Feathers Don't Fly At Council Meeting

Council watchers were waiting for a spirited debate about a revised health ordinance concerning the housing of animals on property in Middletown, but these same Council wonks were disappointed when the ordinance in question was tabled and sent back to committee for study.

But the otherwise routine evening was punctuated by moments of drama, first, as local gadfly Sal Caracoglia was ejected from Council chambers for carrying a protest sign which impugned the reputation of a Council member. Caracoglia later made an impassioned speech, after the Council meeting was adjourned, during the public hearing for items not on the agenda, in which his accusations were amplified with a drama that was as forceful as Lear railing against the storm.

More drama was reserved for a lively exchange about whether the city's Showmobile should be used by groups for events in which all charges are waived. No one on the council could remember a time when the Council voted against waiving of fees. The showmobile is a portable stage on wheels used at outdoor events.

Council member Vinnie Loffredo offered a substitute resolution in which he suggested that the Council should waive no fees, in the upcoming fiscal year, for Showmobile use.

"In light of these difficult times, we should not be expending money we have not accounted for," Loffredo argued.

Public Works director Bill Russo noted that in the last fiscal year the account for the Showmobile ran a $16, 380 deficit due to the waiving of fees.

While several Council members agreed with the tenor and sentiment of Loffredo's resolution, some argued with the need for it when the Council is already charged with the responsibility to waive fees or not.

Council member Phil Pessina expressed the idea that fees should be waived for citywide events but that non-profits who are supporting their organization should pay the fees.

"Through the years we've seen the waiver become the rule as opposed to the exception" Council member Gerry Daley said. "But the fees are inconsequential to the costs when we waive fees for events where we see no benefit to the city. And I'm afraid that supporting this (Loffredo's) resolution would impose costs on some very worthwhile events."

Council member Tom Serra agreed.

"In the last year we had 28 functions where the Showmobile was used and these functions served the public well," Serra said.

Council member James Streeto agreed with Serra that waiver of fees should continue for all events, or for none, but to pick and choose would be "silly." Streeto got off the line of the night in his argument.

"The problem we've encountered is that all the groups that come before us are worthy groups," Streeto said. "People are not coming in here to ask for the Showmobile are not the Reformed Church of Satan. Well, I suppose I just lost the vote of all the Satanists out there."

In the end the replacement resolution to ban waiver of fees was defeated, but the two request to waive fees before the Council, one for the Fellowship Church, and one for Unity Day, were both defeated. Streeto and Serra voted in favor of waiver in both cases.

Another debate centered on the repair of a well at Ron McCutcheon park after a state inspector cited the city for a violation. The well in question had been in operation for a year, and the state required reconstruction of the well-head, which in turn required the re-construction of parking spots, curbs and sidewalks.

The Council also voted for a hike in fees for bulky waste pick-up. The actual fee, estimated at $75, will be set by the Public Works department.

A job freeze, which has already been in place for six months, was extended by the Council for the entirety of the coming fiscal year. The freeze excepts fire, police, dispatch and Water and Sewer Department officials.

The Council also informally honored Police Chief Lynn Baldoni, who will be retiring in a few days, for her years of service in the Police Department. The Council led a standing ovation for Baldoni.