The Middletown Common Council voted on a series of administrative and budget items at its Dec. 12 meeting, approving grants, intra-department transfers, staffing authorizations and a referral for procurement review.

Key approvals included acceptance of $19,600.34 in additional funding for the Golden Area Senior Transport Program; authorization of 2025 contracts and funding allocations tied to the Orange County Youth Bureau; changes to part-time pay rates for winter recreation programs; and several transfers within the Parks & Recreation budget to cover a new ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system and pool repairs.

On youth programming, the council accepted allocations from the Orange County Youth Bureau and authorized the mayor to execute related contracts. The transcript records appropriation of state funding to four local programs: Middletown Young Warrior Boxing Program — $12,510; Middletown Recreation Tyler Program — $5,000; Middletown Recreation Youth Fitness — $20,605; and Middletown Recreation Playground Summer Feeding Program — $10,000. The motion was moved and seconded on the record and approved by voice vote.

The council approved a $133,000 transfer within the 2024 Recreation Department budget to fund pool repairs and a new UV system for the War Memorial splash pad and pool. Officials said the splash pad’s UV system had failed and led to repeated closures following Department of Health inspections; the estimated cost to install the new UV system was recorded as $54,000 and additional repairs and parts were estimated at $78,315.90. Staff said only one company performs the necessary UV system work and that finance documentation for a sole-source procurement will be provided; the council voted to encumber funds and approved the transfer after questions were answered.

Other routine actions approved on voice votes included: accepting a $50 donation from Sharon and Charles Shoemaker for a clinic scholarship; a transfer of $95,100 within Parks & Recreation to cover overtime related to the city ice rink; authorization of part-time recreation leader pay at $18 per hour for winter break programs and the ice rink; approval of a permanent third-party administration service contract for 2025; and authorization to transfer $55,000 within city accounts to cover unanticipated litigation costs in 2024.

The council also addressed a personnel matter: Secretary Massey, who was described as retiring in April, will be replaced pending council passage and civil service commission approval; the council voted to recommend a memorandum of agreement to make the appointment when civil service action is complete.

Most items were approved by unanimous voice vote on the record; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript excerpt.