We Are a Tree City USA!

Our city was named a 2018 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of the city's commitment to effective urban forest management.

The city achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education."

The Urban Forestry Commission is our city's tree board, it is chaired by Jane Harris.  Harris said that not only is our city known historically as the Forest City, it is a city committed to the ecological and economic value of trees to our urban environment.

"Urban trees in particular provide huge benefits in reducing summer temperatures, in dispersing heavy rainfall, cleaning the air we breath, and providing critical habitat for wildlife, and they increase our property values," said Harris. "I salute the City's professionals and elected officials who have kept this level of funding in place, and hope we can do even more in years to come."

Thazhampallath Declares Candidacy For Mayor, Ford Declares for Council

Geen Thazhampallath, Middletown's Parking Director, and president of the UPSEU, the union of mid-level managers in the city, has filed papers declaring himself a Democratic candidate for mayor, challenging the only other declared candidate Mary Bartolotta.

Thazhampallath says he's looking forward to a sprited campaign that will remain positive and be focused on the issues.

"I have a lot of respect for Mary (Bartolotta)," Thazhampallath said.  "Anyone who steps into public service deserves all the respect they can get."

Thazhampallath said that a creating a caring, collaborative government is at the forefront of his goals.

Thazhampallath addressing the Board
of Education (file photo).

"Equity, fairness and openess have been absent from government, especially lately," Thazhampallath said.  "I'm hoping to see it get back there, bringing competence and collaboration to government, and opening it up to opposing viewpoints."

Thazhampallath said he is not unaware of his stance as the first person of color ever to be running for the mayor's office in Middletown. 

"I want government to be inclusive, and to invite those who have felt left out to have a voice," he said.

"I don't think the changes we've seen in the Democratic Town Committee, the coup that took place in January 2018, was incosequential," he said.  "We aren't looking for small changes.  We're looking for big changes in city government, and this election is the chance to make that change.  As a city hall insider, I understand we need a change in culture, and that change has to be made in and up, and it's not an easy task, but I feel I'm up to it."


In other news, Board of Education member Ed Ford has declared his candidacy for Common Council, running as a Republican.  Ford was elected to the BOE in 2017, and has served 18 months of his four-year term on the Board of Education.  Ford announced his candidacy in a video released on social media this week.

This Weekend at Buttonwood Tree Celtic Rock, Bluegrass and More!

Tempest 

April 5 @ 7:30-10 pm, $20

This is a special show with the amazing, electric Celtic Rock band from California, TEMPEST!
This show is a benefit concert to support Oddfellows Playhouse here in Middletown, a youth theater company and our own community arts programming at The Buttonwood Tree. Save the date!  Doors at 7 pm.  APRIL 5

Besides the incredibly lively music of Tempest, we’ll have games, food, beverages and fun and the lively dancers of the Mulcahy Academy of Irish Dance  Join us!

Location: 
This event will be held in the beautiful space of First Church of Christ at 190 Court Street, Middletown. Plenty of free parking and lots of room to dance! The space is handicap accessible.  FOOD and BEVERAGES will be available.

Tempest Social Media

Tempest website: http://www.tempestmusic.com/

Tempest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TempestCelticRock/

Tempest Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/tempestcelticrock

This Event is sponsored by

Celtic Cavern

Life Family Chiropractic

Harding Development Group

Middlesex Music Academy

O'Rourke's Diner

Jerry's Pizza

Mama's Italian Market

River Valley Provisions

RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY

Doors at 7 pm. Plenty of free parking off Court St, Broad St. and Washington St.

Aligned with Source: A Personal Development Workshop & Meditation

April 6 @ 10:30-12 pm

Topic: Freedom

What is freedom & can we truly be free?

Details here

Official Facebook Page

Suggested Donation: $10 (Give what you can)

Last Fair Deal by Phil Zimmerman

April 6, 8-10 pm, $10

Performing as a trio, guitarist Paul Howard, fiddler Tom Hagymasi and
banjo/mandolinist Phil Zimmerman fan the flame that has kept this band relevant
since the 70's. Their live performances, with stellar vocals and unique acoustic
synergy draw from an eclectic repertoire of old-time string-band, bluegrass, swing,
and popular music. 

Details here/Reserve seats

Musician

      Member : Last Fair Deal ; Heroes of Tradition, Bluegrass Characters

      Past President and Director: Music Camps North, Inc.

   Photographer/Author:  “Bluegrass Time” and other Camera Work

      Featured in : Fretboard Journal #27

      Member : American Society of Media Photographers; Copyright Alliance

CC Arshagra's Art Reception

April 7 @ 4-7 pm, Free Admission

Come see the veteran poet, author, publisher & producer’s 2 new collections: “We Are the Arrival of Love” & “The C.C. Arshagra Quotes Project”, and a few historic and select works. Thanks to a dear friend and true community woman Anne-Marie for welcoming CC on National Poetry month. CC’s visual voice will be here speaking to you through your individual eyes and into your unique personal view. 

The original, new, and historic works’ prices will range from numbers with commas to art prints, to 5×7 “Quote Project” pieces on canvas panels, all the way to collectible art on cards as low as a 5 spot. Collectors and art lovers do not want to miss this veteran artist’s birthing solo art exhibit as a visual artist, with most work never seen before in public. Curators are said to spend their lives looking for artists like Arshagra. This exhibit contains the 1st and 2nd of ‘CC’s unreleased gallery collections, works created over the last few years and more. NOTE: Hopefully there will be a big surprise, literally hot off the press. The Buttonwood Tree Performance Art Space and Gallery is one his most beloved venues on earth. Details here

Simple Tai Chi w/ Mike McEwen

Wednesday @ 6:30-7:30 pm & Thursday @ 12:15-1:15 pm, $10

Tai Chi will continue weekly on Wednesday and Thursday!

The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center is located at 605 Main Street, Middletown. There is ample, free parking behind It's Only Natural market. Refreshments, viewing of Buttonwood's Art show, the bookstore and refreshments are all open and available. Call for info: (860) 347-4957. If you want to see what events we have lined up for the month check our website's event calendar here.

Mayor Drew Responds to Calls for Police Reforms

The Greater Middletown Young Democrats emailed the Mayor, Common Council, and the Chief of Police last week, calling for greater transparency in the investigation into Sergeant Bartolotta, who shared racist and misogynist messages on Facebook, and for reforms to address bias, promote diversity in hiring, and improve community policing. 
Diana Martinez is the co-president of GMYD, Mayor Drew responded to her by email, and posted his response on Facebook.
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Dear Ms. Martinez,

Thank you for your letter.

We would like to use this opportunity to address your questions and to share with you – and the public – context that is relevant in terms of reforms and greater accountability that have taken place within the Middletown Police Department over the past several years.

We would like to re-iterate that what the public saw in the posts that came to light last week are not indicative of the interactions the Middletown Police Department have with our community.

Mayor's 2019-2020 Budget Address

CITY OF MIDDLETOWN 2019-20
MAYOR’S BUDGET ADDRESS

In the past eight years unemployment has dropped, Middletown’s bond rating increased from AA to AA+ to AAA, crime is down, and economic development is increasing. We are already starting to see results from the superintendent’s detailed strategy to close the achievement gap in the public schools, and our infrastructure is being rebuilt at an unprecedented rate.

Standard & Poors just awarded our fourth consecutive AAA bond rating. In a recent debt issue we achieved the second-lowest interest rate in the city’s history and one that was significantly lower than average market rates. S&P – again – described Middletown’s economy as “very strong” and we saw growth of over 3 percent this year with more than $100 million worth of property having been added to the tax rolls. That makes several years running in which our growth exceeds inflation. This means that more people than ever – not just a select few – are sharing in Middletown’s prosperity.

Field Use and Fees Policy Passes Council

The Common Council passed a new ordinance setting a use policy for city-owned athletic fields, and a resolution setting the fees for such use.

The policies have generated considerable controversy, as they give the highest priority to teams that may not include significant numbers of city residents, basing such priority simply on historical relationships between the leagues and the city.

Beth Emery urged the Council to avoid basing policies simply on historical actions. Noting that the money for parks improvements comes from the 21st Century Parks Bond, she said, "Look at today and at the future."

Many of the 11 who spoke about this issue raised concerns about equity and transparency. Jennifer Mahr said the new policy was neither ethical or responsible.  Katie Lenhan said, "Make it equitable, make it measurable, and make it make sense."

Almost all expressed their opposition to a policy that did not give preference to the residents who pay the taxes that have paid for the fields.  Jason Serra, vice-principal of Middletown High said that the highest priority should be given to city children, "Make decisions based on residency."

The field use ordinance passed with a vote of 8-2, Councilwoman Mary Bartolotta and Councilman Rob Blanchard voted against it.

The vote appeared to catch several members of the Council off guard. Only after voting for it did Giuliano complain, "Most of the discussion has been about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin."

Mary Bartolotta commented that it is unbalanced to hold the 2nd and 3rd priority users accountable to a residency requirement, but not the 1st priority users.

But with the vote already taken, there was no further discussion about whether advocating that residents should get priority was equivalent to a discussion about imaginary beings on pinheads.

Elliot Ackerman Reading at Wesleyan RJ Julia, April 4

Elliot Ackerman will be reading from his recent work at the Wesleyan’s RJJulia bookstore on Main Street in Middletown, 7 p.m., 4 April. 

Ackerman is the author of the novels Waiting for Eden, Dark at the Crossing, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, and Green on Blue. His writings have appeared in Esquire, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine, among other publications, and his stories have been included in The Best American Short Stories and The Best American Travel Writing. He is both a former White House Fellow and Marine, and served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. He divides his time between New York City and Washington, D.C.

Read more about Elliot Ackerman and his work here.

Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance Passes

The Common Council voted to approve a new ordinance that would ban stores from offering single use plastic bags, and require them to charge ten cents to provide paper bags.

Former Mayor Maria Holzberg and the Middletown Garden Club spearheaded the initiative. She told the council that the language of the proposed ordinance "mirrors many other cities in Connecticut and across the nation."

Diane Gervais, owner of Amato's Toy Store, objected to the requirement that she would be forced to charge 10 cents for each paper bag, "A charge like this will leave the customers unhappy with me not with you."

John Hall, speaking for the Jonah Center for Earth and Art, said the charge was the best way to change habits. He called the ordinance the "Bring your own bag ordinance."

The ordinance was supported by all the Democrats except for Grady Faulkner, who abstained. Republicans Deb Kleckowski and Seb Giuliano voted against it, Phil Pessina also abstained.

Vance Cotton To Fill Tom Serra's Remaining Term On Council

The Council voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Vance Cotton to the Common Council, to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Tom Serra.

Cotton is the pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, and has been involved in numerous community functions. 

Equity Training, 4/8/2019 and Solar Campaign Planning, 4/9/2019

 

Equity Training is scheduled for Monday, 4/8/2019 from 2pm to 4 pm at City Hall, room B19. This training is part of Middletown’s participation in a statewide program called Sustainable CT. Sustainable CT is a framework for progress toward sustainable solutions at the Connecticut municipality level, coordinated across the state. Middletown was recently awarded a Bronze certification under the program, and is working to achieve a Silver certification.
 
The Sustainable CT equity training session is specifically aimed at preparing folks to design the upcoming Solar for All (SFA) campaign. A planning meeting to design the campaign is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, 2019 from 2pm to 4pm in City Hall room 208. The Equity training informs the campaign design with regard to equity issues.
 
SFA is a campaign implemented by the solar company Posi-Gen to bring options for low and moderate income residents to access energy efficiency and solar energy. The Clean Energy Task Force’s (CETF) CHEER program is the principal sponsor of the SFA because the CHEER mission and SFA are very closely aligned.
 
Both events, the Monday training and the Tuesday planning meeting, are appropriate for all members of the CHEER Steering committee and other volunteers to the CHEER program and the Sustainable CT program, CETF members, city employees, department heads, campaign organizers including the CT Green Bank and members of the public.

Wednesday: Information About Green Energy Financing For Commercial Properties

From Michael Harris, Energy Coordinator, City of Middletown
------------
The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and the City will host an event on April 3, 2019 that will promote the C-PACE Program in the City
.
C-PACE, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, is an innovative financing program for green energy upgrades to commercial properties. The program offers long-term financing for projects that lower energy costs and generate positive cash flow. C-PACE is an initiative of the Connecticut Green Bank.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. Local businesses and other interested parties are invited to attend.

 "This initiative is meant to help connect local business owners to financing that will help them afford recommended energy and renewable upgrades to their buildings" said Jeff Pugliese, Vice President of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. "The idea is to help our members cut down on energy usage so that they can reinvest the savings back into the business."

"The event represents the City's desire to support local business efforts to improve energy efficiency and gain access to renewable energy", said Michael Harris, the City's Energy Coordinator.  "It comes through our broader participation in the Sustainable CT program. The City of Middletown earned a Bronze certification last year through Sustainable CT. Supporting sustainable-related outreach is a key component of this certification".

The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic business organization with over 2,125 members that employ over 50,000 people in and around its service area. The chamber represents businesses from all industry sectors and of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies, to micro businesses.

The Middletown Clean Energy Task Force is an official, advisory commission of the City that conducts research and makes recommendations to improve energy efficiency and conservation, avoid energy costs, promote renewable energy and reduce harmful energy-related environmental impacts in the City of Middletown.

The initiative will target local businesses including manufacturers, offices, retail establishments, business in mixed use spaces, and non-profits. The program will highlight local businesses that have saved through the program.

To learn more about the collaboration, please visit middlesexchamber.com or cpace.com.
For more information about the Connecticut Green Bank, please visit www.ctgreenbank.com.

City Wants Community Input for its Update to the City’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD)

From the Planning, Conservation and Development Department.
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The City's Planning and Zoning Commission, with assistance from the planning and outreach consulting team, CME Associates, Inc. and The Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (CERC) is preparing an update to the City’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). The POCD is the City’s Master Plan or Comprehensive Plan which is required to be updated at least once every 10 years. This document serves as the central resource that will help to guide the City’s path over the next decade.

The POCD will be based on the community's vision to set the goals, values, and strategies that will serve as the framework for future decision-making. As a comprehensive plan, the POCD will incorporate various elements, including Housing, Open Space/Conservation, Social and Community Services, Infrastructure, Economic Development & Growth, Arts & Culture/Community Character, Land Use and Downtown & Riverfront.

The City has launched an online Community Survey and will be hosting two interactive workshops where residents, community members, stakeholders and businesses will be able to share input on this initiative. The POCD community survey is available HERE. Upon completion, respondents will have the option to be entered to win a gift card to a city restaurant.

Two interactive workshops will be held on, the first on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at Middletown High School, 200 La Rosa Ln,  from 6:30-8:30PM and Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, 1 Wilderman's Way, from 10:30AM-12:30PM. 

These topic workshops will address the POCD’s major areas of focus and form the basis for key recommendations. To sign up, please visit the City’s POCD webpage.
.
For all POCD updates, please visit our dedicated page on the City’s website.

Any questions or comments regarding the 2020 Plan of Conservation and Development update can be directed to Mark DeVoe, City Planner, at mark.devoe@middletownct.gov or 860-638-4842.