THIS MEETING CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE WWW.MIDDLETOWNRI.COM OR THE DVD IS AVAILABLE AT THE MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY.

At a Special Meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Middletown, RI at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI in person on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 6:01 P.M.

Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding

Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III

Councilor Peter D. Connerton, Sr.

Councilor Christopher M. Logan

Councilor Charles R. Roberts

Councilor Dennis B. Turano

Councilor Barbara A. VonVillas, Members Present

POSTED – May 13, 2026

SPECIAL MEETING – May 20, 2026

The following items of business, having been filed with the Town Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at a special meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island. Said meeting will be conducted in person, by telephone conference call/ webinar, members of the public may access and listen to the meeting in real-time by calling 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) and entering Meeting ID: 852 5109 2543 or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85251092543; however, virtual access is being provided only as a convenience and is not an official "location" where access to the meeting is guaranteed. Being physically present at the meeting is the only way to guarantee complete access to the meeting, as the meeting will not be paused or rescheduled if the virtual access fails.

Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC

Town Clerk

Town of Middletown

Town Hall – 350 East Main Road

Middletown, Rhode Island 02842

Dear Ms. Marshall:

Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 203 of the Town Charter and in accordance with Sections 42-46-2., 42-46-4., 42-46-5., and 42-46-6., RIGL, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Town Council to formally consider, discuss and act upon the following items of business. All items on this agenda, may be considered, discussed and voted upon.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

1. Public Hearing (Advertised)
An Ordinance of the Town of Middletown (First Reading)
An Ordinance in amendment to the ordinances of the Town of Middletown General Fund, Parks and Recreation Fund, Sewer Fund, Refuse and Recycling Fund, Appropriating revenues for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

2. An Ordinance of the Town of Middletown (First Reading)
An Ordinance in Amendment to the Town Code of the Town of Middletown, Title III, Chapter 36, Entitled “Fee Schedule”, Section (H) Refuse and Recycling Department, (2) User Fee.

3. An Ordinance of the Town of Middletown (First Reading)
An Ordinance in Amendment to the Town Code of the Town of Middletown, Title III, Chapter 36, Entitled “Fee Schedule”, Section (D) Parks and Recreation (1) Beach Parking Fees.
Said meeting will be held at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842 on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 6:00 P.M.

____________________________________

Paul M. Rodrigues, President

Middletown Town Council

cc : Town Council Public Library Finance Director

Town Administrator Town Solicitor School Committee

This meeting location is accessible to the handicapped. Individuals requiring interpreter services for the hearing-impaired should notify the Town Clerk’s Office at 847-0009 not less than 48 hours before this meeting.

Posted on May 13, 2026 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.

Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC

Council Clerk

Public Hearing was declared open.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown reviewed FY2027 Budget First Public Hearing PowerPoint, which is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.

Discussion centered around the tax rate increase being 3.2% and the Town’s median home assessment.

Chris Rowe, Middletown, addressed the council asking if the monies in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the Library HVAC system are for the old library building.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown, responding to Chris Rowe, noted the monies in the CIP are for the HVAC system in the new library building.

Discussion centered around Councilor Roberts noted he is having a hard time supporting a 3.2% tax increase and would like to see a 2% increase, some of the increase in the budget is due to contractual obligations and an increase in healthcare costs, state mandates are causing budget increases for the Town, and the need for the Town’s State delegation to assist the Town with unfunded mandates from the state.

Theresa Spengler, Middletown, resident and business owner, noted support for the proposed budget, and the need to maintain town infrastructure and services. Ms. Spengler explained that Middletown is a beautiful community to live in, which incurs costs.

Discussion centered around Councilor Turano requesting to see what a 3%, 2% and 1% budget increase would look like and what areas of the budget would be affected, the Capital Improvement Program and making reductions to the proposed budget.

Mike Flynn, Middletown, addressed the council noting support for Councilor Roberts and Councilor Turano’s comments of not being able to support the proposed budget. Mr. Flynn suggested each department in the Town should be able to demonstrate a 1%, 2% and 3% budget increase.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown read the following email into the record:

Dennis,

I appreciate the question and want to make sure the Council has the information it needs. I can provide the Council with the budgetary impact of the 1%, 2%, and 3% levy scenarios compared with the proposed levy:

Scenario Levy Difference from Proposed Levy

0% increase $58,738,891 $2,077,308 below proposed

1% increase $59,339,183 $1,477,017 below proposed

2% increase $59,929,134 $887,066 below proposed

3% increase $60,571,697 $244,503 below proposed

Proposed levy $60,816,200 —

As we recently discussed at a public Town Council meeting, the Charter places policy direction with the Town Council, while the Town Administrator is responsible for preparing and administering the municipal budget consistent with that direction. If the Council wants to reduce the amount of taxes raised below the proposed levy, the Council should first review that proposal and provide general policy direction on where reductions should be made.

The Charter also requires the budget to remain balanced. A reduction in anticipated revenue from a lower tax levy must be matched by a corresponding reduction in appropriations, unless the Council identifies another revenue source. That is a Council-level budget decision because the Council is responsible for the consolidated budget and must determine how limited dollars are allocated among education, public works, public safety, planning, building and zoning, general government, community services, and other municipal responsibilities.

The School Committee can provide an estimate of reductions because it is responsible for a single Town service: education. The Town Council’s role is broader. It must adjudicate the consolidated budget as a whole, including the relative priority of each dollar spent across all Town services. Once the Council provides that policy direction, I can go back into the municipal budget and prepare a detailed recommendation for reductions consistent with the Council’s guidance.

This is particularly important because the Charter gives me no authority to increase or decrease the School Committee’s budget request. The Council may change only the total amount of the School Committee’s recommended budget, and the School Committee would then be responsible for determining how to operate within the total amount appropriated by the Council.

The Charter requirements and responsibilities have not changed. Accordingly, I can provide the Council with the financial impact of the lower levy scenarios, but direction on whether to reduce the amount of taxes raised, and where corresponding reductions in appropriations should generally come from, should come from the Council before I prepare a detailed municipal reduction plan.

V/r,

Shawn J. Brown, Town Administrator

Source date as of 05/12/26:

FY 2026 Levy $58,738,891.57

1% INCREASE IN LEVY $59,339,183 0.0102

NON-RESIDENT RATE 11.835 0.42%

RESIDENT RATE 9.102 0.42%

COMMERCIAL RATE 13.642 0.42%

2% INCREASE IN LEVY $59,929,134 0.0203

NON-RESIDENT RATE 11.957 0.0146

RESIDENT RATE 9.196 0.0146

COMMERCIAL RATE 13.784 0.0146

3% INCREASE IN LEVY $60,571,697 0.0312

NON-RESIDENT RATE 12.09 0.0259

RESIDENT RATE 9.299 0.0259

COMMERCIAL RATE 13.937 0.0259

PROPOSED LEVY $60,816,200 0.0354

NON-RESIDENT RATE 12.141 0.0302

RESIDENT RATE 9.338 0.0302

COMMERCIAL RATE 13.995 0.0302

Mr. Brown requested the Council to provide a priority list for the budget and give guidance to possible budget reductions and adjustments.

Terri Flynn, Middletown, suggested it may be time to regionalize emergency services and affordable housing island wide to save monies. Ms. Flynn noted support for demonstrating a 1%, 2% and 3% budget increase. Ms. Flynn stated that Middletown’s debt has increased from 20 million in 2023 to 200 million at this current time.

Discussion centered around that the Town’s current debt will be reduced once reimbursement is received for the School Building project, the purchase of pumper trucks through the CIP, and the Town’s bond rating and funding of pensions.

Theresa Spengler, Middletown, noted the budget has to increase, due to State minimum wage increasing. Ms. Spengler stated the Town has to pay competitive rates to retain employees. Theresa Spengler also explained that the school has reduced positions, due to restructuring, reductions of programs and staff retirement.

Discussion centered around the State reducing State aid and funding, the increase cost in health care, not creating a structural deficit in the budget, deferring maintenance of town facilities and vehicle purchases, a zero tax increase causes issues in future budget years, the need for the town to receive a larger portion of the hotel tax, the impact of inflation on the proposed budget, the Town Administrator requesting direction from the Council for areas to reduce the budget, and the Town Charter section outlining the budget process.

Terri Flynn, Middletown, addressed the council inquiring about what section of the Town Charter addresses the budget.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown reviewed section 208 of the Town Charter.

Sec. 208. Town budget; expenditures prior to adoption of annual budget, and loans in anticipation of tax revenues; fiscal year defined.

Upon receipt of the consolidated town and school committee budget from the town administrator, the town council shall give to said budget two preliminary readings. Coincident with such consideration it shall set dates for two successive public hearings regarding the budget, one hearing to follow the first reading, and one to follow the second reading. Notice of the time and place of said hearings shall be posted in three or more public places in the town and advertised in at least one newspaper of local circulation at least ten days in advance of each hearing. The council shall take final action on the consolidated budget following the second hearing before the start of the next fiscal year, which shall begin the first day of each July unless and until changed by ordinance. The town council can change only the total amount of the school committee's recommended budget. The town council can increase the total amount of either part of the consolidated budget, as presented by the town administrator, only if it makes provisions for increasing anticipated revenue to match increases in expenditures in the budget. In the event that the annual budget has not been finally enacted by the town council at the start of the fiscal year for whatever reason, the town council may authorize expenditures by town departments and agencies not to exceed the rate of expenditures for the comparable month of the preceding year. Such authorization shall be valid for no more than thirty days without renewal by the council. The council may negotiate loans in anticipation of tax revenues repayable in no more than twelve months' time, in order to provide funds to cover such expenditures. (Amended, November 5, 2002.)

Chris Rowe, Middletown, suggested making reductions to the budget across the board on a sliding scale, explaining that changes to each department should be looked at individually across the board.

Discussion centered around transportation costs for the school, hiring an IT Director for the School Department is on hold, the email reviewed by the Town Administrator stated the amount of monies the budget would need to be reduced by for a 1%, 2% and 3% budget and the next Public Hearing on the budget is Wednesday, May 27th at 6 pm.

Mike Flynn, Middletown, noted section 208 of the Town Charter regarding the budget does not address how to cut the budget.

There being no other persons present desiring to be heard, public hearing will remain open.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to receive said ordinance on its first reading.

Council President Rodrigues noted the amendment to the ordinance reflects the proposed change in the budget.

A vote was taken.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to receive said ordinance on its first reading.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, to receive said ordinance on its first reading.

Council President Rodrigues noted the amendment to the ordinance reflects the proposed change in the budget.

A vote was taken.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to receive said ordinance on its first reading.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 8:15 P.M.

Karin H. Clancey, CMC

Deputy Town Clerk

Supporting documentation is available at http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-ri