Mayor Perry highlights park, museum, and memorial work
Middletown is adding new activity at Normandy Park while preparing a renovation of the 9/11 memorial gardens before the 25th anniversary.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — mayor’s comments, board approves personnel actions, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The township is pairing summer events with longer-term projects, from a roller rink built into an existing park plan to upgrades at a memorial families still visit.
A season of civic projects is taking shape. Mayor Perry used his comments to run through a string of updates, starting with the Normandy Park roller rink grand opening. He said the broader park project began in 2019 and that the township saved enough within that work to add the rink. He thanked Janet, the recreation team, and residents who pushed for it. He said hundreds attended the opening and that more activities are planned there.
Perry said the township had to work through supply problems earlier this year, including issues getting items such as dasher boards for the rink. He then pointed to other recent events: nearly 100 vehicles turned out for an America 250 drive-in showing of Hamilton, and South won the North vs. South lacrosse game to keep the Mayor’s Cup. He also praised the Middletown Historical Society for opening the historic train station museum, saying about 250 people walked through over the weekend.
The longest look ahead was reserved for the 9/11 memorial gardens. Perry said the Township Committee has awarded a contract to renovate the site over the coming months, with new walkways, lighting, monument footings, vegetation, and sprinkler systems planned before the 25th anniversary of September 11. He said stones will be moved temporarily but stay on site while the walkways are redone. The work, he said, is meant to preserve a place visited by families of 37 Middletown residents who died on September 11, 2001.
Board approves personnel actions
The board moved quickly through a batch of personnel business. By voice vote, members approved item 12M along with the balance of 12A and item 12L as part of the meeting’s voting agenda.
The public record provided no further detail on the individual actions during this portion of the meeting. The vote was handled as a routine agenda matter rather than a separate extended discussion.
That means the practical change is straightforward: the personnel items on that list are now approved. For residents following staffing and employment decisions, the action happened in one grouped vote, not as stand-alone roll calls on each item.
Alera outlines health plan savings
Alera Group told the board the district’s self-insured health program has produced $1,000,000 in savings, helped by higher pharmacy rebates and contract changes. Presenters said more savings could come from virtual care, lower administration fees, out-of-network claim negotiations, and stop-loss protections meant to steady costs.
large dollar figure ($1,000,000)
Committee members spotlight budget and events
Township Committee members used their comment time to thank staff for budget work, promote upcoming events, and recognize local groups and observances. Their remarks touched on small business outreach, EMS and mental health awareness, volunteer service, and the America 250 quilt.
These remarks flag upcoming events, public priorities, and how elected officials are framing budget and community issues.
Committee adopts $4,226,000 bond ordinance
The Township Committee unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026-3503 on final reading to fund $4,226,000 in capital improvements and authorize $2,886,315 in bonds or notes. No residents spoke during the public hearing before the vote.
large dollar figure ($4,226,000)
Town introduces budget with levy increase
Middletown introduced its 2026 municipal budget with a tax levy increase of $1,953,765, or 2.97%. Officials pointed to higher costs for health benefits, insurance, utilities, snow, payroll timing, and affordable housing litigation, with a public hearing set for June 4, 2026.
The budget determines taxes and services, with a June 4 hearing giving residents a chance to weigh in.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Middletown had 46 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEAdditional proclamations read into the record (Municipal Clerk’s Week, Small Business Week, Police Week, EMS Week, Memorial Day). The Mayor read multiple proclamations into the record, including Municipal Clerk’s Week (May 3–9, 2026), Small Business Week, Police Week (May 10–16, 2026), EMS Week (May 17–23, 2026), and a Memorial Day proclamation (May 25, 2026).
- GOVERNANCEFinal reading: Lead-based paint inspection requirements for certain residential dwellings. Ordinance 2026-3504, establishing inspection requirements for lead-based paint in certain residential dwellings, was considered on second/final reading. No public comments were offered, and the ordinance was adopted unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEABC authority action: Person-to-person place-to-place transfer of liquor license 1331-33-00001. Acting as the ABC issuing authority, the Township Committee adopted Resolution 26-154 authorizing a person-to-person, place-to-place transfer of liquor license 1331-33-00001.
- GOVERNANCEFirst reading: Authorizing sale of certain Township-owned properties not required for public purposes (N.J.S.A. 40A:12-13). The Township Committee introduced Ordinance 2026-3510 authorizing the sale of certain Township-owned properties not required for public purposes pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12-13. The ordinance passed on first reading, with a public hearing scheduled for June 4, 2026.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Policy Items (Items 10A–10BB). The board voted on policy items 10A through 10BB, with discussion about using the New Jersey School Boards policy provider and the nature of the changes. One member opposed the policy vote, and one member abstained on item 10G (architect).
- GOVERNANCEFirst reading: Traffic ordinance for Caldwell Avenue and Claremont Avenue prohibiting trucks over four tons. The Township Committee introduced Ordinance 2026-3511, a traffic ordinance regarding Caldwell Avenue and Claremont Avenue prohibiting trucks over four tons. The ordinance passed on first reading, with a public hearing scheduled for June 4, 2026.
- GOVERNANCEFirst reading: Authorizing execution of certain deeds within Monmouth Hills. The Township Committee introduced Ordinance 2026-3513 authorizing execution of certain deeds within Monmouth Hills. The ordinance passed on first reading, with a public hearing scheduled for June 4, 2026.
- GOVERNANCEConsent agenda approval (Resolutions 26-134 through 26-153, excluding 26-133 and 26-149). The Township Committee approved the consent agenda, adopting resolutions numbered 26-134 through 26-153, with Resolutions 26-133 and 26-149 removed for separate votes.
- GOVERNANCETown approves two summer fireworks displays. The Township Committee approved fireworks displays for the Riverview Foundation on July 3, 2026, and Beacon Hill Country Club on July 12, 2026. Mayor Perry recused himself from both votes.
- The week’s most important Middletown decisions
- Plain-English explanations, every Sunday
- Delivered to your inbox — one email a week
No charge, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
- Everything Aware covers in Middletown — the full record, not just the highlights
- Plus full coverage of 3,000+ cities, not just yours
- Source documents, Ask Aware & Aware Explain
- Follow up to 5 towns · email meeting alerts
Snapshot is the starting plan — larger plans (Insight, Intelligence) add more towns, countries & usage. Sundays is the free weekly read; Aware is the platform that powers it.
Got a neighbor in Middletown who should read this?
Forwarding this Sundays edition is how Sundays grows. No paid ads — just neighbors telling neighbors.
FORWARD TO A NEIGHBOR →See an error? Email us.
Sundays is generated by the Aware platform (www.awarenow.ai) and verified against the official meeting record. If something looks wrong, please tell us — we respond within 24 hours and publish corrections directly on this page. corrections@awarenow.ai
Common questions
- What is Sundays?
- Sundays is a weekly civic newsletter for Middletown, NJ. Each Sunday morning we summarize what the town council, school board, planning board, and other public bodies did that week — in plain English, with links to the official meeting record.
- How are these summaries generated?
- Sundays is produced by Aware (awarenow.ai), which ingests official agendas, minutes, and meeting recordings, then writes a short editorial summary that is verified against the public record before publishing.
- Where can I read past Sundays editions for Middletown?
- Every edition for Middletown is archived on the Middletown town hub. State-level archives live at sundays.news/nj.
- How do I subscribe?
- Sundays is free. Subscribe at the bottom of any edition or on the Middletown town hub — one short email every Sunday morning.
- Found an error?
- Email corrections@awarenow.ai. We respond within 24 hours and publish corrections on this page.
