MIDDLETOWN – Mayor Joseph DeStefano has been given the okay by the common council to sign all documentation to receive the $2.7 million state grant to purchase the former federal courthouse and convert it into Middletown City Court facilities.
The city has one permanent courtroom at City Hall and uses the common council chambers as a second courtroom, but the state Office of Court Administration has ordered the city to develop plans for two permanent courtrooms.
Whether the city moves both into the old federal facilities will depend upon the requirements of Albany and the cost of doing so, said DeStefano, who said the building will have to be expanded to accommodate two courts.
“That is why we have an extra $1 million-plus dollars in the budget, so there will be additions to that building,” the mayor said. “It’s just a question of how much and how big the structure will have to be to be added onto it to fit two courts; to fit one court it is adequate right now.”.
Discussions will be undertaken to determine which route to take.
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