the first town-wide, family-oriented New Year's event for the city.  Council members voted unanimously to have the city partner in the event by promising $10,000 in city services.

The Council also recognized retiring city workers Bernard Barniski, Charlotte Bankowski and John Affinito and gave special recognition to the participants in the first Green Street Arts Center Young Women's Leadership Institute.