Town Council - Regular Meeting

And that each one of these is supported by additional narrative and intent. They're not meant to be broad or abstract statements, but rather kind of a framework that helps us to connect to specific actions or to a larger community value. So as an example, the mobility and infrastructure guiding principle focuses on connecting people and places. Under that principle, the plan discusses expanding sidewalks, bike paths, trails, and public transit in order to improve safety, accessibility, and regional connectivity. So beyond each one of these little guiding principles, there's a bit more text within the document that kind of helps inform a bit more. It's not just this one little abstract one-word statement or one-sentence statement. Each guiding principle functions in this way, helping translate the broader values into actionable goals and strategies. And so then lastly, I just want to kind of give a chapter sample. Nearly every chapter in the plan follows a similar structure, and using housing as an example, the chapter begins with the baseline conditions, which includes the housing type, housing stock, affordability, kind of the baseline zoning, and then outlines initiatives that are already underway, such as the affordable housing plan, which the commission adopted in 2022, accessory dwelling units, and the role of Windsor Housing Authority. From there, it identifies key issues and trends within the community. These are things that could've come up through the survey, could've come up through good planning practices, things that we see in the planning community that are being talked about right now. And then from there, and one of my favorite parts about the document is what we've heard for the community. So pulling out specific quotes that were received in the survey or some of our public engagement events. And this kind of summarizes what we've heard. And then it follows that with the goals and strategies so that you could take the two pages side by side and see how what we heard connects to some of the goals and strategies in there. So that's really all I have for a presentation. I would like to take a moment to thank Rory and FHI, Imeg and her team, Christian, Nicole, I'm sure there's a few names I'm forgetting as well, but I appreciate all the work that your team did over this past year and a half, really, and your support with this document and our various meetings that we've attended. I also like to give a huge thank you to the POCD Advisory Committee, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Town Council as well. And then also a big thank you to everyone who participated in surveys, workshops, or even just stopped at the booth to chat with us. And then also to Windsor staff and their leadership. So we'd be happy to take any questions, or if you'd like to delve into specifics, we can do so at this time, but that's really all I have for presentation, or we can go into the public hearing.

Any questions? Nope.

Maybe you can explain what the next steps are if this plan's adopted tonight.

Next steps. That's a good question. So, I mean, there's kind of our statutory requirements in that we have to publish a notice that the POCD has been adopted, and then there's a 15-day appeal period beyond that. Aside from that, we've met every kind of statutory requirement in getting this to town council and CROG in a timely fashion. I think the big next step for us internally is how do we track these goals and present these, as things come up, how do we present this to the council or to the commission? I think figuring out a way to actively track the goals is probably the biggest next step.

And doesn't it go to the legislature as well?

OPM?

The POCD.

Yes, it does.

Yeah, we have 60 days to send it to them.

So it's not formally adopted until the legislature blesses it? Is that correct or not?

No, it's whenever the POCD is adopted by you all. Okay. That's the adoption date. Okay.

Let me just get a copy. I'd like to thank you guys for all your work. I was on the Advisory Committee too, but let's face it, you guys did all the work. So you did a tremendous job and I thank you very much.

I could jump in and say that overall I think that the POCD Advisory Committee did a great job of updating. I agree with most of the modifications. So when we get into the differentials, I'll explain what I mean differently. But I thank everybody, and I thank you for taking over again tonight.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

So should we jump into the public hearing? Yeah. Okay. So if anyone from the public would like to address the plan of conservation development, if they have any questions, what have you, please come up, state your name and address. Thank you. Anyone like to speak? There's no one online. Nobody online?

No. Sir. Hi, I'm . This is great that we're doing this for the year 2035. I don't know the specifics. It concerns the Millbrook corridor and we are currently already planning for the budget year 2027. We want to do six erosion remediation sites on the former Millbrook golf course and There's also budgeting for two bridge replacements there. Now, it's already gone out to bid to replace bridges along Decker Brook and Walsh Park and those areas, but the bridges planned for Millbrook, the public golf course, haven't gone out to bid yet. And there is this remediation of six sites for erosion control along the stream bank. And Ms. Cho, our town engineer, is spearheading that. I propose, and maybe it can be added in as a separate line item, it's not going to go in as part of the environmental remediation plan. And maybe it's going to wait until 2040. But we've got those small dams relating to the former pump house for the golf course that impede the natural flow of Millbrook. Now, let's think about Millbrook. Millbrook is the only stream downstream of the Rainbow Dam that flows into the Farmington River. Here we are. We're Windsor, first town. And the first stream into the Farmington, which is why Windsor got settled. So I'd like to somehow get the removal of those small dams near the old pump house, what used to serve the golf course in the Windsor Public Area now. TO BE REMEDIATED AND TO BE INCLUDED IN THE 2027 BUDGET PLAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF IT HAS TO WAIT UNTIL 2040, LET'S DO IT.

AND IT SHOULDN'T COST THAT MUCH EITHER. THE WHOLE THING IS LIKE $700,000, $800,000 BUDGET FOR THE REMEDIATION SITES, AND THAT'S INCLUDING THE MARKUP FOR CONTINGENCIES. AND IF WE LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS, IT'S LIKE $70,000 PER area that's going to get the control for the erosion along Millbrook in the Gulf Course area. So to remove the dam is probably going to be only the same amount of cost. All the vehicles are going to be bringing the equipment down, bringing the riprap and the natural plantings to restore the parts of the Millbrook stream that they want to remediate to stop the erosion. And on the way back out, they can bring the dam, the particles that have been removed. And they're going to have all the, they're going to have the engineering skill, and they're going to have the way to make the cofferdams. They're going to manually place sandbags with a rubber tarp. They're going to cut the brook in half. They're going to do the work to repair where they need to control the erosion.

All hand-placed.

So add that to the plan, whether it's 2035, whether it's 2040, whether it's for 2027. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else? All right, yes, we have a letter.

This is an email from Owen Deutsch. It was dated... November 20th. Weren't those for the council meeting? No, it wasn't to us.

According to Mr. Steele, this one came in after the council meeting.

Okay. Goal seven, mobility and infrastructure strategy A. I'd like to request an additional I or three or a new item that new sidewalks be provided as feasible when road improvements are undertaken or new sub-developments or large-scale developments are undertaken.

I believe that's also part of our plan right now.

I agree. I thought it was too, or at least in some of our building regulations.

Yeah, it's baked into our zoning regulations that any new developments are required to put sidewalks in along the frontages of any town road. And then generally when we're doing public improvements or, you know, I'm thinking of Baker Hollow that they recently connected, they put in sidewalks as that.

No one else?

Just to comment on Mr. Mazur's comment, the POCD doesn't get into specifics of a construction project. I mean, I think some of the things that you were pointing out there could be captured under a couple of different strategies for the open space and natural resources, specifically fund and build priority drainage and culvert upgrades, monitor sensitive areas and enforce appeals. Unfortunately, the commission doesn't have any authority to really get involved with an active construction project at this time. I'd encourage you to continue communications with the town engineer and town council, but I think we've captured it in a broad sense to where we could make those improvements and make a case and argument for those improvements, but it doesn't get into the specifics of that. But thank you for your comments.

It would have to go into the CIP, wouldn't it?

Right. That's what I was about to say, too. The CIP, that's the Capital Improvement Plan. It's a six-year lookout of projects the council wants to spend money on, and they plan accordingly. Oh, we have a letter from Krog.

Dated February 20, 2026. REPORT ON UPDATE TO POCD 2025-3, A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO THE MUNICIPAL POCD COMMISSIONERS. RECEIPT IS ACKNOWLEDGED OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED REFERRAL. NOTICE OF THIS PROPOSAL WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF THE CAPITOL THE CAPITOL REGION COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 8-3B OF THE CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES AS AMENDED. THE STAFF OF THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CAPITOL REGION COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS HAS REVIEWED THIS ZONING REFERRAL AND FINDS NO CONFLICT WITH REGIONAL PLANS OR POLICIES OR THE CONCERNS OF NEIGHBORING TOWNS. the municipality for the number of relevant updates within the plan of conservation and development that align with the regional plan of conservation and development. One great example of alignment is the strategy to encourage mixed use and innovative housing models directly aligns with the regional goal to diversify the region's housing stock. The local plans update further aligns with the region regional plan in improving bicycle and pedestrian safety through the streetscape improvements, prioritizing infill development to better take advantage of underutilized spaces that are already developed and pursuing parking alternatives to further reduce the footprint underutilized parking has in the region. This plan also aligns with the Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan as actions outlined in the update directly joint to partner with CROG to continue efforts related to the NHMP. This plan does an incredible job at balancing the natural growth Windsor experiences while protecting and preserving existing natural resources. One recommendation from staff would be to review some of the highlighted density residential zones and examine the potential potential to allow duplexes and even triplexes, of course with appropriate design guidelines to preserve the existing identity of those zones. Developments such as duplexes often seamlessly blend into the streetscape of majority single-family neighborhoods with well-written design standards in place and offer no threat to affordable options for individuals looking to live in the more exclusively residential zones. Staff applause the municipality in its extensive efforts to update the Windsor Plan of Conservation and Development. CROG looks forward to working with the municipality to accomplish the actions outlined across both the local and the regional plan. Public hearing has been scheduled for February 24th, 2026. And in accordance with our procedure, this letter constitutes final CROG action on this referral and questions should be referred to Jacob Knowlton. And this was distributed to the planners in windsor locks east granby east windsor bloomfield hartford and south windsor and it's signed jennifer bartis early chairman of the regional planning commission william rice vice chairman regional planning commission and jacob knowlton community development planner thank you all right so i'll close the public hearing and do we have a motion i move that the madam

Excuse me, I'm sorry madam chair you indicated that there were some things that's right.

You had some comments I Was just referring to the spreadsheet that you presented With the changes I think I think those are all good and the only thing I'm concerned about is when we're going to duplexes or triplexes or whatever is that parking because I'm noticing in town now that that we have a number of homes that they're parking on the front lawns. In fact, in one street, they plowed the front lawn so that the vehicle could park on that. If we're gonna be going into that, we're gonna have to make sure that our regulations stipulate there has to be enough parking. That's one of the big things that I was noticing.

Yes, ma'am, duly noted, thank you.

Do you have anything else you needed? No, because I think all of the changes that were on there, I don't see. I think everything you've taken out, certain little words that made sense, and you've added, left in what I think should be left in. I think you did a great job.

Okay. Cecilia, last word?

No, thank you. Thank you, Rory. Thank you to everybody here tonight.

I moved that the 2025 to 2035 proposed plan of conservation and development be adopted by this commission. Second. Second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye.

Aye.

Opposed? None. Motion passes 5-0.

Move to adjourn.

Second.

Second.

Yeah, we don't. That was completed. So, yes, I'm going to adjourn and second it. Okay, all in favor? I second it. Everyone seconded it. Okay, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Case drive, everybody. Thank you. That's 5-0. Good night, Anita.

Good night.

Here's someone who is developing responsibility. He's Frank Harris. Frank's paper route is a way of earning a little spending money. It's also a restart work to Frank. Especially when he sees the other fellas having fun. Wanna play, Frank? Well, of course Frank wants to play. But he can't now. He has work to do. He has papers to deliver. Uh-oh. Frank will have to do his work better than that. Doing a job well is part of being responsible. There's our real dog. Just the kind Frank would like to have for his own. And there's Mr. Morgan who owns the dog. He wants to talk to Frank about something. Mr. Morgan is going to move to another town. So, Frank will have to stop delivering the paper to him. He'll be here the rest of this week, so he wants to pay Frank for the papers until Saturday. All right. You see, Frank is responsible for the money he collects. He thanks Mr. Morgan and gives him a receipt. Frank writes in his book the date to stop the paper, so he won't forget.

Having a paper route is a lot more than just delivering papers.

But Mr. Morgan has noticed how well Frank gets along with the dog, and who wouldn't get along with him. Frank thinks he's a first-rate dog. Mr. Morgan says, of course, he's pedigreed. Isn't that something? And his name is Pal. That's right, Pal. He's the kind of dog who really is a pal. Well, Frank has work to do. But just a minute. Mr. Morgan would like to know his name and address. Now, why do you suppose he wanted to know that? That evening at home, Frank carefully counts the money he has collected, because it doesn't all belong to him. He knows how important it is to keep careful accounts. He's responsible for the newspaper company's money. And while Dad's for him, there's something Frank wants to show Mother. He has a new customer starting tomorrow. Obtaining new customers is part of Frank's job, too. Frank thanks his father for the check. Dad will keep the money and take it to the bank tomorrow. Why, it's Pal. Mr. Morgan brought him over. Mother, Dad, here's Mr. Morgan and his wonderful dogs. Mr. Morgan has been noticing Frank. He thinks Frank would like a dog and he'd like Frank to have pal. Mr. Morgan is moving to another town and an apartment where dogs aren't allowed. But mother and dad aren't sure a dog is a lot of work and responsibility for someone. Feeding him, giving him water, seeing that he gets exercise. He'll be so much trouble. Can Frank be expected to take proper care of him? Well, Mr. Morgan thinks he can do it. And so does Frank. But Dad's being very cautious. He won't agree to let Pal stay until he's sure that Frank can manage this new responsibility. So Dad offers a plan. Let Frank keep Pal until Saturday and show how well he can take care of him. But if this week doesn't work out, then Mr. Morgan will have to make other plans for Pal. So Frank has an opportunity to show that he can be responsible. But now Mr. Morgan must go and leave Pal to his new master. Let's hope he never has to take Pal back. Dad wants to be sure Frank understands their bargains. Frank may keep Pal until Saturday, but there are many things he'll have to do if he wants to keep Pal for good. Pal will have to have food and water. He'll need exercise morning and evening. He must be trained to obey, to know that Frank is now his master. Of course, Frank can't neglect his other responsibilities, his paper route, his schoolwork. His regular jobs around home, such as cleaning up his own room and carrying out the tin cans on Mondays.

Tin cans? Monday?

Frank must start right away showing that he can be responsible. He'll have quite a lot of work to do, but pal's worth it, isn't he? So the next day is a busy day for Frank. Pal gets his exercise on the paper route. But Frank has to deliver his papers and at the same time... Uh-oh. Yes, Frank has to keep his eyes on Pal, too. But here's a good time to start training Pal. Show him who's boss. Maybe keep him on a leash. There. But delivering papers with a big dog on a leash can be pretty tiring. And by the time he reaches the end of the route, there goes the last paper, though, all through. But here's another paper. Why, where does it belong? Did Frank miss someone? Oh, that new customer. Frank forgot about that completely. And it's partly Pal's fault for making so much trouble. Well, nothing to do now but go back. Waste half an hour delivering that one paper. And what's more, Frank needs that half an hour. He didn't get time to straighten his room this morning. No, things don't look very good for Frank. He just can't keep up all his responsibilities. And so late that evening, after Frank has finally finished his work for the day, he has a good talk with his dad. Dad is happy that Frank has a chance to earn such a fine dog, and pleased with Frank's work so far. But with so much to do, Frank must plan his time. Sometimes a new responsibility means you must make choices. Frank may have to leave Pal at home while he goes on the paper route, and then exercise him later in the evening. He may have to use the leash with Pal and train him to obey. But just a little planning, just a determination to take care of all his responsibilities will clear up Frank's worries. He may have to work hard, but he's determined to do it so he'll be able to keep Pal. That's what Frank's going to do. And he'll start by getting a good night's sleep. And so for the next few days, Frank keeps busy with his paper route, his home and school responsibilities, and his pal. Part of it is hard work, and part of it is good fun. But Frank does his best. For almost a whole week, Frank keeps up his responsibilities. He has done his jobs, all of them, and he's done them well. And so on Saturday, Frank feels pretty sure he'll be able to keep his pals. Is that Mr. Morgan now? Yes, it is. Pal has been in Frank's care now for a week. And there's one thing Mr. Morgan wants to know. May Frank keep Pal? What do you think? Has Frank shown that he can be responsible? Let's think back. On his paper route, Frank has carried out his responsibility to deliver each paper where it should go, to keep his accounts accurately, and to take good care of the money he collects. He has carried out his responsibility to give Pal food and water, to see that he gets plenty of exercise, and to teach him to be obedient.

Does your battery deliver extra life or extra power?

Extra life. Extra power. Extra life.

And Frank has shown that he can do these things and still keep up with his schoolwork and his responsibilities around the house. All this has taken planning and determination, but Frank has managed very well. So, of course he may keep PAL. Mother and Dad have agreed. Now, here's something else for Frank. What does the paper say? Oh, it's PAL's pedigree. Do you see, PAL? The pedigree papers belong to Frank now. And so does Pam.

The sandwich is practically an American institution. It is a basic essential for lunch boxes, parties, and picnics. As far as these boys are concerned, well, hamburgers and hot dogs are their idea of a really good meal. But there are sandwiches and sandwiches. When Sally Gasco and her mother bring guests home for a late snack after a movie, they have something special in the way of a sandwich in mind. Sally calls it tuna rarebit. Let's watch how she makes it. This is a sandwich for forks, an open face creation in other words, with a cheese, milk, and tuna fish mixture on top. The basis will be rye bread, mother's idea. She found that the spicy caraway flavor made a good contrast to the bland fish and cheese. Sally puts a cube, about a square inch, of butter into the top of a double boiler. A little butter finds its way into a great many dishes in this kitchen, not only for flavor, but as a blending agent. Part of the trick to entertaining unexpected guests is keeping on hand certain generally useful foods. One of these is cheese of an easy melting type, which Sally is going to use as a base for the rare bit. To speed the melting, she cuts this into slices in the milk and butter mixture, while Mother butters the bread. The simmer flame keeps the water boiling gently while the cheese is melting, so that Sally can go on to other tasks. She adds the canned chunk-style tuna fish, and notice that she uses a wooden spoon to avoid discoloration of the mixture. Although the tuna rare bit is fairly substantial food in itself, it is a good idea to add something for variation in color and texture. Mother is making a salad dish. Celery, radishes, olives, and pickles. Sally adds potato chips to the menu. They used to be exclusively picnic fare, but they've joined the host of useful accessory foods which make entertaining so much easier and more fun for teenagers. The bread was toasted quickly in the broiler, and the rare bit is nearly ready to serve. Let's see, what will be the beverage? Mother thinks she'll give the guests a choice of Coke or milk. When you can offer guests a choice easily, it's a gracious gesture. Now it's time to serve. Two slices of toast are neatly arranged on each plate, and the filling, or perhaps we should say covering, goes on top. Sally knows you should serve creamed dishes with extra caution. An effect of carelessness here is no asset. Mother is a great believer in the aesthetic value of parsley, and of course it's good to eat too. Now a touch of Tabasco for color and a taste surprise. And there's tuna rarebit a la Sally Gasco. As we said, there are sandwiches and sandwiches. A wise young homemaker using good techniques and equipment and a little imagination can turn a sandwich into festive fare. © BF-WATCH TV 2021

Good evening, and welcome to the Windsor Town Council meeting for August 3rd, 2026. All councillors are here. I believe Councillor Armstrong is online and will be coming over shortly. All right. So we will work on getting Council Armstrong into the meeting. And with that, that's our roll call. Items two and three on our agenda are the prayer and or reflection and the Pledge of Allegiance. And that will be led by Councilor Naim.

Thank you. Tonight, just reflecting on our last several months and thinking about community. Communities are not defined by moments when everyone agrees. They're defined by how people choose to show up for one another when they don't. And In a time when so much around us encourages us to see each other as opponents in different ways, Windsor has the opportunity to choose a different path, to see one another first as neighbors. We have different perspectives, but we all care deeply about this community and the future we're building together. As we begin tonight, may we approach one another with humility, listen with curiosity, and remember that our shared commitment to Windsor is far greater than the issues that divide us. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Councilor Naeem. This evening we do not have any proclamations or awards, so we'll move to item number five on our agenda, which is public communications and petitions. The Town Council welcomes and values public comment. We ask that all speakers conduct themselves with civility and respect. Please do not refer to other speakers by name or use derogatory, inflammatory, or disrespectful language when expressing your views. Please note that this portion of the meeting is for the council to listen to public input. The council does not respond to questions or engage in discussion during the public comment period. Your comments will be received and considered as a part of the public record. Thank you for your participation and for helping to maintain a respectful and productive meeting. If you would like to address the council, we do ask that you step forward, state your name and address. You will be given three minutes to speak. And at the sound of the chime, we ask that you conclude your comments. At the 60-second mark, a yellow card will be raised. And at the 30-second mark, a red card will be raised. And at that time, we do ask that you conclude your comments. And at this time, I'll turn it over to our moderator, Assistant Town Manager Scott Covey. Thank you, Mr. Covey. So we'll come back to the town hall chamber, and we do ask if you'd like to address the council, please step forward, state your name and address, and at the three-minute mark, please respond to the sound of the chime and conclude your comments.

Good evening. My name is Joel Herman. U.S. Army veteran and 62-year Windsor resident. I'd like to address the council on an item from the last meeting. Who directed and drafted the contract negotiations for the flock camera system? From what I understand, the town attempted to contract with flock with the provision that we would not help the federal government. In my opinion, he said the quiet part out loud. We accept and even chase federal funds. Millions of dollars flow into this town. This council doesn't have the authority to disregard the law of the land. If your convictions are so vital to the citizens of the town of Windsor, I challenge you to make a proclamation that as long as we don't agree with the federal government, we will refuse to help. And in return, the town will not accept any federal funds. None. Integrity and convictions cannot be bought. They are what makes you. Good luck trying to explain to the town residents why we won't accept any federal funds. I realize the vote to renew FLOC has passed and expect the readers to come down in a timely manner. I was not for or against the readers, but now what about all the cameras the town has installed? Who gets the video and data from those cameras? As a taxpayer and a part owner of that system, I want it used to its fullest potential. A legitimate request for information should be expedited to apprehend all criminals. To know we had valuable information to solve a crime and not forward it should be criminal. Don't let TDS cloud your common sense. Follow the law, not a liberal agenda.

Thank you.

Good evening. I'm Maggie Essex, 95 Lighthouse Hill Road. I am the CIO and fundraising director for Windsor Little League, a parent of two players, a Windsor Little League softball coach, and I support the proposed Welch Park Field Improvement Project, and I'm asking you to also support it. Between the updates to the pool and pickleball courts, the upper part of Welch Park looks great. To complete the improved look of the whole park, the playing fields and accompanying buildings need updates as well. As a Board of Directors, Windsor Little League does what we can to partner with the Town of Windsor to do our part in keeping up the fields at Welch. With material donations and volunteered labor, several members of our Windsor Little League replaced the roofs of several dugouts, repaired and painted fences to the best of our abilities, trimmed trees, painted several of the exteriors of the buildings and more just this year. Would we like to do even more than that? Absolutely. However, we know that this is a town park, so we work alongside the town to ensure that we are not overstepping our bounds. We are also a 501c3 nonprofit and can only do what we can with the funds and donations we are able to bring in. We've communicated with the town manager and rec departments to outline things Windsor Little League sees as a priority, and I'm glad to see that many of them are proposed improvements. Last week, Windsor Little League was the host for the Connecticut State 9-11 All-Star Baseball Final Four tournament, with teams from Waterford, Fairfield, South Windsor, and Southington. Field two was the site of seven games in five days. Several hundred players, coaches, parents, spectators, and district and state Little League staff came to Welch for these games. In preparation for this tournament, Windsor Little League volunteers worked countless hours to get the playing fields and spectating and parking areas in tip-top shape along with the town public works staff. Big thanks to the town for providing portalettes for this tournament. The Windsor Little League Board of Directors and many players directed parking, greeted visitors, staffed the concession stand, kept the official game book, and more. And we ensured the fields were prepped, especially after the surprise downpour on Wednesday that flooded the field and threatened to postpone the games another day. Because of this work, many visiting coaches and parents thanked Windsor for hosting, commented on what a great facility we have, expressed gratitude for ensuring the fields were in optimum playing condition, and one even told me it was the best Little League facility they'd ever been to. And because of our efforts, we've been asked to host this tournament again for the next two years, which is an incredible honor for Windsor Little League and our town. I know that hearing these comments might make it seem like these playing field area of the park doesn't need anything, but there are still absolute needed improvements. Dugouts still have holes in the walls. The stairs to the field one press box are not safe. Safety nets are stretched and brittle. As a softball coach, I'm excited to hear the irrigation improvement as a part of the field one. But Windsor Little League is a longstanding partner of Windsor, and I hope the town council will continue actively supporting Windsor Little League and the kids who participate by approving the funds for the Welch Park Field Improvement Project. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello. My name is Katie Essex, and I live at 95 Lighthouse Hill Road. I'm here to ask you support Welch Park Field Improvement Project. I am 13 years old and have participated in Windsor Little League since I was five years old in T-Bowl. This spring, I played my first season with the junior softball program. I've worked my way up through all the levels of Little League and have played on all the fields at both Welch and Fitch during those years. Through the last several years, I have played on fields One and three, the softball fields. In looking at the proposed improvements to Welch, I agree that all points are needed. During field cleanup days, I have helped try to rig fences on all fields to keep harm points from broken fences so they don't end up being a danger, and anchoring fences area in the ground so there's no option for balls to get under or players to get snagged on the fence. I've seen balls go through the mesh netting on field one because it has gotten so brittle. This proposes a danger to the players on the opposite field as those nets are there to stop the balls from going through to the other side. As most of my time in the majors and juniors levels was on field one, I have seen for myself the way the dugouts flood with rain, especially the first base dugout, and have helped sweep and shovel water out so those dugouts out of those dugouts in order for them to be used for games. I hope the update will also include an improvement for drainage to ensure the dugouts remain safe and dry. This year, I helped coach one of our T-ball teams, which played on field five. I know the main purpose of this field is for the challenger program, But the four to six-year-old tee ballers who use this field also need to see new dugouts. A team in this age group is... a bit of like herding cats. And they are drawn to the holes in the wall, loose dirt, and on-deck area, and like to chip away at the flaking benches. Not only does this cause further damage in the dugout, but these distractions are also a risk for injury and need to be fixed. The softball teams using Field 3 are older, but the dugouts are having many of the same issues as I mentioned on Field 5. I have gotten splinters from the dugouts on field three. I hope you, the town council, will continue actively supporting Windsor Little League and the kids who participate and approve the funds for Welch Park field improvement plan. Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Good evening. Mark Mascola, 395 Prospect Hill Road. And? I'm Nathan. And he lives with me as well. And I am the coach of the Winter Challenger Program. And for you that don't know, it is a special needs program that helps young adults and children play baseball. and we try to keep it safe and in a controlled environment. I would like to ask the council to make sure to approve the improvements for Welch Park, because included in that will be the dugouts. The dugouts right now, in addition to what the young lady just said, having holes, are also small. And the problem with that is we have people in wheelchairs and walkers and things of that nature. It's very hard for them to get into the dugout. The other issue is, and of course like that with T-Ball, you have more one-to-one parenting or coaches or helpers with the kids. And the dugout becomes very crowded, and it's extremely difficult to get out on the field when it's their time to get up to the plate. So I ask you again, let's get those dugouts fixed for these kids so that they can continue to enjoy their baseball program. Thank you.

Good evening. Once again, my name is Corey Farren. I'm a resident of 327 Merriman Road. I'm also part of the Board of Directors with Windsor Little League. I am here in favor of the capital improvement funding. As everybody so eloquently before me has said, the park is beautiful, but it does need, still needs updating. As well as the hosting of the future tournaments. We have Definitely been given the next two years, which has been great. We are hoping to continue this as well as continue with other age groups. So with that, we're asking for the town to consider that with future funding as well as assistance from the town. Everybody was very, very grateful for everything that we have gotten so far, and it has been amazing working with the different departments and the different people, directors, et cetera. I couldn't speak any more highly about everybody. It's been amazing. But just moving forward, we'd really like to have you guys all consider to come on down, enjoy a game, support your local town. These kids are here. They want to play, and that's what we're here for. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hey, George Slate, 74 Youth and Drive. Madam Mayor, congratulations. You are the most quoted person in the Hartford Courant today. It is time to get past flock, but you won't allow that. Because you haven't found the replacement yet. You have made this town less safe than it was in January. I was shaving the day after your vote and it dawned on me the analogy. You got rid of Obamacare but had no replacement for it. That has been the cry of the Republicans to get rid of it in Congress, but they haven't found a replacement. Other analogies, when you lessen vaccine requirements, ouch, measles is coming back. I have to read this part. July 1st, 2025, heard this on public radio first. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped mandatory active tracking for six foodborne illness pathogens. One of them was cyclospora. Big news now. We won't get into, when you get rid of the Iran nuclear deal, what we face now. God only knows what risk we're taking when the FBI is getting rid of the domestic terrorism unit. All scary. Your job is to make this community safe, not less safe. I have no ties to Flock. Don't really care about the whole program. Just want you to have this town be as safe as it was in January or safer. You have not done that. You've made us less safe. It's time for you to at least get us back to January of this year.

Hi, George Varney, 75 Berrios Hill Road. I'm going to bring it back to baseball real quick, sorry. Madam Mayor, council members, you heard a lot of comment today about the support of the funding of Welch Park. I just want to kind of echo a few things, mainly about the tournament. It was a great turnout. Last time we were here, we mentioned that we were hosting the 11-U state tournament in winter. And as Corey shared with you, we have been given the opportunity to take it two more years. And what happens beyond that will depend on how well we do and continue the success that we had in this last tournament. If you didn't get a chance to come down, I wish you could have because you would have seen a lot of support of some really great baseball in the state of Connecticut. One of our own District 8, I don't know if you know, Windsor Little League is in District 8. One of our own District 8 teams actually competed in the competition. And our hope as we continue to grow the program in Windsor is that someday our kids will have an opportunity to compete in that state tournament as well. To have that at our facility and to have our youth to be able to be a part of that and see how it's played, how it's run, the activity and the excitement of it, of the fans and the players alike, gets them charged up. It makes them want to compete even more. It wants them to get involved. So we're very grateful to have this opportunity and we're very grateful to the town. Considering considering the the additional funding and also I would encourage you like like was already shared This is just the first step and we hope that it will continue for some of the other improvements that are that are being discussed And and like we shared as well Windsor literally does a lot to supplement what the town can help us. We are a non-profit we do we have a lot of volunteers and the time and An effort that went into just preparing for this tournament and then the activity during the tournament was phenomenal. We've got so many compliments from other towns that were just really shocked. There were some folks that hadn't been back to Welch in a while, and they were like, what a great facility. Now you guys have really done some improvements here. The one town that was actually in the tournament from District 8, Obviously has spent a lot of time at Welch and they saw a huge improvement and what we've done down there and the town is done so we're really excited and grateful for the support of the town and By all means please come out next time. We have some games out there Falls coming up We're gonna try and get some games in before hopefully this improvement activity happens and then Obviously next spring we'll be back and inviting you guys down there again. So thank you

Good evening.

My name is Karen Jackson. I'm at 351 Conestoga here. I have a disability, so you have to excuse me the way I have to speak slower because of my speech. Good evening, Mayor and members of the Windsor Town Council. My name is Karen Jackson. I'm here to ask for my concerns to be answered in the public record regarding my treatment by a member of the Windsor Police Department and the reactions thereafter. I was stopped after midnight for a routine traffic stop. I was driving my son's car. the front light is out, so the officer made a quick U-turn, I was pulled over. He started banging on the back of the driver's side window. I have PTSD, so I was already scared as it is, and when he started banging on the window, I pulled out my window, I said, get your sergeant here. I have a blue envelope that Windsor Police gives out people with my condition or disability, excuse me. And I warned the sergeant there so they can see what it is. So my reaction wasn't that I was so angry or upset wasn't personal, but the officer took it personally. He was shining the flashlight into my eyes. I told him to stop doing that. He wouldn't stop doing that. I called dispatch to get a sergeant here, there, on scene, but no one ever came. Instead, I was accused, the dispatch told the officer on scene that I have sluggish speech. I do because I had a stroke in 22, so my left side is messed up, so certain times in the evening, my mouth sounds like, I guess I'm drunk, I have no idea. So I said, I shouted, I have a disability, I am not drunk. He said, well, I didn't say that. A dispatch said, okay, whatever, I'm not. But he extended the stop and stated that, and asked me, have I been drinking? I said, what reasonable article of suspicion do you have that I have been drinking? And then he cut it off. My son came there and verified who I was, that it was his car. The officer kept on shining the light in my eyes. For two weeks, I couldn't see. And I still can't drive at night. So I saw pink and blue for two weeks. I already had an issue with Windsor Police beforehand when it came to my son last Halloween. He's in his second year of college now. He's doing fine. But that's the only time I came here. I was so afraid of the police that it took a while for me, even Scott and the lieutenant had to sit down with me last year to calm me down because I was that frazzled about the whole thing that happened to my son before that. Now this happened. Now the reason I'm here, I wouldn't have really come here, but I received something in the mail from the police department saying that what the police officer did to me was correct. There's nothing wrong with it. And I find that very disconcerting. So that's it. I wanted to be investigated and looked into more. Scott has been fair as far as sitting down with me. I've missed appointments to continue with him. But I wanted somebody from the City Council to be there because I don't want to be there with the police and I don't know how to maneuver the machine there because I wanted to see the body cameras of what happened. So that's it. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, my name's Teresa Beatriz, 14 Parkwood Drive. I'm reading something from a friend who is not available for tonight, so on her behalf, with her permission, I'm sharing an email that she had sent to the town council, Jennifer Gravel, and these are her words. I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed town center storefront activation grant program and respectively urge the to reject this proposal. The town is proposing to allocate $350,000 toward a new storefront activation grant program while continuing to fund the existing facade improvement program. While these programs are presented as investments in economic development, they ultimately represent taxpayer-funded financial assistance for improvements to privately owned commercial property. The role of local government is to provide essential public services, maintain infrastructure, ensure public safety, exercise responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. It should not be to finance private improvements that primarily increase the value of privately owned assets. Over the years, Windsor has approved various tax abatements, incentives, and economic development agreements intended to encourage private investment. Whether residents supported these decisions or not, they were justified as tools to stimulate development. Now the town is proposing yet another layer of financial assistance through storefront grants. At what point does private investment become the responsibility of the private sector? Successful businesses should succeed because they provide valuable goods and services, make sound business decisions, and invest wisely in their own properties, not because government continues to create new subsidy programs funded by taxpayers. Although revenue is often described as new tax revenue, it is still public money collected through property taxes. Once collected, those dollars belong to the taxpayers and should be allocated in ways that provide broad public benefit, rather than directing hundreds of thousands of dollars toward grants for private store improvements, those funds could instead help offset future tax increases, strengthen infrastructure, improve roads and sidewalks, support public safety, or reduce pressure on future municipal budgets. As residents continue to experience rising costs of living and increasing tax burdens, I find it difficult to justify allocating additional public funds to projects that primarily enhance privately owned commercial properties. I respectfully encourage you to focus on policies that benefit every business equally rather than creating another targeted subsidy program. Maintaining competitive tax rates, streamlining permitting, investing in public infrastructure, ensuring public safety, and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens are all appropriate functions of the local government that foster private investment without requiring taxpayers to subsidize individual property owners. These types of investments strengthen Windsor as a whole and create an environment where businesses choose to invest because the community is well managed, not because government offers financial incentives. Thank you for your time, your service to the residents of Windsor, and your thoughtful consideration of my comments. Respectfully, Jennifer Gravel. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, Councilors, Madam Mayor. Budget's passed, so we're going to move on from that. My main reason for... You could just introduce your name. Oh, John Stavola, 33 Ludlow Road. I apologize. My reason to be here today is for a couple of reasons. I was going to touch the kind of whole storefront thing, but due to the fact that I'm not truly educated on it the best, I'm not going to until I'm better educated on it. I will say I think that we should holster that after we just kind of asked our town residents to pay their kids to play sports. I wouldn't actually bring up, you know, using taxpayer money to invest in and or rehabilitate private businesses and private establishments. With that being said, You know, I want to thank Darlene, I want to thank Madam Mayor, I want to thank Kristen, Ron, all you guys came up to me and you shook my hand about what we're trying to do for the kids in town, and I want to thank you for that. It means a lot to me. I'm just a private citizen, I'm just somebody who's going out there trying to create change. One thing I will bring up is some rhetoric that's recently been used against me on Facebook forums when I've given people nothing but respect, have not attacked them personally, have not attacked what they stand for, have not attacked the differences. But for somebody to be on the sitting, you know, a sitting member of the Board of Ed to say that I deliberately set fire to the budget and now I'm trying to walk in like a hero on a fire truck and put it out is reprehensible. It's absolutely crazy. All right? I know I probably can't call them out by name, but I have the comments if you would like to see it. And I'm hoping that they're reprimanded from that. In conclusion, I want to apologize to Peter Sousa. Peter, I've gone through your budget since 2020. You do a fine job. One businessman to another businessman, this town would be lost without you. He wants more money, give it to him. Straight up. I'm letting you guys know. You run it lean and mean, and your increases never really go above the rate of inflation. You do a good job. But I want the rhetoric to stop. I'm donating my time. I'm donating my effort and my money to help families I don't even know. And you have sitting members of the Board of Ed attacking me personally? Absolutely unacceptable. Thank you.

Thank you. All right, seeing none. No other speakers moving forward will bring public communications and petitions to a close. And thank you to all of our speakers this evening. Thank you for taking the time. And again, we really, really appreciate your engagement. Any letter, email that is sent, know that all the counselors, we do take time to read them. So thank you. Moving on to item number six, communications from council members. I wanted to first begin by saying that a lot is happening here in Windsor throughout the summer, the concert series, the farmer's market. There's always something going on downtown Windsor that you can be a part of. On Sunday, July 26, Grace Church, they had a beautiful service kicking off the Caribbean Celebration Week. There was a stale ban, so I wanted to talk about that. It was just beautiful to see folks from our town there that are members of the church as well as others coming into town for that. And then on Tuesday, we welcomed Peak Dental Implants to our town. Beautiful facility. So if that's something you're into, I would hope everybody up here, maybe you've had your wisdom teeth out already. But if they're still lingering and you need to get that done, you can check out Peak Dental. She'd be happy to do it. So welcome to Dr. Hannan's and team. And lastly, I do want to say as a proud member Caribbean American Happy Emancipation. August 1st was Emancipation Day, and we continue our celebration throughout the week. We conclude West Indian Celebration Week on Saturday with the parade. So if you'd like to join us, the parade kicks off at 11, and we end up in Bushnell Park. So just wanted to say that many West Indian countries have their independent celebrations throughout this first week of August. So Just had to say happy emancipation and happy West Indian celebration to all. That being said, Councilor Durant.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Put your mic down.

Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here tonight. I just want to say that it's been a lot of rain. I have a lot of comments, but I'm going to save them to the appropriate sessions. I hope all the residents have brought out their pumps and got their yards all pumped out, maybe. And I hope all is doing well with all the councillors and all the members of the audience and with all the town of Windsor. And on that, I conclude my comments.

Thank you, Councillor Durant. Councillor Kane.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just want to thank everyone for coming out tonight, especially the Little League Windsor folks. I need to get a shirt. I feel like I'm left out right now. You know what I mean? So let me know where I get one of those. But otherwise, I hope everyone's having a really good summer. As Madam Mayor alluded to, there's a lot of really fun things that are happening, a lot of cool events over the next few weeks. So hopefully we come out and just enjoy the town. And I'll turn it back over.

Thank you, Councilor King. Councilor Pelkey.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Just keep it quick. Just want to reiterate, as I've done for a little while now, the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department has their Battle of the Badges charity softball tournament that is coming up. It is going to be at Windsor High School starting at 9 a.m. on August 15th. That's the date that I have in front of me with a rain date of the 22nd. So there is no admission. if you will. It is free, but any beneficiary that you can have and any donations they want to have, go to the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Connecticut Fire Academy. So very good, very good worthy cause. You can see some of the heroes from our town along with members of other departments from around the area. So one of those things, just come on out to the high school, support your local fire department, support your fire departments throughout the area. They do a lot for you. Come on out, have a little entertainment, and cheer them on. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you. I didn't talk about the fried dough sale because I knew for sure you were, but you didn't mention it. Okay, well, the fried dough sale was wonderful on July 25th for the Wilson Fire Department. It's always a good time. They always sell out. I just thought Councilor Pelkey was going to say it, so... Thank you, Councillor Pelkey. Councillor Naim.

Thank you so much. I just want to thank all of our speakers for coming out, especially the Little League. Thank you for all you do to keep those fields preserved. I know that Tom puts in a lot, but what you all do is showing the extra level of dedication, and I'm looking forward to getting more engaged as we play a little bit of at-home t-ball this summer with my daughter, so I'm a little... scared of her swing because she likes to practice it indoors, so maybe we can figure out how to handle that next summer.

Figure it out. Absolutely.

So I think, Madam Mayor, most things that have been happening this summer, I just want to acknowledge, and I think August hit us pretty fast, and I was shocked to get a back-to-school reminder email this morning with all the details of what I've got to prepare for, and I'm like, oof. we're here already here we go so um just a reminder to everyone check out you know what's uh coming up for your kids um i know we have a back to school block party coming up i know we have a board of education report i'm sure they'll be hitting on more of that but um enjoy the last few weeks of summer without school take advantage of all the wonderful things that our town has to offer our pools our recreational services time flies too fast so make sure you're getting out and taking advantage of all that. Thank you.

Thank you. Council, I'll vote.

I want to thank those who came out to speak especially Katie and Nathan who came out and spoke take some guts to come out in front of a group of people to speak so congratulations to two of you The Thursday on the green, we still have the concerts going, so please do enjoy them. They're a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and enjoy some good music. Be safe for the rest of the summer. Try to stay cool, and back to you.

Thank you so much, Councilor Elveld. Ms. Mayer, are you ready?

Yes, ma'am. Good evening to all. It was a joy to work. Seattle Leaguers come out, and I think that I was impressed that we might have some journalists in the Little Leaguers. I also want to say that we have great activities and places to go in the town of Windsor, and I'm often there supporting them in their activities. And I'll probably put on my agenda to come to one of the Little Leaguers games. It sounds exciting. With that being said, I think most of has been said i i did enjoy the um the dough the fried dough it was a great event for the firefighters that we went to but uh with that being said take care of yourselves enjoy the rest of the summer thank you man thank you counselor armstrong counselor black hoffman thank you madam mayor um i'm just going to echo some of the comments about the windsor little league thank you so much for being here this evening but one thing i want to touch on maggie discussed it

being offered the opportunity to host these tournaments. That's a great testament to all of you, all the families that have been involved with Little League prior to you and now current, because I know most of them. I know how hard you all work and for all the things that you all have done, not just for the Little League, but for baseball in general in all of town. So I appreciate that, and I think the town does too. We owe you a great debt of gratitude for that. And just to mention Public Works. If you see them out, say thank you for all that they do. They work really hard, especially in this horrible weather and heat. And the Rec Department for everything they've done this year, especially this summer. They're working really hard with the camps. And to Mr. Stavola, thank you so much for stepping up and helping us put that together. I know you're working with the school. And that's all I have. Thank you.

Deputy Mayor. I just want to say have a great summer. Thank you. That was too long.

Right? But yes. It's always great to hear when folks can come into Windsor and say how much they enjoyed it. So we can't thank you enough. Windsor Little League, Councilor King, I already have a hat, so...

Maybe a hat.

Yeah, you know. You have a hat, right? So I guess we need shirts is what we're saying. But we can purchase them. That could be a fundraiser for all of us, right?

Excellent.

Okay. All right, so on to item number seven is reports of appointed boards and commissions. We'll begin with the Board of Education. Secretary Zotter.

good evening i hope everyone is enjoying their summer i can tell you that our superintendent and her cabinet and her administrators are busy working readying the school for our kids the start date of school is september 1st this year so back to september families are reminded to please update their returning children's information and power school to have to re-register them every year it's important to update phone numbers and make sure we have the correct emergency contacts for when school starts the summer food program is going to conclude on august 21st we have our fifth annual windsor public school back to school block party that the office of family and community partnership has been sponsoring the district website will have more information in the upcoming weeks it's an amazing event we encourage all the parents and the students to come The first regular board meeting is going to be on Tuesday, September 15th at 7 p.m. in the boardroom. And then just a reminder to all of the families to visit the website, www.windsorct.org, for the most current information, athletic schedules, and academic calendars.

And is that it?

Okay.

I thought you were going to tell me something about a school or a student or...

They're off for the summer.

She always has something to trust you. I know, I know. So I didn't know if you were doing something over the summer or...

I mean, there's a lot that's going on in the summer. I mean, again, the mobile school bus has been out and about. I think the kids have very much been enjoying that. It is something that parents... do love to sign their kids up for it is absolutely phenomenal love to see both the bus and our staff getting out there in the into the community even during the summer months so yes always something happening in the windsor public school system even during the summer thank you so much for that and i know on the windsor public school website if you want to know where the mobile school bus is going to be that schedule is there so thank you all right counselors questions comments council pelkey

I've been fielding a lot of just inquiries just regarding with the sports and the payment, et cetera. One of the biggest questions I've had, and I hope that you can maybe give some insight into, the different levels, if you will, people have in their minds that, well, this requires almost nothing, and football requires all this equipment, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Do you have any insight that you can share to the public for how those funding levels were sort of determined to be or those payment levels to participate?

Yeah, so a lot of it is based on the cost of the actual sport. And when we think about that, so if you think about the football team, right, the reason that those costs were able to stabilize a little bit is because we already pay for some of those expenses out of the tickets, right, the ticket sales. So it's not like we're taking in the money from the ticket sales and it's going to the schools We're paying for the security we are paying which has we've needed to Make a little bit stronger over the past couple of years, right? It helps to pay for the equipment the coaches to write the administrative staff or the coaches like all of that is funded through the athletics budget so you have sports, everyone is going to need uniforms, everyone is going to need equipment, and it's just really a matter of, like, is it played on the field where we're going to need to support the maintenance? Is it... Is it due to, again, security needs? Is it due to how many people we usually have come to the event? So all of that was taken into consideration when looking at the tiers. I don't have a rundown exactly of what all of the expenses are per sport, but we could, again, if the need arises, we can absolutely get that.

No, I'm sure at the school board you get into detail. I'm just trying to give another forum for folks to hear some of this. And then... the uh for for folks who their students want to participate and should be able to participate but they're in three or i don't know exactly if you can fit into a fourth sport or activity like that um but there are economic challenges how is that able to be handled yep so part of the the cost too right in the assumption um and and where they balanced that out was looking at uh statistics dr haiti is very um

committed to making data-driven decisions. So we look at the number of people that have been enrolled in sports, the percentage of students that have free lunch waivers, right? So those students will have the fees waived. Children that have or are eligible for free or reduced lunch will have their fees reduced by 50%. And then there is a family cap. So no one family will pay over $650 for a school year. So if you have three kids and three kids are playing three different sports in high school, they will only charge to a certain cap. And this, again, was done because we want all of the kids in town to be able to play a sport if they want to, regardless of where their family stands economically.

Thank you. And then just one, I hope, final question. Yeah. to just the whole pay to play with it, if you will. I think it comes down to where a lot of folks have felt that This was a surprise to them. So how are you communicating it and how is it that folks can sign up and is there like a payment plan? Obviously for something in the spring, but I'm thinking more for the fall activities in particular. I'm sure coaches from previous years and stuff have maybe tried to reach out, but if you could just kind of give an explanation to folks for if there's payment plans or even how to do it.

You said a couple things, but your mic wasn't down.

I'm sorry.

They need it for record.

No, it's fine. So I'll quick restate. A lot of folks just kind of felt like they got sprung on them or what they're hearing. So how are we reaching out to make sure that families know about this? And then how do they actually, you know, how is the payment going to be handled, the process? Again, just another platform for you to get the information out.

Yep. So the first thing I want to say is that at the very beginning of these budget conversations, and this has been said many, many years, pay for play is something that we have that has been a potential for years that we've been able to skirt around. During all of the conversations that Dr. Haiti had with the public, when the question was asked, well, if this budget doesn't pass and you have to cut, what are some of the things that you are considering? And pay for play was one of the things that she mentioned during all of those conversations. So I know that it might have taken some people by surprise, but I think I also wanna make sure that people are grounded in the fact that this is not a Windsor only thing. We're actually one of the few towns that does not have pay for play sports. And I also want to address the fact that there's a lot of rhetoric around there that this is vindictive for people who chose not to vote for the budget. The goal of a public school is to educate our kids. And I'm reminded of that oftentimes when I come up here and I learned that I now will present more data about the amazing work that our kids are doing scholastically. But this sports is an amazing outlet for kids. And we are able to engage kids in education that we wouldn't otherwise be if they didn't have the support and the family that they developed during sports. But sports is not... the mission of a public school. So when we look at budget cuts, we have to look at what is going to be the furthest thing from the classroom, from the education, from the test scores that people are constantly telling us are not good enough. So it was a hard decision and it was an awful decision and it was not a decision that anyone on the board wanted to approve. But when we looked about where we could cut that would not impact scholastically, which again is fundamentally what we are here for to do for our children. This is where it came from. So this was not done vindictively. This was done with everyone on the board not wanting to do this but not seeing a way that we could cut something else that wouldn't eliminate teachers or staff. So even through this, we're not eliminating coaches. We're not eliminating sports. We're able to maintain everything we have. It just, yes, unfortunately is going to require parents to have to pay a certain amount for their children That being said, I do not have an answer for you on if there will be payment plans. I think that would have to be a central office question because they would be the folks that are responsible for bringing that money in and then paying out to that budget item. But that is definitely something that I can take back and make sure that announcements are made if that is something that is available, that the public knows that it is available and how they can reach out to central office to set up that arrangement.

Thank you. And you answered one of the questions that I was going to ask you, Secretary Zahder, in regards to how the decision was made, but you answered that it came back to the Board of Education. The Board of Education was aware that this was going to happen and move from there. The Board of Education was aware, but didn't know exactly like dollar amounts. Right. To answer the latter part of your question, Councilor Pelkey, every parent received a letter That information is going out again. We get these big packets for back to school, as Councilor Naeem said. It's going to be chock full of everything. So I'll have to determine my $100 for my young man to play basketball at the middle school. Absolutely. So I appreciate that the board, Dr. Hady and her cabinet sent the information out to families and they were able to access that. And it's also on the Board of Ed website. So I just wanted to answer the latter part of that.

Just want the information out there for folks.

Oh, no. We know they got it.

I think everybody in Windsor... Oh, I meant for the folks who don't necessarily have a young one who is in their charge.

Every parent in Windsor got that letter. That went out to the masses across town. Yeah, so thank you. Yes, counselor.

So if I may ask, because I'm the money guy, so it always goes to the money question. How much money do you... Do you know how many...

student sports kids are involved meaning if one student's playing three sports that would be three students do you know how many kids are doing sports so again i definitely don't have that number i know dr haiti has all of that information though because that was part of the data that they looked at right because part of what the fee came into too is like again how many kids what is going to be the amount of money we're trying to cover what are the and the how many kids do we believe will be in a sport based on historical information. And I do believe that they also considered a buffer that there might be some parents that don't want to pay for their kids to, you know, to play sports. So I think they, they looked at, you know, some differing percentages on, you know, reduction of kids playing as well. And like, I don't think this is something that I do know. I can speak for me and I can speak for several board members too that we are hoping that this isn't a long term solution. We would love to not have to do pay for play sports. So that is definitely something come budget season that we are going to be looking at to see if there are other places that we can cut corners that wouldn't impact direct student education you know, everything, new budget cycle is back on the table. And we do know that this has not been a welcome announcement to a lot of parents, but I am happy to also see that there have been some parents that have been supportive, that understand that other towns do do pay for play and have been happy the fact that Windsor's been able to support the sports through the schools for as long as we have. Thank you.

So if I just may follow that up. I'm sure you don't have the number on you or with you, but how much are you anticipating collecting from this? Because I know the cut was, I think, $235,000? Yes. And, yeah, I only looked at the number once. That number, for some reason, resonates in my head. How much do you anticipate being able to collect from this pay-for-play?

Again, because I don't have the information that Dr. Haiti was using, I feel like it's inappropriate for me to make a guess on that.

Fully understood. Maybe the next time we see you, you might have an answer. Thank you. Absolutely.

Bring that next time.

Yeah, because I would say...

I would imagine it's just the fees for the students. Yeah, how much are you planning on collecting from all of these?

And I think just, as you would say, back of the napkin math, it would be impossible. At the rates that it is currently, it would be impossible to get to the $235,000. That's just my quick back of the napkin math.

It would be $2,350 student-athlete. That would be roughly. So, Councillor Durant.

I have a quick question here. Is there any thought that the students will go out and earn money to offset this cost?

Yeah, I mean, there's been, there are, Mr. Stavola, like you heard him speak, I know, oh my gosh. Ace Hardware, oh my gosh, thank you, has already talked about fundraising to raise funds directly for the sports. I do envision that we are going to see some more boosters kind of start up. I know we have some phenomenal booster clubs already that are out there. I mean, the girls volleyball team was out there at Target doing car washes this past weekend. I do anticipate that we're going to see the fundraising that the kids are involved in step up a little bit, and I do see that we'll probably have a little bit more involvement from the middle school PTO probably and from booster clubs in the high school as well.

Okay, and is there any thought about some of the, like the Rotary Club or other charitable clubs in town helping offset some of this?

Yeah, I mean, I think that's a fantastic thought to reach out to our civic organizations to see if they'd be willing to help support some events so so like when you get done you know you get money from the from the students fundraising you get some maybe some charitable clubs and then the final that comes back to the town say this is how much more we need yep that would be the kind of the flow where that would flow we can absolutely do that and we can do it by sport season too right and also kind of understand but i mean i don't think the plan is to come to the town and ask for additional funds it's it's we're going to do what we what we can with what we have

Thank you, Secretary Zotter.

Councillor Glaude-Hoffman?

Thank you. Secretary Zotter, I know we've talked about this many times about the support program. So one of the things I'll mention here is that The absorption was $203,000 for the athletic program. That was the loss. So with the pay-to-play, all of the information for the fees was out there. It's on the website for the Board of Education. It's also on the town website, and it was sent out to every family. Somehow or another, I also got a copy because Gracie used to play sports. I guess they realized she's no longer in the school system. But one of the things I wanted to mention, and I had mentioned to my fellow counselors here, the civic groups. Windsor's known for the civic groups, and they've always helped, and I know they help with Little League and JC's and other groups, so I think that's a great area to tap, as well as all the kids have to meet a requirement of community service, correct?

In high school.

In high school. So this would be an opportunity in the high school to do fundraising as part of their possible community service. And maybe that could be implemented for the kids and be helpful. So I'd like to see that happen. And then work with the other civic groups. So if that could happen, that would be great. But thank you for the information. I appreciate it.

Pleasure. Thank you for your report, Secretary Zotter. The counselors have given you much to bring back to your board. And of course, I'm sure you'll share that with Dr. Hady, and you all will make informed decisions and let us know.

Absolutely.

All right, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Next is the Public Building Commission, Rusty Peck.

Good evening, Madam Mayor.

Good evening.

members of the council. I'm here tonight to report on the public building commission. I know listening to this is daunting, having been president of the Windsor American Little League for a few years and having a sponsor.

Can we just stick with the report, please?

Yeah, I will. I will. Okay, I'll stick to it. It's all done. Any questions? Do you have it in front of you? What's for dinner? Oh, yeah. Well, it is. You've got it in front. I'm sure you have some questions.

If I may? Yes. Mr. Peck, we're going to be voting on the train station boiler. I just received a note from one of our residents who was, to put it nicely, in shock at the price. Is this the, and I know there's a process of getting the bids and all that, but the comment that was made, this is not a mid-six-figure job. This is a low or high-five-figure job. And I do appreciate that anything the town does costs three times the price, but it's... We've gone through the answer, Ron, I know.

That's why I'd rather have the questions come in as opposed to... to doing that. That's an excellent question. We viewed the proposals from the various contractors. We selected M.J. Edmonds, and that was the most responsible or the lowest qualified contractor that we would come up with. But again, we understood that you would all be talking about it, and again, we only follow your direction by following the process so I mean it's it is what it is it is what it is it's not there is no bells and whistles I mean to relate that to it as we looked at the veterans pool renovations and you got a chance to look at that and then you were asked well can we go to a fourth item here or the like there we gathered the information got the most qualified bids but again you set the tone and we try to keep it as low as possible and feel comfortable with what we have. I mean, we've had a good summer. I mean, as you looked at the LP Wilson projects, 50% done. Again, we're working on that. And sometimes that increases the budget a little bit only because unlike regular contractor projects, we have to fit them in so it doesn't interfere with the school time there. So, I mean, even when we bid them out and, look at them and so that's what happens there the projects are in process i mean it would be good if you took a look at when it comes there and i can't say it lenses do their report to us the next meeting and so again we had at the last meeting we got the feedback now they're working on their final report and when i say we got the One set of things there, and we said, all right, here's what's happening, and they're going to give us the final report, and then we're immediately going to be sharing it with you, I mean, in terms of what you're looking at here. But, you know, everything's coming in that we've presented to you to date, the items there, on time and under budget, which is good in these circumstances. We look at the town hall, got the big stuff done. We only have the punch list items such as the doors and that to be finished up, boom. Looks good, lasted a long time from when we did this town hall, but then we look at the Milo-Peck School, the main public library. So with the lens material there and that stuff, we're trying to get it done within a timeframe and a cost frame that will be worthy of the town. In other words, in terms of doing it and not shoot it up. That's why you have the commission to do that. And we take the feedback from you. And again, if you don't understand things, that's why they have someone like me who talks too much come up with an answer for you. But the fact of the matter is,

Spend a lot of time on this, really. If I may ask one last question. How many quotes did we get for the train set? Typically, it's three quotes?

I think that one was four, but it might have been just three. We've had a number of those that we've been having different bids. And you know what the problem is? We think we're going to get a lot more, and it comes in?

With one.

For the one. And again, one is not the best way to go. if we don't have an idea where it should be, in my estimation. Thank you, sir.

All right.

Mr. Town Manager, is that sort of fit?

Deputy Mayor.

Okay.

Commissioner Peck, I think you also asked for the train station. Didn't you ask for a bid on an electrical boiler as well? Yes. And can you talk a little bit about that and the cost of that, if you recall?

A little bit more than we would have... Like to say, like... We tried all the different avenues every time there. Things sound good, and we go out and do it, and it's like, oh, yeah, that's a little bit more. If you remember with the Milo Peck Center, the people from Loomis didn't want us to spend that money, so they walked it there. And again, it's what comes up between gas, oil, electric. And I mean, at certain times, the project comes in, and it's good at that particular time, but again, we're trying to do it on a long-term dollar value basis for each of the projects, knowing that we'll go somewhat like that. I know that I'm not waving to people, but I mean, that's just the way it happens with that. I think that's what you're asking.

Yes, I agree, because it was significantly higher.

Yes, but it didn't fool us. I mean, we sort of, But we asked them to do it, and they just said, you realize it might come. So it's independent of that. But, yes, it was healthy.

Thank you. All right. If there are no further questions. Good. Thank you so much. Thank you. Next, Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission, Steve Frazier. Thank you.

Good evening. I'm going to give an annual report for the Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Commission for the fiscal year 2026. So during this fiscal year of 2026, the Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Commission reviewed 24 applications for activities occurring within regulated wetlands, watercourses, or within the 150-foot upland review area. Wetlands and watercourses play a vital role in protecting water quality reducing flooding, and providing wildlife habitat. The commission reviews activities in and around these sensitive resources to help ensure that development proceeds in a manner that protects the ecological functions and values. The applications we reviewed included 15 commercial industrial approvals and nine residential approvals. Noteworthy projects included the approval of the Millbrook design improvements on Pigeon Hill Road and the mixed-use residential developments on Griffin Road and at Waterside Crossing. In addition to processing permit applications, the Commission successfully resolved two regulatory violations through ordered restoration and remedial actions. The Commission hosted 12 meetings, including one special meeting, All meetings were conducted in a hybrid format, allowing commissioners, applicants, and residents to participate either virtually via Zoom or in person. Applications continued to be processed in a timely manner while receiving thorough technical and regulatory review. The Inland, Wetland, and Watercourse Commission remains committed to balancing responsible development with the protection of Windsor's natural resources by regulating activities that may affect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, erosion control, and the long-term health of wetlands and watercourses. The Commission also continued to promote the establishment of conservation easements on residential properties to help protect sensitive resources and reduce the potential for future regulatory violations. We have many openings on our commission as well, so if anyone is interested, please contact myself or the Wetland agent, Chloe Thompson.

Thank you so much, Steve, and yes, many openings, so we can carry that. All right, counselors, questions, comments? Well, thank you for the annual report. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We're on to item number eight, the town manager's report. Mr. Souza.

Thank you very much, Madam Mayor. I will try to zip through these quickly. Just a reminder, there's early voting for the Democratic primary election. So that started today. It runs through August 9th. There is extended hours on tomorrow as well as Thursday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., and folks can go onto the town's website for information, both for early voting and for absentee ballot process. The primary itself is on Tuesday, August 11th, and that will have all of our polling places will be open for the primary on Tuesday the 11th, normal hours, 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tomorrow night, the police department, along with a number of community partners, will be hosting the annual National Night Out celebration. And that will run from 5 o'clock until 8 o'clock here on the town green. As you know, there will be all sorts of activities for the families. There will be music, a concert, as well as games and activities and refreshments. And we encourage folks to bring along a non-perishable food item to support the food and fuel bank. Speaking of the food and fuel bank, the Lions Club, the Windsor Lions Club, one of our great civic organizations, is hosting their seventh annual food drive. It's a drive-through food drive, so you can drive right to... LP Wilson Community Center. Volunteers will unload your donations and you can be on your way. Again, non-perishable food items are asked to be brought. Unfortunately, no glass containers. Just for no-blast containers at the Food Bank. And this, again, the Food and Fuel Bank is a non-profit here in the town of Windsor. We partner with that 501 to provide those needed services to our community members. On September 11th, we will be commemorating the 25th anniversary of that tragic, tragic day. We will have our walk of light remembrance ceremony here on the town green. It'll start at six o'clock. And so we have 2,977 luminary bags that will be decorated and so we've had great great participation from across the community but we still have some more to do and so our public relations team will be on the town green tomorrow evening for national night out as well on as august 20th at the thursday night concert on the green and so folks can stop by that table and if they care to decorate a few bags that would be fantastic. Folks can also contact Anita Jubry here at Town Hall if they would like to volunteer in some form or fashion. I want to mention a new program that we are, a new event that's coming up on Thursday the 20th. It's going to be at Strachan Park and it's a back to school social for those families that our caretakers, grandparents and other caretakers for grandchildren or their nieces and nephews. This is a program that we've had for a number of years to support those caregivers, and this year we're going to have a picnic at 4 to 7 on August 20th at Charleston Park, just a way to be able to, again, bring those groups together, those grandparents that are raising children younger grandchildren, you know, it's a tough battle. And so we try to bring those together to provide support for those caregivers. And this is in partnership with the Windsor Public Schools as well. As the council knows, we send out a calendar magazine. There's a lot to do in Windsor three times a year. And so we've got a few curveballs thrown at us this year. Those have been traditionally delivered for the last 25 years through the Hartford Courant home delivery when they deliver their food and flavor publication. And so unfortunately, Hartford Courant has decided not to have that home delivery option any longer. And so for this edition that goes out in August, we will be mailing those to the United States Postal Service. We will be looking at other ways of distributing this issue, or excuse me, future issues. But this particular issue, we are going to use the Postal Service just because of time to be able to make sure that it gets out by the end of the year. by the September timeline. And so I thank you to our public relations staff for pulling that off with very short notice. And speaking of public relations, I'm happy to say that we are finalists for two separate national awards for our plan of conservation and development communication efforts. And so these awards are given by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association, which is a professional organization that serves North America. And so we've been nominated in two different categories. And so hopefully we will be a... a winner in one of those, or hopefully both of those categories, and those awards will be announced in September. And I want to give a... A big congratulations and thank you to Anita Jubry, Andrew Goldberg, and Molly Shannon for their efforts for not only the POCD communication, but also all of our social media efforts in the past year as they continue to try to get the word out on all the different good things that are happening in town. And with that, I can answer any questions that council members have.

Thank you, Mr. Souza, and congratulations to you and the team on the nominations. That's excellent. Questions, comments, counselors?

I just have a quick question. Peter, for the Windsor Food and Fuel Bank with the lines, what was the date of that? That is this Saturday.

Did I mention that? It's this Saturday, and it runs from... A certain time to a certain time. If I can find my piece of paper. From 9 o'clock until 1 o'clock down at L.P. Wilson on the 8th.

Thank you.

All right. Thank you for the report, Mr. Sousa. Reports of standing committees. I think the only committee. Councilor Naim, anything for us?

Yes, we had a great finance committee last week. A couple of different agenda items. One of them we'll be discussing later tonight, but we are hoping to have more of a public informational session around some of the other items that were discussed before we bring them to the council for vote. So stay tuned for that in the next month or so. But we've got a busy agenda. We mapped out, I think we discussed about 10 different items between now and the end of the year that we're trying to cover. So come attend. Finance is fun, and it impacts budgets, and I know you all love to come talk about that come the spring, so I'd love to hear from you sooner. Please do come attend our Finance Committee meetings. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Naim. This evening, there are no ordinances. We do not have any unfinished business, so we'll move into new business. All right, item 12A, is there a motion?

Yes. I move to accept the Connecticut Secretary of the State's early voting grant and authorize the expenditure of grant funds.

Second. I think that was Councilor Pelkey. Thank you. Mr. Souza.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm going to invite up our town clerk, Scott Nolan, to provide a brief overview of this grant, which will help to... Underwrite the state mandate of early voting.

Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the Town Council. On behalf of the Registrar of Voters Office and myself, I am here to address you this evening regarding grant monies the Town of Windsor is expected to receive for the Democratic primary on August 11th and the November general election on November 3rd, 2026. As Windsor voters get ready to vote and head to the polls for the Democratic primary on August 11th, voters may opt to early vote during the seven-day early voting period, which began today, Monday, August 3rd, and runs through Sunday, August 9th, 2026. For voters wishing to early vote for the November 3rd, 2026 general election, they may do so beginning on Monday, October 19th, through Sunday, November 1st. All early voting will be conducted out of the Ludlow Room here at Town Hall. In an effort to alleviate some of the financial costs associated with early voting, the Connecticut Secretary of State's office has secured grant funding that will be awarded to municipalities through this early voting grant. I'm happy to report that the town of Windsor has been awarded $20,051.24 in grant monies to support early voting in 2026. Windsor may choose to use these grant funds to offset the costs associated with early voting, which includes the labor, training, ballot order, and polling location-related expenses. The anticipated cost for early voting for the August Democratic primary and the November 3, 2026 general election is approximately $33,075 for the combined 21 days of early voting. The majority of the additional cost is due to the labor expenses, having an additional moderator, ballot clerk, and tabulator tender available each day of the early voting period. All grant funds must be expended by June 30, 2027. I will oversee the grant application and the reporting requirements due to the state. And with that, at this time, if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you so much, Scott. Counselors, questions? All right, so if we're ready for the vote. All in favor? Aye. I'm so sorry, Ms. Mary, I did not see your hand this time.

That's fine. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just had one question. Is any of those funds allocated towards transportation to the polls?

No, not that I'm aware of.

Okay, that was just my question. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you. All right, Councilors, if you're ready for the vote, all in favor? Aye. All right, seeing and hearing no opposition or abstentions, that passes 8-0-0. Thank you. Thank you, Councilors. Right, item 12B.

I move to approve an appropriation from the general fund unassigned fund balance in the amount of $64,202 to Aetna Life Insurance Company for a property tax appeal settlement. Second.

Second. Thank you, Councilor Naim. Mr. Souza.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Town Council had discussed this in executive session in July. As you know, property revaluation was in October 2023. Property owners, both residential and commercial, have the ability to appeal their valuations first to the local Board of Assessment Appeals. And then if they choose to, they can appeal it to the Superior Court. And this property owner did so in March of 2024. After substantial research and negotiations, we've arrived at a... a reduced fair market value of $11 million, which is a reduction of $1,560,000. This will reflect a two-year refund amount of $64,202. It's recommended that this be paid for from our general fund unassigned fund balance. And with that, I can answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you, Mr. Souza.

Just a question for the public. Why a full refund rather than an application or applying a credit to a future year?

So the council does have the option of being able to provide a credit for both this and the following item. The recommendation... from staff was in part because it was preferred by the, in some ways preferred by the, excuse me, the property owner, but also the fact that we would use our on-hand cash and not impact our forecasted revenue for FY27. I gotta remember what fiscal year we're in, FY27.

I have the same problem.

We'll add the grand list another time into that. Thank you. Thank you. It's just good to have that information so people understand.

Thank you. If we're ready for the vote, councillors. All in favor? Aye. Hearing no. Aye. Thank you, Councillor Armstrong. Hearing no opposition or abstentions, that passes 9-0-0. Item 12C.

I move to approve an appropriation from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance in the amount of $174,172 to Old Windsor Station LLC for a property tax appeal settlement.

Second. Thank you, Councillor Elvelle. Mr. Sousa.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Similarly, this was the subject of discussion in an executive session. In July, this is the Windsor Station apartments on Mechanic Street. The fair market value that the assessor had placed on this property in October 2023 was just under $31 million. Again, this property owner chose to appeal. And this is a little bit different than a single-family residential property in that this is considered a commercial property and is based upon actual income and expense analysis. And so after reviewing this additional information provided by the property owner, and they're professional consultants. There's been agreed upon reduction of $5,705,000 in value. And again, this is going back to October of 2023 valuation. So this spans two tax years in that dollar amount of $174,000. And as the motion states, we recommend the general fund unassigned fund balance as the source.

Thank you, Mr. Souza. Councilor's questions here? All right. If we're ready for the vote. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you, Councilor Armstrong. Hearing no opposition, that passes 9-0-0. Thank you. Deputy Mayor.

I move that the job description for the position of assistant to the town manager be approved as presented. Second.

Thank you, Councilor Naim. Mr. Souza.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm going to invite up Sophia Castellanos, our Human Resources Manager, and Scott Colby, our Assistant Town Manager, to present this updated job description, and I'll let them describe how we got here and what the primary changes are.

Okay. Well, good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the council. So before you this evening is a request to approve the updated job description for the assistant to the town manager position. As part of the town's standard practice, whenever a position becomes vacant, staff review the associated job description to ensure it accurately reflects the current responsibilities of the role and continues to meet the organization's operational needs. With the upcoming retirement of the current assistant to the town manager, this review is completed to determine to determine whether any updates were warranted. Following the review, staff identified several revisions that better reflect how the position has evolved over time. In particular, the job description has been updated to more accurately capture responsibilities related to public relations, communications, and community engagement. Additional updates have been made to the general purpose, essential duties, and responsibilities, and minimum qualification sections to ensure they align with the current expectations of the role. A competencies section has also been added to bring the document into alignment with the town's current job description format. These revisions are administrative in nature and are intended to ensure the job description accurately reflects the work being performed today. There is no proposed change to the position's classification or compensation. and I would be happy to answer any questions.

If I could just add to that, folks maybe not familiar with this job title, this position, the incumbent in this position is Anita Jubry, and Anita will be retiring early this fall, and so that's just to put that a little bit in context, and I think Anita's done almost every job in town, and so after 30 very productive years 35 years plus career with us. So she started out in recreation and worked at Northwest Park and came over to the town manager's office about 25 years ago. And we all know what she's done with us. So I will note that we did reduce this from requiring a master's degree to suggesting that it be a bachelor's degree and or any other equivalent experience.

Thank you, Mrs. Souza. Questions, comments, counsels? All right. Very hard shoes to fill. All right, so if we're ready for the vote, all in favor? Oh, Mary has a question.

Counselor Armstrong, sorry.

Counselor Armstrong. That's fine, I understand. I'm usually sitting next to you. No, no, no. I just had a question. I heard the changes in the job description, but was there any change in the pay grade?

No, it's still in pay grade eight. So there's no change to that. Okay.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. All right, if you're ready for the vote, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you, Council Armstrong. Hearing no opposition or abstentions, that passes 9-0-0. All right, Item 12E.

I move to approve an appropriation of $345,000 from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance to fund the train station HVAC replacement project.

Second. Second.

All right. I'm gonna give it to the lady, councilor. Okay. Yeah, she has been trying all night. All right, thank you, councilor Armstrong. Mr. Souza.

Thank you very much, Madam Mayor. I'm gonna ask up our facilities manager, Marco Aglico, to provide an overview of this, but while Marco's coming up to the microphone, I'll just provide a little bit of history. The train station, as you know, is owned by Amtrak. We have had a 40-plus year relationship with Amtrak through a lease, and so we leased this building as well as the freight house, which is fronts on Mechanic Street, we lease this to the nonprofit organization in town, the Windsor Arts Center. And Windsor Arts Center pays rent for both buildings. They pay rent for the train station in the amount of just under $16,000 a year. They also pay for utilities, the majority of the utilities in the train station. The town still has a lease with Amtrak. We have the ability to extend that lease period for an additional 30 years. We are currently in year one of a 10-year lease. So we have nine years left plus 30 years left. worth of potential extensions. I see no reason for Amtrak not to renew those extensions in the past. They have no immediate plans or long-term plans for this for this station in terms of the building itself. The platform that you see there that was constructed probably 10 years ago now is actually a DOT facility and not Amtrak, so the platform that you see on both sides of both northbound and southbound. With that, I will let Marco talk about the project scope, and then we can answer questions that you might have.

Great. Thank you. Good evening. At the beginning of this year, we engaged with... JP engineering to do an engineering study on this project. And we looked at it five different options. And one of the tasks that we asked is to look at all possibilities, whether we go with all electric gas and give us the best scenario. And then in April of 2026, the town council approved an appropriation for the design. We contracted with GM2 for the design, and then we went out to bid for construction. PBC approved MJ Emmons as the best qualified contractor for the lowest cost. We looked at trying to get the pricing for most options. The PBC narrowed it down to a... all five AC units, including the boiler upgrade, and including those as heat pumps and not just AC units. So that's the pricing we've gotten. What this includes is the abatement removal or the hazardous material abatement for the boiler. So the boiler will have to be completely removed and abated. We're going to be replacing all five AC units with heat pumps, and we're going to be putting in a primary, secondary loop for the hot water system. Construction portion of this project is estimated to be about $345,000, including contingency. The project cost is higher than what was estimated in the fiscal 26 capital improvements project, and that's because the capital improvement project basically consisted of just replacing that boiler with a new boiler. construction expected to be eight to 10 weeks. And with that, I'll answer any questions you may have.

If I may, Madam Mayor, just to speak to the funding source. The unassigned fund balance is the recommended funding source. When, as of the end of June 30, unaudited, we had a fund balance of $44,480,000. When you take into account the opening cash that the town council approved as part of the budget, we would have, in round numbers, $42 million, just shy of $42 million, which is 26.8% of the adopted budget. There's been some questions about using fund balance. This is a project that was actually in the FY26 CIP, and it was planned to be used for the unassigned fund balance at that time as well. And so just with the extended time to design the project and the scope change, we could not get it done we could not get this project to the council in time um for the fy 26 count excuse me fiscal year and so that's why you're seeing at this at this point in time but i wanted to provide that context of where the overall fund balance is as of the end of july 30th 2026.

And thank you, Mr. Souza, for adding that piece of the point. Councillor Naim?

Thank you so much. Just a question. What was the cost of the fully electrical option?

So those were basically just estimates from the study.

um and i let me see if i have roughly the cost i have that it's 40 the cost is not including controls or abatement is the construction elements were approximately 40 higher the estimate was 40 higher for the all electric so about a hundred thousand ish more um those were those are the estimates these are i wouldn't want to compare it against the actual bids that we received

What I do recall is when we were reviewing this with the PBC, the return on investment exceeded the life of the units. So before we recouped our cost by going to the electric, we would have to replace the units over again. So that's one of the reasons they said that doesn't make any sense at all. The other issue with this building is that it's mainly a heat load requirement and less cooling. And therefore, we either have to keep the boiler or oversize the electric units to achieve the heating requirement.

Thank you. Mayor, do you have a question? Councilor Aldo, Deputy Mayor.

How many square feet is the – there are two floors in the building, correct?

There's two floors and a basement, yeah.

Okay, is the second floor usable?

Yes, it is.

Is it being used?

Yes.

Okay. All three floors. So how many square feet is the first floor? The first floor? Approximately.

I don't have that off the top of my head.

Is it two, three, four?

You know what? Let me see if he has that information in here. I don't see that information in here, so I don't have that off the top of my head. I apologize.

So the heating system, we're going to use a gas boiler? Yes. Okay, to keep this space. I'm just going to tell you I've had multiple people who've looked at this and have made the same comment. Roughly $350,000 for this is ridiculous. It is a very expensive project for a relatively small building that we don't even own. If I may ask, why isn't Amtrak picking up some of this cost?

Because the town of Windsor signed an agreement 40-plus years ago that says that we have responsibility for interior and exterior and all mechanicals.

Yes.

In exchange for that, the town of Windsor received monies through the Greater Hartford Transit District to preserve both of those historic buildings, which were in complete disrepair.

Okay. And... Yeah, I get that. What do we pay for rent? What's our lease rate on it? A dollar?

So the lease rate is basically they take our revenue minus our expenses, and if there is a delta, then we pay that dollar amount. And this past year, it was less than $3,900.

So we pay them basically... net profit from the building would the cost of this be included be an adjustment to that net profit we are working with amtrak to try to get this included as a depreciated cost over the year over the coming 12 15 years. So in theory, we would be able to recoup some portion of this. I'm sorry.

So I just, I do, this is a very large number, a large number. I just want to, it includes controls. digital controls. It includes $16,000 for hazardous material abatement. And remember the 345, 345,000 also includes $45,000 worth of contingency, which is a little bit higher than we normally carry because of the historic Nature in the way that building is constructed. So when you look at construction costs, we're at 235 and that is for the boiler and then five heat heat pumps and The five to five current If I may add this also is a prevailing wage project which typically doubles the cost that the quotes that we received were within a

eight thousand dollars of each other so they're they're relatively close regarding the the cost of the equipment um and the and the labor it's just it is i'm used to seeing big numbers when it comes to the town doing a project and and i get that but i've had

Like I said, multiple people sit there and come back to me and make comments like, this is a $50,000 or $100,000 project, worst case. How do you come up with $235,000? And you're not even including the controls. So I'm just going to have to say, I'm going to be no on this. if we had an agreement with Amtrak to come back and cover some of the cost, even if it was not giving them any rental income in the future, that would make it a little more palatable, but I've had multiple residences go, yikes. So I'm gonna have to pass on it.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Elveld. Councilor Armstrong.

Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor. And as you were talking, Have you looked at, or I'm sure you know the warranties or the lifespan of the renovations that is required?

Can you repeat that again?

Life cycle.

The life cycle of the equipment is somewhere between 20 to 25 years.

Okay. And I know I'm thinking this is an historical site, so it would be beneficial to restore it in good condition. So thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I think that is it.

Thank you. Any other questions? Councilor Knight.

Thanks so much. I just want to address some of the concerns. I had similar questions, Councilor Olivello, and I reached out to the town manager to understand our lease agreement. And the biggest thing that stands out to me is I understand your concerns are on cost. We had similar discussions when we were talking about tennis courts just about six months ago. And the reality is, you know, because you have people that know a person, know a guy, can understand buildings, have a small business, they get the hookups, they are not beholden to certain types of laws, restrictions, labor wages, and are able to get things done for half the cost. They can find ways to cut corners, find ways to do things on the cheap, cheap labor, cheap materials. That's something that I appreciate a lot coming from the town and coming from the PBC that we don't cut corners. We try to make things work as well as we can. We kind of put out all the options that we have available to us. We make hard decisions. We've got some conversation coming up as we're talking about different phases of the little league fields where we're making decisions based on cost, but I don't think that this is a matter of our PBC and our town staff just getting high quotes. This is what the market looks like right now for any municipality. to do any kind of work. We've seen that with all the other work that we've done in our buildings across town. So the cost, yes, also made me step back and say, hey, what is this really? And how big is the property, et cetera? But kind of understanding the background, it helped explain it a lot. The other piece of this is we don't own the property, but we've had a longstanding relationship there. If we choose not to do anything, and if the building starts to deteriorate, I don't have good faith that Amtrak is going to come in and take care of it. And what I don't want, now that we have a great new train line that's going through, we have a train station, we have activity picking up, we've got the bird cage being activated, we have apartments across the street, what I would hate to see is one, losing a historical building because we can't figure out the maintenance of it, and two, losing the vibrancy that's coming in through the heart center. So again, had all the same questions you had. I gave Peter a call this morning to kind of understand it better because a lot of this, it's been around for 40 years, so it's been around for longer than I've been alive in terms of the agreement, forget the building. And it is tricky because again, But in my finance share I had on, I'm looking at every dollar that we're spending. But I do think that we are at risk of seeing long-term blight and deterioration in an area that's finally beginning to pick up energy. So for those reasons, I will be supporting this statement.

Councilor Pelkey.

I can hear both sides of the argument, if you will, here. Councilor Naim, I think you're spot on with a lot of things that are going on here. And we have an obligation as the town manager set to do some of these things. So we're kind of on the hook in some way, shape, or form. I also come back and I think about without knowing a guy or anything else, I just literally Google like to put in a mini split in my own house, if you will, and waited out about going to Home Depot or something and putting a big old window unit in. And I said the window unit I could replace every two years, if you will, and I'll never get to what the mini split does. And it's a whole house and it's just a one unit. So there's just a part of me that comes and says based on the price I don't want to support this and it's not that I don't want to support doing what we need to do to upkeep the building. I just wonder from a design approach if we didn't think enough outside the box or look at other alternatives that we could do that might be more cost efficient. and and i understand your point and i understand i don't think the town's staff did anything bad it just this price tag just hits at me when i look at this and i know that it feels like did we think this through did we go through so and just with what i see in front of me i can't support it as much as i want to and know we have to i i kind of want to do it back to the drawing board sort of thing and is there something we can do to tweak this down so that's just where i am on this

I just would love some clarification. You're talking about other options. I know we had five different options that we looked at. I'm just curious, what other types of options are you thinking?

I'm not the expert on this, but like I said, when I just look. But the experts are coming to us. I understand that, but I look at the price tag and I say, no, do we have to have AC, for example? Just what's the so I'm not saying let's take out.

Understand that's a fair question. I just wasn't sure if you I want to be careful of questioning the ability integrity of the staff and the PBC because they put in a lot of work. So I think what they're presenting to us, I. given the history of what we've seen in the past, I believe is what's the best option for what we were looking for, which was, hey, upgrading HVAC. But if the other option is not having any AC in that building, that's a very different option, and I totally understand where you're coming from on that one.

Do we have to have digital controls? Can we just have one thermostat? I don't know. Deputy Mayor.

So I just have a question regarding the process because I've sat in a lot of public building commissions and I've seen how the way the bids are put together. So maybe you can discuss how you get to a bid and how the five bids come back and a little bit about the process because I too understand the price tag, but I want to understand a little bit for my, just what I understand and why I think I'm going to support this is, How do you get to the bid? How is it put together? What does prevailing wage mean? Why do you have to have digital controls? How did we get to this cost?

Sure. So when we received the study, we went back and forth to finalize the design. It was narrowed down to the heat pumps and the boiler to be the most practical and efficient system and cost-effective system to install. We then reached out to our mechanical firms requesting proposals for this. If the project's going to be over $125,000, it has to be prevailing wage and certified payroll. And then we give them a timeline of when to come back with that pricing. They come back. We had three firms, MJ Emmons, Airtemp, and USA Mechanical. Two of the firms we received quotes from, and one of the firm... Decided not to bid it and this depends on the size of the project That's something that not a lot of firms would be necessarily interested in so we did get the pricing they were higher than we expected so we asked them to break out the pricing for the individual units so that we can compare if we have to take some equipment out we presented that to the pvc again and they said decided to go ahead with all five units there are two units that are not as old but i think they're eight years old the newest one but it's in order to achieve the full functionality that the engineer designed, we would have to change how the hot water coils work. So it makes sense to just change all five units as opposed to leaving those two that would then not operate with the new system. The boilers, as far as the abatement, I went back to the hazmat company, and the original quote they gave me did not include prevailing wage. I came back and said I needed to be prevailing wage, and that price pretty much doubled. And so and then on the controls we did the same thing we we have automated logic who's our controls contractor the reason we're doing controls one is to try to operate the units as efficient as possible, but we also had a Leak in the boiler room that pretty much sprayed water all over the boiler and took the boiler down we were there at 11 o'clock at night in the middle of winter and We got the boiler running, but we don't know what the condition of the boiler is if it's going to continue to operate. So the idea is to have alarms be able to come in and try to prevent that from being a major issue and damaging the equipment more. So that's one of the features that the controls would give us as well as operating it efficiently. So I don't know if that answers your question.

Yeah, I have two more questions if you don't mind. I beg your indulgence. Thank you. That was a great answer. And I just want to understand, perhaps this is for you, Mr. Town Manager. I think you said this was on the plan the year before to have these replacements done. Is that correct? Yes. So we actually defrayed, we're pushing this forward, so that might have add cost too because I think things have gotten higher, is that correct?

It certainly has been delayed a year. Our original scope of work was just to replace the boiler and then the council had asked us to look at a variety of options including all electric and so that that design process didn't allow us to bring it back earlier in fiscal year 26.

Thank you and then my last question for maybe either of you maybe you could talk to me a little bit about the makeup of the public building commission how long the commissioners have been there and perhaps some of their background. I believe I know some of them have an engineering background and some other things, and I've been looking at bids for a while. I think some of them have been there for...

So we have a building commission that is well-versed in a, not only through their own professional disciplines, but from being on the public building commission. Some of them have been on the commission for over 25 years, and... They range from a variety of them, a number of them have different types of engineering, mechanical, others are in the water treatment space and have decades of experience working with both private and public sector. You know Mr. Peck, who has an accounting and finance background. We do have a few newer members who have been on for probably five to seven years, but again, they bring a whole host of expertise from their own experiences, if you will. And they've worked on projects that have ranged from $100,000 project all the way up to multi-million dollar projects, including the $32 million project for the health and safety, excuse me, from the public safety complex project that was successfully done and brought in under budget approximately six or seven years ago.

Thank you. That's the only question. Thank you. Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Durant.

Thank you. I've got a couple questions. I have the same issues with the price tag as the rest of my colleagues here. When I look at these five new heat pumps, what's the existing useful life of one of the new, of the existing heat pumps we have? You say you have eight new ones. Five of you have new ones. There's two that are eight years old.

Yes. And then there's the remaining are like 36 years old, 38 years old. 32 years old. The boiler itself is 43 years old. So they're well beyond their useful life.

So what would happen if you split the project into two?

Replace the AC or replace the boiler?

Actually, it sounds like you need to replace the boiler first.

So if you choose not to do the AC and you just replace the boiler, then you'll have to replace the boiler with a like system that it has, which will not get you the efficiencies that the engineer was going to design into the project. And then I'm not sure down the road if you change the AC units that you already now have the boiler that's going to be operating in a less efficient manner. Basically, it's a primary or secondary heating system is what's being designed right now. So that may not be feasible by splitting it up.

But in the past, the AC units you put in were put in with the existing boiler at that time, right? Correct, yeah. Okay. So you just did one part of the project then? You didn't upgrade the boiler, did you?

Correct, but that was an 80% efficient gas boiler at the time. This is going to be a 95% or 98% efficient condensing boiler, so it will be a different design with today's technology.

Technology changes. Now, would that additional efficiency offset any of the cost? Of this?

Yes, it will. The operating cost, obviously, from an 80% to a 98% efficiency on the boiler alone. And then the AC units will be a more efficient AC, or actually it will be a heat pump. So with a heat pump, the AC units will be the primary heat and the boiler will be the secondary heat. So on the shoulder months, the heat pumps will basically do the heating, and they'll be more efficient. And then in the winter, when the heaviest load comes about, the boiler will be taking up the additional load.

I see.

There's also, with this system, there's incentives from the utilities that will be offered.

Okay, I see.

Due to the efficiency.

Is any of that information available to us?

We do have the initial study that was completed in January of this year that was done prior to asking the town council for the full design. We do have the evaluation which outlined the five different options.

Okay. What's the rush on this? Is this something that you've got to get done right away, or is this something that can be put off a little bit?

So the reason the boiler was in the CIP is because it was 43 years old, and it was on its last leg. And since then, we've had that water leak that caused it even more damage. So we're on borrowed time with that boiler, and that's what kind of started this whole project. We were ready to start it, and then we said, hey, let's do a study and let's evaluate what the best option is as opposed to just changing the boiler alone. And that's kind of where it got us to this point.

Thank you. So from hearing the conversation, because just for the viewing audience, this is a conversation that didn't just start when the agenda got sent out last Thursday. As a council, we've been having the conversation. Going back to January, it's been in the town improvements booklet, and I'm saying that because I just want people to know that it's not just popping up, that this has been a conversation. And talking about the price tag, totally understand, Councilor Ellevelle would yes. Some of us on this side, we think about the dollars too. And so we reached out to Peter ahead of schedule, asking those same questions, but thinking about the project overall. This is not a residential property. It's a commercial property. The boiler is on its last leg. So if we kind of kick it down the road again, I would be more concerned about what that price tag is going to look like when it comes back around. So that is my rationale for voting yes. I trust the work of our PBC. They do a great job making sure that it's not something that's exorbitant, you know, because everyone here wants to be fiscally sound. So I'm going to support this because it's been a conversation that's ongoing. It's been in our town improvements document. Deputy Mayor, if I may ask, this was discussed at your last meeting? Yes, it was. Okay. With the counselors that make up that. Okay. So I'm going to support this because we need to move on that before we end up in a situation like another building that we are all aware of in town. Okay? So that's my four cents because all of you brought in different pieces. But if we are ready for the vote, councillors. All right, do you need to restate, Deputy Mayor? I don't think you do.

No, it was to approve appropriation for $345,000 from the general unassigned fund balance to fund the train station HVAC project. All right. So all in favor?

Aye. Aye.

Thank you, Councillor Armstrong. All opposed? No. Any abstentions? All right, so that motion passes 5-4-0. Thank you, Councilors.

Item 12F. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I move to approve an appropriation of $375,000 from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance to fund the Welch Park Little League Facility Project. Second.

Thank you, Councilor Naim. Mr. Sousa.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm going to invite up Paul Norris, our Director of Recreation and Leisure Services. Paul's been one of the point person on this, and I will let Paul review this item and be able to answer questions afterwards. Again, this is funding sources, the general fund unassigned fund balance that I mentioned earlier. Paul? Good evening, Mayor.

Good evening. I haven't seen you in a while. I want to talk pools.

It's been a long time. All right. Tonight, I'm here requesting your approval to fund facility improvements at the Welch Park Little League Complex. These improvements go back to a town-wide athletic field master plan that was done back in 2013, which laid out a long-term strategy for investing in athletic fields. Wells Park is amongst the last of the recommendations for the town to tackle. The project is identified in the fiscal year 2027 capital improvement program. Welch Park is a five-field complex that serves youth baseball and softball programs. Field five especially holds a special place as that is home to our adaptive baseball program and gives players of all abilities a place to play. The town owns and maintains the property. And our Little League organization supports us with a gigantic amount of hours from volunteers in managing the program, handling day-to-day field prep, and some repairs around the facility. Over time, much of the facility has worn old and starts to look tired. The fencing, backstop, dugouts, irrigation, and support buildings have all aged to the point where they need repair or to be replaced to ensure safe and usable facilities for players and family alike. The scope of the project includes new irrigation on fields one and two, new fencing on field one and two, fence repair will be completed on fields three through five, as well as there'll be repair work to backstops as needed throughout the facility. The dugouts on fields three and four will receive necessary repairs. However, the dugouts on field five will be new. The last step in this phase involves repairing and upgrading of support buildings, which we consider storage garages and press boxes. The total cost for the project is $375,000, which includes a $35,000 contingency. If approved, the funding, as the town manager said, will come from the general fund unassigned fund balance, and work is expected to begin as early as mid-September. Looking ahead, we're also planning a phase two to this project that will come to you hopefully in fiscal year 2028, and that will address the dugout on the two main fields, field one and field two. Staff is currently working through the details on that with surveying, design work, permitting, and cost estimates. As you know, the Town Improvement Committee did review this project back on this June 29th meeting. With that said, I'm here to respectfully request Council approve the appropriate funding to move forward with this project.

Thank you so much. Councilors?

When were these fields facilities at this sort of level of scale last addressed? Do you have any idea when that was? Was it 50 years ago was a... Let's go with that.

No, but... The Little League folks have done a good job working and patching, fencing. The town did a small fence job maybe about 10 years ago on some of the fields. The Little League folks in the town did collaborate and work on a concession building. So it's been quite a while. Okay.

So perhaps longer than I've been around.

Well, I did speak to a contractor today who said that he worked on the original fencing 45 years ago.

Wow.

Okay, so that's older than me. Okay, so overdue. That'll do it.

Are we ready for the vote? I just have a question about field five and the dugout, because I know that's the field where they have the... Is that dugout going to be larger than the other dugouts, or are all the dugouts going to be accessible and large?

So the dugouts specifically on 5 are not wide enough.

Right, so are we going to make that one wider?

Right, so the entrance will be wider to deal with various types of adaptability.

All right, thank you. I'm really excited about the irrigation. I mean, if you visited Welch through the years, yeah, it will definitely help. Councilor Armstrong?

Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor. I just had just a question. Is this field used for any other activities other than for the Little League?

No, it is not. The Welch fields are strictly used for Little League, maybe as T-ball all the way up to Major Little League.

If I could just add to that, their season starts as soon as the winter breaks, which can often be early March and can sometimes be a little bit later in March, but they go all the way through the better part of the summer, as you heard earlier, and then they start up again in the fall and have a somewhat smaller season in the fall, but they do use it in the fall as well. So it's being used the better part of seven or eight months.

And not only that, the age group that the participants are as young as four up to 14 and about 340 kids per season.

Thank you for that. It's good to know.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. The concession stand was done when my little daughter was playing softball. She's 25 now.

I didn't bring my calculator, so I can't calculate that.

You must have had adults that are, you know, played there.

So if we're ready for the vote, counselors. All right.

All in favor? Aye. Hearing no opposition or abstentions, that passes 9-0-0. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. All right. Item 12G.

Resolved that the attached priority redevelopment properties listed as amended to add the Windsor Federal Bank properties 457 Windsor Avenue and Wilson Town Line Garage be adopted as presented. Second.

Second.

Thank you, Councilor Naim. Mr. Sousa.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm going to invite up Patrick McMahon, our Economic Development Director to provide this requested amendment to add these properties, and the Economic Development Commission, as Patrick will note, had reviewed these and endorsed this recommendation.

Good evening, honorable mayor, members of the town council. In December of 2002, the town council adopted a tax increment financing policy as one tool to encourage the redevelopment of key vacant or underutilized properties. As part of the policy, the council approved a priority redevelopment properties list to provide specific guidance regarding which sites would be eligible for tax increment financing. In recommending the initial list, the Economic Development Commission included a statement of its purpose and procedures and criteria for updating properties. The Commission is to review the list at least annually and report its recommendations for additions or deletions to the Town Council. The Economic Development Commission reviewed the priority redevelopment property list during its July meeting. The Commission voted to recommend the addition of the following properties. The Windsor Federal Bank properties at 250 and 260 Broad Street and 21 Maple Avenue. You know that that would be the gray brick bank building built in 1956. It is available for redevelopment as Windsor Federal recently did an extensive renovation to the historic red brick structure located at 270 Broad Street. And they have corporate offices now on Day Hill Road. So that's excess property for Windsor Federal. And there has been some interest in redevelopment of the site. The second location is 457 Windsor Avenue. This is an existing two-story commercial building, which is on the market. It's housed FBMW carpet. It is... adjacent or kitty corner to the new Wilson Park. Inclusion on the list is for the possible assemblage with a two acre parcel at 259 Broad Street and about a half acre parcel at 465 Windsor Avenue. Both of those are already on the list. The concept would be potential assemblage into a larger development. And then the third site being recommended by the Economic Development Commission is the Wilson Town Line Garage at 8 Windsor Avenue. It's essentially right next to the Greater St. Paul Church of the Deliverance. It's a very visible vacant property at the gateway to Windsor on Route 159. It's a brick service station that was built in 1955. The property does have the potential for adaptive reuse or redevelopment. It's important to note that being included on this list just states that the community feels that these are important properties for reuse or redevelopment. It does not automatically accrue any specific financial benefit to the properties. They would have to pursue other programs that we have on the books, like tax increment financing, We could assist them on the zoning aspects of these properties, but I just wanted to be clear that this is just an indicator that these are very important properties and could potentially open the properties up for incentives or other assistance. With that, I'll take any questions.

Thank you so much, Patrick. Councilors, questions, comments? Hearing none, it looks like we're ready for the vote. Council Armstrong, good? Yes, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. I have a quick question. Council Black-Hoffman.

Patrick, you said there was a possible interest or interest on the redevelopment of the Windsor Feral. Do you have someone that's possibly interested in that space? Or did I misunderstand you?

So Windsor Federal has been approached by different folks about the potential acquisition of that property. There's been no applications, no site plans, nothing presented to the town. We just know that there is some interest in the property.

And you're vetting these, of course, just for the public? You vet them, you talk to them, you...

Absolutely. When the prospect is ready to go, we would be certainly vetting them. We have our development team process that goes through all the aspects of any kind of redevelopment.

Thank you.

Thank you. So if we're ready for the vote, all in favor? Aye. Thank you. Hearing no opposition or abstentions, that passes 9-0-0. Thank you so much, Patrick.

All right, item 12H. I move to approve the storefront activation program guidelines as presented and the program to be funded utilizing fiscal year 2027 town center tax increment funds.

Second. Thank you, Councilor Naim. Mr. Sousa.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. As the council will recall, town council set out as actually over the last couple of years a priority to look at how the town can facilitate the occupancy of first floor commercial space here in town center. Council had made that a goal for my performance this past year. And so town staff, particularly led by Patrick, have been looking at a number of ways and evaluating a number of ways to achieve that goal. So Patrick, if you could walk through the proposed policy for the storefront activation program. And again, this has been prepared with input and reviewed by the Economic Development Commission.

Okay, thank you, Peter. The program that we are proposing this evening is intended to address a key barrier identified by property owners and prospective tenants. It's the upfront cost of tenant improvements, particularly for restaurant retail and experiential uses that are critical to downtown vitality. The program is structured as a reimbursement-based incentive providing up to 50% of eligible project costs, with maximum awards of $50,000 for standard storefront fit outs, and $75,000 for projects requiring enhanced infrastructure code readiness improvements. Those are maximums, so an application could be for less than that, but the incentive would be only for 50% of the project costs. Funding for the program would be sourced from the Windsor Center Tax Increment Financing District, which was specifically established to reinvest tax growth generated within the district back into the district. Building improvements such as this were contemplated in the Town Center District Master Plan when the TIF district was created. What's being proposed is an allocation of $389,600 which would include both a reinvestment in the commercial facade program as well as this new storefront activation program. We are able to propose this program at this particular time because of recent tax assessed value increases generating TIF revenue from Bowfield Greens, Founders Square, the renovation of the historic red brick Windsor Federal Bank building at 270 Broad Street, as well as to renovations to 216 Broad Street that houses Tool C and a few apartments on the top floor. Under the program, eligible spaces must be currently vacant or demonstrably underutilized in transitioning to new public-facing use that contributes to increased pedestrian activity and downtown vitality. It can be building owners or prospective tenants can apply for the matching funds for interior build-out, building system upgrades, and cone compliance work necessary to bring the vacant or underutilized space into productive use. We're focused on businesses that will generate regular customer visits and visible storefront activity, including restaurants, bakeries, specialty food shops, specialty retail, personal services, and arts and experiential uses. The applicant has to obtain all required permits for the work, and we would only reimburse once they've completed the eligible work and had the verification of the work before payment. We would be asking for a minimum occupancy requirement of two years. We would have a clawback provision, a prorated repayment provision in the event of early vacancy or noncompliance with the program guidelines. We would seek a execution of a mortgage for a building owner applicant or a tenant applicant that requires advanced infrastructure, so more significant electric or other sort of utility improvements that would stay with the property. We'd be asking for a mortgage. If it was a standard tenant fit out, we'd be looking for a promissory note or other security interest. So from a financial policy perspective, the program is designed to leverage private investment in a minimum one-to-one ratio. while increasing the commercial occupancy, supporting small business growth, we've had some significant recent growth and we want to continue that momentum, and enhancing the long-term tax base within the Windsor Center TIF district. As the Town Manager mentioned, the EDC and the TIF Advisory Committee did review the draft program guidelines and are supportive of this effort. And with that, I'll take any questions.

Thank you so much, Patrick.

May I make a motion, madam? I would like to table this until September 8th. Second.

Okay, and so you made the motion. It's been seconded, but we... Is that a motion to amend?

Yeah, because that's why I'm like you.

You need to ask for an amendment to the main motion that we are currently... Add the amendment.

I believe you can make a motion to amend or you can request a table.

You request a table. I request a table.

I'll request a table this motion until September 8th. Second.

Well, I don't think it's a motion. It's a request. It's a request. It's a request. Could you? Sorry, I forgot. So, no, you were, because that's why I was going to say the same thing.

You can refuse.

Yeah, because we've already. Right. I made the motion. There's a second. We've heard from Mr. McMahon, and we're now getting ready for a discussion.

Madam Mayor, if I may, I just ask a question for that request. Could you share a little bit more about the reasoning to table this for September 8th? Yes.

I don't believe the taxpayer should be partly responsible for funding private business in town. Even with the way he's laid it out, I feel that it's still up to the contractor or to the owner of the building to pay for his own upgrades. I mean, and also to me, it also depends on the size of the project. You know, if you're going to, say, fund Mel's place, say, and she's a small business, okay, then I could perhaps see where the town might like to help her out. But some of the other business on town, such as an example is the train station.

You know what I'm talking about. Train wreck.

Train wreck, or the wreck to our economy. A train wreck. I don't feel that the town should be responsible for paying taxes, our taxpayer money, to help support the renovation of that particular building.

Can I just interrupt for a minute? No, I just want to ask a point of clarity, because my understanding of a table, a motion to table, is not to kill a motion. And that's what I think your argument, your reasoning, is that you, to me, sounds like you're trying to kill the motion. So I don't, I just want to make that clear, because if you're asking to table a motion for a later date, it should be for consideration for whatever reason, but you're actually describing why you're against the motion. So to me, that's to kill the motion, and it's not to table the motion, which is not appropriate use of tabling the motion. So I just want to put that out there if you want to follow the Roberts rule. Am I wrong? I might be wrong. I believe you're right.

No, you're not wrong. No, you're not wrong. You are not wrong. So, Counselor Durant, thank you for expressing that's what I was hoping that we could get to when we had the main motion is just to have a conversation about this.

Okay, but I'm not trying to kill the motion. I'd like to address the motion at a later date and with additional understanding of what all this entails.

What is the additional understanding you're looking for?

Well, for one, how do you divide up who gets what? So, as I said, emails could get, you know, mail, small business, maybe.

So one second, Councilor Knighton. So I think what's being laid out here, and sometimes you have to say the quiet things out loud, because in your description of a entity here in town, right? that's one parcel that's one business that's owned by someone. That's an example. Correct. I'm going somewhere with this. But what Mr. McMahon just explained that came through our economic development team and with the TIF, I'm going to use another example which I think we're all familiar with. Think about the little patty shop, right? The little patty shop was able to do some different things that is a public benefit. Isn't that what you have here in this example that you've laid out that was in our backup documents, Mr. McMahon, if I wanna go back and read it. That eligible uses that are public facing and expected to generate regular customer visits, invisible storefront activity, right? And it lays out what it can be. So I'm just trying to figure out is the concern a particular entity? Or are we then saying we don't want these types of activities in our town center? So I'm just trying to put that out there for everybody for meaningful discussion. Because I think sometimes you do have to say the quiet thing out loud to help everybody understand. We see the vibrancy that's coming into our town. There are people that might want to utilize a storefront. And I think this would be something that would assist, that would be public-facing, and would also cause that vibrancy that we're looking to see. And if I'm incorrect, I'm always willing to apologize.

Madam Mayor, just as a point of order, a motion to table does require the second. It's not debatable, so there does need to be a vote. It can't be amended.

But we're still in discussion, right? Of the main motion.

You don't have to discuss it. He didn't have to respond to it, but he did. So you're right. We could have just voted on it. All right, well, let's do that.

As a point of order, there's a difference between a motion to table and a motion to postpone. So if he's making a motion to table, that's a different thing than a motion to postpone to a date. If he wants to revise the motion and make the motion close to a certain time, he's able to do that. But I just want to make sure we're using our motions correctly.

Yeah, since we want to go Robert's way.

You can make a motion, right. Tabling is laying out a table. It's very different than postponing it to a certain time of day. Right.

Well, you can table to a date.

So here's what we're going to do. No, you have to postpone to a date. Here's what we're going to do. You'll come back. All in favor of tabling this motion?

Are you asking? We're voting.

I don't think you vote on a table. Well, he just said that he needs a vote. All right. All in favor of tabling the motion?

Aye. Okay.

All right. And actually, I'm going to ask for a roll call vote. All in favor of tabling the motion. Councilor Durant. Aye. Councilor Pelkey.

Aye.

Councilor Elleveld. Aye. Councilor Black-Hoffman. Aye. Thank you. All opposed to tabling the motion. Councilor Armstrong.

Opposed.

Councilor King.

No.

Councilor Naim. No. Deputy Mayor. No. Michelle Black-Burke. No. I'm sorry.

I said it's a strange way to ask the questions.

Well, no, I wanted to make sure that I'm hearing everybody.

Okay. I don't mind a roll call vote. It's just that the manner of the questioning was interesting. That I called your names?

Interesting. That I called each counselor by name, that was interesting?

No.

Oh, okay. All right, so we're back to the motion on the floor. Councilor Knighton.

Thank you so much. This came through finance. I'd love to shed some light on this. We had a lot of discussion starting back in June. Our June finance meeting had a lot of questions for the town manager and for the economic development staff, as well as some information we would have liked from the Economic Development Commission. We came back to it last week to discuss this. This is something that was brought forward with a 3-0 vote. Councillor Ellevelde was very much more supportive of this than I probably was at the get-go in June and continued to push this forward through the vote. There, I don't know if Councilor Ellevelle has read through it. I'm still unclear on what the outstanding questions are that we need answered. I'd love to hear more about that since the staff is here to answer them. I thought that the outline that was put together by the staff and then reviewed by the Economic Development Commission around the program guidelines was very thorough. I appreciated you spending the time to go through it with us at the Finance Committee meeting. It covered a couple of things that we've heard coming up in the town and surrounding towns. when it comes to programs like this. One, concerns around, hey, if we give businesses money to come into town, what happens if they leave six months after? We have a two-year time limit that says if you do not stay for at least two years after receiving this funding, then you have to pay it back, and there are legal ramifications as well as potential liens on the building. So we spent a lot of time asking for information on that and covering those pieces. There's also a very thorough scoring and prioritization matrix that covers, I believe, seven different categories. And that's how we would consider different businesses. May it be the Bean, may it be the Trainwreck, or others. And I want to step back and talk about what we're aiming to achieve with this program versus... madam mayor i really appreciate you calling out that is this about a single issue about who owns the property or is this really about vibrancy the economic development commission has brought this forward because it is about vibrancy the tiff improvement district was created i actually wasn't even on the council i got to serve on the economic development commission when we created the tiff was to bring that vibrancy to encourage more business coming into town center we today have more active business in town center than we did before the tiff district was established i can say that because that's when i moved into town and a lot of those businesses weren't around so what this is hoping to do is take a look at places like the train wreck which right now a lot of businesses let's say we want a restaurant in there i don't know any restaurants that's going to move in and set up a full kitchen without an hvac system in there and that is not cheap sure the landlord could do it but why not Why turn away businesses that want to come in and want to figure out how to do it? Not saying that that landlord would even want to participate in this program, but I think that we're being very specific that single landlord does not own all of the businesses that this could potentially support, and I do think we need to look at where we can bring in more vibrancy. We have a thorough process. We have the right requirements. This has been reviewed by many different governing bodies, starting from the, obviously the town staff, but the Economic Development Commission, the Finance Committee spent two meetings on this. It was fully approved by all three members of the Finance Committee. I'm surprised that Councilor Elleveld wants to table this because we had plenty of time to ask a lot of questions, and I still don't know what the questions are, so it feels like we're kind of just kicking things around without knowing what are the outstanding questions on this. The last thing I want to clarify is I understand that there's concerns around how we're spending money as a town, This specific program is coming from, again, our tax increment financing zone. It is money that is set aside that can only be used for certain things. It cannot be used for pay-to-play sports. It can only go into that district. It can go into business improvements, infrastructure improvements. All of that information is available online as to how it can be used. We've discussed it thoroughly at finance committee meetings as a refresher. And if folks have other ideas on how we can use this, again, I welcome you over and over. Please come to finance committee meetings. We have public info sessions. We have lengthy agendas that we've already said that we'd like to cover. But if there are other ideas, we're here and open to it. But given all of those pieces, I believe that this will give us an opportunity to try to bring in new business, new vibrancy. And if it's not successful and doesn't meet this criteria, we don't do it. Thank you for the time.

No, and thank you, Councilor Naim. And I do want to say, I know that Councilor Elleveld shared that, you know, he has heard from people in our conversation today, and we did receive a letter. And I think that's important to always lift lift up that the concern, private fund, is it a private investment? And what I would share is that what's laid out here in our supporting documents, I think will be really beneficial for everyone in town to be able to see that we are not looking for one particular piece. We're trying to make sure that it is going to public facing. Is it going to bring customers? Is it going to bring foot traffic? Like that's the aim. So it's not about any one private entity and what they own but really trying to ensure that whatever entities receive the funding ensuring that it's going to be public facing like a restaurant a specialty retail use so um thank you for that counselor naeem council if i may they're part of the reason for the

agreeing to postpone it, table it, whatever, is there is a lot of questions that have been asked about this, and by waiting a month, it gives those people an opportunity to take a look through the paperwork themselves and come back with their own comments, pro, con, whatever. What I'm getting is a lot of... opposition, especially in light of the recent Board of Ed action. And I'm being asked very blanketly, why are we doing this if we're going to do pay for play? So the rationale to postpone it till the next meeting was to give people an opportunity to review the information more thoroughly, and then bring it back up. That was the rationale, simple.

Can I ask a clarifying question? Well, Council Armstrong, then I'll come back to you. Council Armstrong?

Yeah.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. My thought, did I just hear Council Elliman say something about the Board of Ed had something to do with this?

Repeat that, Council Armstrong?

Did, um, consular element just say something about the board of ed has something to do with this or did I, he was stating that he's received questions that why would we, why would we be doing this?

And we just went to pay to play sports and counselor Naeem. I didn't know if you were going to respond to that or council King, but was that the only part of your question comes to Armstrong?

Yeah, no, I just wanted an understanding of that. My question was, I think I read somewhere where there's going to be reimbursement based on incentives.

It is a reimbursement mechanism. So the property owner, the tenant, would provide the estimates, demonstrate the scope. We would enter into a grant agreement that outlines the scope and what is intended to be done. They would have to provide quotes for the work. The work gets completed after they've gotten all the permits in place. And then we would only reimburse as the work was done to the standard that our building official would see fit, that we make that reimbursement.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. That was my question.

Thank you so much, Councillor Armstrong. Councillor Naim, then Deputy Mayor. I'll let Councillor King go first. I'm sorry. Councillor King.

Thank you, Madam Mayor and Councillor Naim. I just want to say that I've only lived in Windsor for, it's about to be 10 years actually, so congratulations to me. Revitalizing and bringing economic development to Windsor Center has been pretty much the number one and sometimes only thing that's ever been talked about. Every time that I've knocked a door or talked to the community, it's been the most important thing that folks have pointed out. was intended to almost be a self-generating stream of revenue, right? As you invest in that center, it raises the value of the properties and adds more revenue to it to have more investment. We're using it exactly as it was intended. I understand that it's coming at a time where we're making other choices on our budgets. And so it looks kind of, you know, can seem kind of confusing. But this is what the purpose of that setup was. And I can't stress enough that I have lived, I don't think I've had a single conversation in five years of doing this and being involved. That isn't what are we doing for the town center, we haven't ran on that, etc, etc. So I think it's super important that programs like these, we know they work. We've seen them work in Hartford. We've seen them work in other towns and cities. It's going to provide real vibrancy, and we need to support it because that's what the money is earmarked for. So I just wanted to put that out.

Thank you, Council King. Deputy Mayor.

thank you so i just wanted to um reiterate what you in fact said so the typical i believe the tiff district has existed since 2022 is that correct that is correct and i think it passed in an 8-0-0 vote i think one counselor was missing from that vote when it passed so it was a um it was a um all unanimous vote when it passed and i i agree the timing is not perfect I know we had a budget fail, but my understanding is the money from the TIF grant, the TIF district cannot be reallocated to other districts or other budgets. Is that correct?

That is the intention of the district, yes.

Okay. So, and I think the rules are really well structured. Can you help me understand? So let's say I'm a storefront, one of the people who apply for the grant, and let's say I'm allowed to apply for multiple grants, right?

Are you allowed to? Conceivably.

If I have like three storefronts, am I allowed to apply for multiple grants?

Conceivably, yes. You would be vetted for the same exact information as to what the use is going to be. Is it public facing? Does it meet the eligibility criteria? So that is possible.

Right, and let's say I was unsuccessful in my first grant. Let's say I didn't let that come to fruition. Would it be likely that I would be eligible, that you would approve me for my second application?

My expectation is that if, for whatever reason, they failed to comply with the program guidelines, the likelihood of them complying in a future application, it would be a mark against that scoring, for sure.

And how much control do you as your office, do you have over the process? Like if the people are successful or not over the criteria and how they're performing?

They will be completing a written application that goes through each of the eligibility criteria in the program guidelines. I would vet that, bring it to my fellow development team on occasion, potentially have outside expertise if absolutely necessary to vet an application as well.

but as long as that it meets the underlying criteria it's established by you hopefully tonight then we would move forward with the with the application and then I don't know if maybe it's you or Peter can you discuss how that why the Economic Development Commission recommended this program what the discussion was like from them because I know that Commission meets pretty regularly there are you know, a group of folks who volunteer their time, they're committed to economic development in Windsor, so perhaps you can talk about their reasoning for recommending the program.

So we first were trying to react to your request to the town manager to find ways to fill the vacant spaces in the downtown. And so I did research on programs in other communities, provided an extensive list of what folks have tried to do in the communities we honed in on. this challenge of tenant improvements and the upfront costs that comes into play on that. We thought it would be something that we would want to bring forward to the Economic Development Commission. They agreed to that general approach. We looked at other items that were raised by the Finance Committee and others. about a vacancy tax, which is not allowed in the state of Connecticut currently, so we don't have the authority to do that. So we are looking for other ways in which to try to move the needle on some of these more highly visible, highly invisible vacancies. Overall, our vacancy rate is very good, but we have these stubborn individual properties that are pretty visible, and we're trying to find a way to help the private sector get it done. And again, iterate that. It's leveraging. We're leveraging public funds with private sector funds.

Thank you very much. And Patrick, if you could just restate, it was a question that I had asked earlier if you can just restate what the process is if someone is granted to be a part of this program the storefront activation and they leave early they come in and make the application they meet the criteria if to meet the criteria obviously

The town manager would have to be willing to sign off on my report that they've met the criteria. We would enter into a grant agreement that would just specify the amount and some of the aspects of the procedure in order to get them to be reimbursed and simultaneously with that if they sign the agreement part of that would be this execution of either a promissory note with the the tenant prospect or a mortgage if it is related to the building owner and if I could just add to that economic development

Commission also may be asked to be able to review those. It's not absolute, but in years past, as you know, with other incentives, we have asked the Economic Development Commission to review. It's not necessarily stated directly in this policy, but that also is a possibility, similar to what we've done with the fixed assessment or tax abatement programs.

Okay.

Council Black-Hoffman, Deputy Mayor.

So in regards to that, Peter, it's a good point. So you're saying, and correct me if I'm wrong, if I'm hearing this incorrectly, so you're saying the Economic Development Commission may possibly review those applications. If they do, they would have the deciding factor?

There would be input. The Economic Development Commission does not have authority. They are an advisory commission. to both the town manager and to the town council. And so that would if we have a I envision that is if there is a very difficult use their expertise, we have bankers on that commission, we have economic development professionals on that commission as well as small business owners. And so we would use potentially use them for their expertise and input to help to make make make the decision. But again, that is not an absolute

It's a possibility. Thank you. And that was really for public to know. So thank you so much. I appreciate that. Thank you. Deputy Mayor.

I was just hoping that if this program does come up, we could publish something on our website, kind of clarifying some of the information about the program, that it is coming from the TIF program.

district and what that means some of the questions that you know that it can't be reallocated and you know some of the things that have come up um that people need i mean that i've even needed clarity we absolutely can do a faq if the council approves this i do want to make a clarification is that the town council each budget season adopts the tax increment financing budget as part of the document as that process that budget does by policy, we go to the Economic Development Commission and the TIF Advisory Commission and get their input. The council may choose not to allocate all of those funds to the TIF. I can envision in five years from now, we may be in a position where the infrastructure projects are in a position where we potentially could take a year or two off from those applications obviously as we do we have contractual obligations with our credit enhancement agreements and if we have more of those in the future we have legal obligations so we have to be mindful of that but i just wanted to clarify that there's a process here in per the town council 2022 tiff policy that lays that out and this would this policy this proposed budget was included in the fy 27 budget process.

I would also just add to that, Mr. Souza, that you, if I recall, are adding things in like funding for First Town, Downtown, and things like that. Am I incorrect?

Correct. The appropriations that the Town Council approved as part of the budget was a contribution to the Windsor Arts Center, a contribution to First Town, Downtown, and If I may, Madam Mayor, back up a little bit. So the TIF policy states that 25% of the increment that has been generated goes automatically to the general fund. Two years ago now, when we did revaluation, The town manager had proposed that there be an additional $125,000 that would be allocated to the general fund in recognition of property revaluation impact. So the general fund for FY27 is receiving approximately $320,000 from the TIF dollars, which is more which is $125,000 more than what the baseline policy states. And so just wanted to refresh everyone's mind. And so this past year, the town council in FY26 had approved approximately $200,000 for paving and repaving work here in town center, which that work has been largely completed.

Any other, Councilor Elibold?

A question, Mr. Sousa, that was brought to my attention, and we discussed this earlier, is the $389,640. It is a rather specific number. So have we received applications in light of this, or what's the rationale for that rather unusual number?

It is a little bit of an unusual number. First of all, we have not received any applications. We have not solicited any applications because the Town Council has not approved the program guidelines. So just to be clear on that. The rather odd number is a... is really a calculation as a town council reduced the budget and adjusted the mill rate. Once the adopted budget was done, it generated a very specific number because that's how this increment is generated based upon that year's tax mill rate. And so when you minus off that total, the contributions to the general fund, you take those, as I mentioned, town center, excuse me, art center in the first and downtown appropriations, that's what leaves this $389,640. Thank you. I tried to round it, but Mr. Bork, our finance director, said no, you couldn't.

All right. So if we're ready for the vote, Councilor Pelkey.

I guess this program, I think, has some very good intentions with it. And I know Councilor King and others have said, even in the shorter time that I've been here as well, that people always point to the Plaza building. They always point to some of the empty buildings in town. I know Patrick LeMann many times points to these same buildings and say they're not derelict, they're upkept, they're maintained, and the property taxes are paid. So I think in many times, who are we to say to anybody else, you've got to be doing something better or different with your property. And I think that strikes at the heart of the old Kelo versus New London and where Pfizer was. And I know Justice O'Connor basically had said in her dissent on that ruling, which is a highly unpopular ruling, by the way, that it leaves private property vulnerable to be given over to wealthier private property. And it's not really an apples to apples comparison here, but I look at it as you're taking people who live in that district and other businesses and I think the long-term understanding, and if I had originally been on the council when the TIF was being presented, and, I mean, I know I was sitting here listening to it, was that this was not going to be used for this type of thing. It's just like eminent domain would have been used for you're going to take somebody's private property to put in a hospital, you're going to do a school, you're going to do roadways, et cetera. So I really feel like TIF district money should be used for the infrastructure, and if we want to entice businesses and we want to get redevelopment, We take that money and we try and do something maybe for infrastructure, or we just try and fast track and stream permitting. We do some of those other things. I think we've already with the TIF district sequestered money into the district in it in in in some way i know the intention is to use it in that district but it's money that could have benefited the the the wider community um but what i see with this is i think what in in ms gravel's uh email that was read out and she said it quite quite nicely is that you're literally taking taxpayer dollars and i don't care if there's a two-year time frame but i mean i think about it if if it was my property and you know i want to apply I can somehow increase the chances of being able to update the look and something of my property in two years down the road. I can sell it in a better way. I'm basically cashing out at the taxpayer's expense. I understand what the intent of this is. This just isn't the way I would want to go about this. For me, it's a philosophical disagreement. I want to see the development. I'd rather not see open storefronts, but it's private property. It's up to the people if they want to. And part of owning a business and being able to maintain that business and being able to start a business is to be able to have the capital to be able to do it, to be able to take the risk and be willing and able to fail with it. It's not for the public to constantly and always want to bail somebody out or make it happen for them. Again, I believe in the private enterprise in that regard. So for me, I'm just going to be a no on this. Again, I can appreciate where this is going. I just don't think this is the proper role and scope of government in this country, in particular at a local level.

All right. Are we ready for the vote? Yes, we are. All right. All in favor?

Aye. Aye.

All opposed?

No. No.

Any abstentions? Abstain. Abstentions. All right. So that passes 5-1-3. Thank you. Item number 13, resignations and appointments. All right. Thank you, Councilor King. Item number 14, minutes of preceding meetings.

I move to approve the minutes of July 6, 2026 Special Town Council meeting and the minutes of the July 6, 2026 Regular Town Council meeting.

Second. Thank you, Councilor Naim. Questions or comments, Councilors? If we're ready for the vote, all in favor? Aye. Hearing no opposition or abstentions, that passes. We are back to public communications and petitions. We ask that all speakers conduct themselves with civility and respect. Please do not refer to other speakers by name or use derogatory, inflammatory, or disrespectful language when expressing your views. Please note that this portion of the meeting is for the Council to listen to public input. The council does not respond to questions or engage in discussion during public comment. Your comments will be received and considered as part of the public record. Thank you for your participation and for helping to maintain a respectful and productive meeting environment. If anyone would like to address the council, we ask that you step forward, state your name and address, and you will be given three minutes to speak. At the sound of the chime, we ask that you conclude your comments. At the 60-second mark, a yellow card will be held up. At the 30-second mark, a red card will be held up. And I'll turn it over to Scott Covey.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. If there is anyone from the public who is virtual this evening and would like to address the council, you may do so by raising your hand on your computer, by selecting the participant's icon on the Zoom menu bar, and then clicking raise hand or by dialing star nine on your phone. You'll be given three minutes to speak. Please state your name and address. When you are called on, you'll be prompted that you are now unmuted. For those dialing in by phone, once prompted, you will then press star six to unmute. For clear communication, we ask that you do not place the call on speakerphone. At this time, Madam Mayor, we have no virtual attendees with their hand raised.

Thank you so much. We'll move to the town hall chamber. If you'd like to address the council, please step forward, state your name and address, and you'll be given three minutes to speak.

George Slate, 74th and Drive. Within two months, we'll reach lien date number four in this five-year reval cycle. About a year and a half ago, I've been talking to Josh Gaston, our town assessor, about senior tax relief programs. I asked him where things stood right at that moment. He said, give me a minute. He ran through some calculations. Within five minutes, he had it. He said, I want to make clear, I do not want to know that answer. Because yes, there's too much time in between. But I wanted him to give that to the town manager. Yeah, it is too early to talk about that. But I'm not sure if by October 1st, it's a little too late. Me, I'm a planner, planner, planner. Turned 70 between your July meeting and today. Am I already planning my QCDs and RMDs? And then to retire at 56, that took years of planning. And if you start talking about what to do in the next reval, you can plan, you can adjust, you can plan or adjust. But there's one big difference between the next reval coming up and the one prior. I don't think you're going to have any Don Jepson building capacity ability. It just won't be there. There's not that much growth in the grant list. There's not that much left for you to expand spending and get it approved. You won't be able to build capacity, which means a two-year horizon, a three-year horizon for planning is what you really should be doing.

Thank you. Thank you. All right. We'll bring public communications and petitions to a close. We do not have executive session this evening. So with that, I'll entertain a motion for adjournment.

Motion to adjourn.

Second. All in favor? Second. Thank you. God bless and Godspeed.

Made it before 1030.

Special meeting to order. First order of business is public communications and petitions, five-minute time limit to discuss anything or present anything to us that is not the matter of a public hearing tonight. Mr. Nye, do we have anyone online?

No one online.

And I should have said you need to read the part about the online part.

If there's anyone from the public who would like to address the commission, you may do so by raising your hand on your computer, if your device has a microphone capability, by selecting the participant's icon on the Zoom menu bar and then clicking raise hand or by dialing star nine on your phone. When you were called on, you were prompted that you were now unmuted. Please state your name and address. For clear communication, we ask that you do not place a call on speakerphone.

All right, so I guess we'll move on to communications petitions from members. Does anyone have anything? No, no. Okay, public hearings, we have one. Would you like to read the notice?

Notice is hereby given that this commission will hold public hearings during its hybrid virtual special meeting on February 24th, 2026 at 7 p.m. to hear and consider the following item. Proposed update to the Plan of Conservation and Development, Windsor 2035. Uh, information on how to attend the meeting by phone or computer will be included in the meeting agenda, blah, blah, blah. Um, comments received ahead of the meeting will be read into the record. Um, and this was published in the Hartford current on February the ninth, 20, excuse me, uh, on February the 11th and February 18th, 2026. Thank you.

So, um, it's open public hearing. I would like to speak for or against our plan of conservation and development. Proposed. I do have a brief presentation. Oh, you do?

I'm sorry, I didn't know. No worries. I'm used to you going last. I just do want to confirm, for the record, we do have Anita Mips in attendance by Zoom tonight, and we also have Alternate Commissioner Meg Harvey in attendance as well, it looks like.

We're here.

Yep, I'm here too.

Good evening, members of the Planning and Zoning Commission. For the record, I'm Todd Seeley, now a planner.

With me over here is Rory Jacobson, formerly FHI Studio, but now is the

So she served as our project manager for the life of this project and so she's here with me tonight to answer any questions that might come up during the public hearing. So give me one second and I will cue it up.

Perfect. Okay.

So I'll just kind of quickly go through some slides. I'm not going to go through the full breadth of the POCD and touch on every topic or chapter, although if there's anyone from the public or the commission that wants to kind of focus in on a specific topic or chapter, we'd be happy to do so with you during the hearing. But I just kind of want to give a high-level overview to sort of set the stage for the plan. So the purpose of the plan is to provide the community with a long-range planning guidance while also meeting our statutory requirements and aligning with regional and state planning goals. State law requires municipalities to update their POCD every 10 years in order to remain eligible for certain discretionary funding. It's important to emphasize that the POCD is not a regulatory document. This is a policy document. It helps to inform land use and zoning decisions, but it does not guarantee or approve any specific outcome. Instead, it establishes a community vision and a set of guiding principles that help frame future decisions related to zoning, zoning amendments, and capital planning. Ultimately, it helps ensure consistency as the town works towards its long-term goals, and it also serves as a snapshot of the community in time. Over the past year, the town has implemented a comprehensive public engagement effort. This included two public workshops, five topic-specific focus group meetings, interviews with key town departments and stakeholders, and an online survey that received more than 800 responses. The consultant worked closely with town staff and a POCD advisory committee, which included representatives from multiple boards and commissions to evaluate data and public input and to develop the draft chapters and recommendations. In total, there were 11 advisory committee meetings held as part of this process. While we're getting into the POCD, I want to take a moment and kind of step back in time and look at our 2015 POCD and touch upon some of the highlights and things that have been implemented since that document was adopted. So since the adoption of the 2015 POCD, the town has made notable progress in several areas. This includes a significant amount of housing development, including single family homes, town homes, apartments, as well as two mixed use developments currently underway in Windsor Center. During this period, the town also preserved a substantial amount of farmland and open space and achieved certification as a sustainable CT bronze community and invested in major upgrades to parks, playgrounds, and town facilities. So one of the reasons I wanted to pull this up is because none of these specific things were mentioned in the 2015 POCD. They were kind of given as generalities or broad goals that we were looking to achieve. So when projects came up or opportunities for farmland preservation or open space preservation came up, we were able to point to the POCD and find that it aligned with those goals in that 2015 POCD that potentially opened us up to some possible funding sources or made your decision as commissioners relatively easy. So that's the purpose of this document is to kind of help inform and accomplish some of these things that we have listed there. So I was asking this question today, what's changed since 2015? And I don't want to recap historical event in detail, but over the past several years, we've experienced circumstances that caused many of us to rethink priorities as individuals, families, and communities. And a question worth considering as we look back on this 2015 plan is whether our priorities as a community have changed. And I'm going to touch on that a little bit in the next slide as I kind of go through some of the key takeaways from this new plan that we have. So several consistent themes emerged through public input. Residents expressed a strong sense of community and value Windsor's diversity, small town character, and sense of belonging. There was also a strong emphasis on preservation and sustainability. particularly protecting farmland, open space, and natural resources. Many residents spoke about the importance of enhancing Windsor Center, including filling vacancies and supporting small businesses, and creating a more vibrant downtown. Housing was another major theme, with a clear desire for more affordable, senior, friendly, and diverse housing options to meet changing demographics. Quality of life remains a strength, with Windsor schools, history, and cultural assets frequently noted, along with a desire for more youth programming and cultural events. And then finally, residents consistently raise the need for improved mobility and infrastructure, including safer pedestrian and bike connections, better transit access, and continued investment in sustainable infrastructure. So I would just note that many of these goals and aspirations were also identified in the 2015 POCD, and they kind of reflect themes that the town has been actively working on over time. So to answer the question, a lot has changed, but some of our goals and priorities have remained the same. The plan is organized around a town-wide vision that is supported by seven guiding principles. And those guiding principles inform the goals and strategies with each plan, or with each chapter of the plan. So we have this kind of broad vision, which gets broken down into goals, strategies, and then actions. And then to inform those goals and strategies, we created these guiding principles to help inform some of the specific strategies we have in there. So our division statement that we worked on with the advisory committee is, Windsor is committed to building a thriving, inclusive community that blends its rich history with sustainable growth. It is a vibrant town that supports local businesses, celebrates arts and culture, and fosters a strong sense of community. By preserving historic charm and balancing economic growth with good environmental stewardship, Windsor will remain a welcoming place where residents of all ages can live, work, and thrive. And so from that vision statement, we kind of developed these guiding principles to help inform some of the specific goals and strategies that we have. And I won't go through each principle in detail tonight, but I think it's important to understand that each one of these is supported by additional narrative and intent. They're not meant to be broad or abstract statements, but rather kind of a framework that helps us to connect to specific actions or to a larger community value. So as an example, the mobility and infrastructure guiding principle focuses on connecting people and places. Under that principle, the plan discusses expanding sidewalks, bike paths, trails, and public transit in order to improve safety, accessibility, and regional connectivity. So beyond each one of these little guiding principles, there's a bit more text within the document that kind of helps inform a bit more. It's not just this one little abstract one-word statement or one-sentence statement. Each guiding principle functions in this way helping translate the broader values into actionable goals and strategies And so then lastly, I just want to kind of give a chapter sample. Nearly every chapter in the plan follows a similar structure. And using housing as an example, the chapter begins with the baseline conditions, which includes the housing type, housing stock, affordability, kind of the baseline zoning, and then outlines initiatives that are already underway, such as the affordable housing plan, which the commission adopted in 2022. accessory dwelling units, and the role of Windsor Housing Authority. From there, it identifies key issues and trends within the community. These are things that could've come up through the survey, could've come up through good planning practices, things that we see in the planning community that are being talked about right now. And then from there, and one of my favorite parts about the document is what we've heard for the community. So pulling out specific quotes that were received in the survey or some of our public engagement events. And this kind of summarizes what we've heard. And then it follows that with the goals and strategies so that you could take the two pages side by side and see how what we heard connects to some of the goals and strategies in there. So that's really all I have for a presentation. I would like to take a moment to thank Rory and FHI, Imeg and her team, Christian, Nicole, I'm sure there's a few names I'm forgetting as well, but I appreciate all the work that your team did over this past year and a half, really, and your support with this document and our various meetings that we've attended. I also like to give a huge thank you to the POCD Advisory Committee, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Town Council as well. And then also a big thank you to everyone who participated in surveys, workshops, or even just stopped at the booth to chat with us. And then also to Windsor staff and their leadership. So we'd be happy to take any questions, or if you'd like to delve into specifics, we can do so at this time, but that's really all I have for presentation, or we can go into the public hearing.

Any questions? No.

Maybe you can explain what the next steps are if this plan's adopted tonight.

Next steps. That's a good question. So, I mean, there's kind of our statutory requirements in that we have to publish a notice that the POCD has been adopted, and then there's a 15-day appeal period beyond that. Aside from that, we've met every kind of statutory requirement in getting this to town council and CROG in a timely fashion. I think the big next step for us internally is how do we track these goals and present these, as things come up, how do we present this to the council or to the commission? I think figuring out a way to actively track the goals is probably the biggest next step.

And doesn't it go to the legislature as well?

OPM?

The POCD.

Yes, it does.

Yeah, we have 60 days to send it to them.

So it's not formally adopted until the legislature blesses it? Is that correct or not?

No, it's whenever the POCD is adopted by you all. Okay. That's the adoption date. Okay.

Let me just get a copy. I'd like to thank you guys for all your work. I was on the advisory committee too, but let's face it, you guys did all the work. So you did a tremendous job and I thank you very much.

I could jump in and say that overall, I think that the POCD Advisory Committee did a great job of updating. I agree with most of the modifications. So when we get into the differentials, I'll explain what I mean differently. But I thank everybody, and I thank you for taking over again tonight.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

So should we jump into the public hearing?

Yeah. Okay.

So if anyone from the public would like to address the plan of conservation development, if they have any questions, what have you, please come up, state your name and address, and... Anyone like to speak? There's no one online. Nobody online?

No.

Sir?

Hi, I'm Bob Mazers. I live in Sylvia Lane. This is great that we're doing this for the year 2035. I don't know the specifics if... It concerns the Millbrook corridor and we are currently already planning for the budget year 2027. We want to do six erosion remediation sites on the former Millbrook golf course and There's also budgeting for two bridge replacements there. Now, it's already gone out to bid to replace bridges along Decker Brook and Walsh Park and those areas, but the bridges planned for Millbrook, the public golf course, haven't gone out to bid yet. And there is this remediation of six sites for erosion control along the stream bank. And Ms. Cho, you know, our town engineer is spearheading that. I propose and, you know, maybe it can be added in as a separate line item. It's not going to go in as part of the environmental remediation plan. And maybe it's going to wait until 2040. But we've got those small dams relating to the former pump house for the golf course that impede the natural flow of Millbrook. Now let's think about Millbrook. Millbrook is the only stream downstream of the Rainbow Dam that flows into the Farmington River. Here we are, we're Windsor, first town. and the first stream into the Farmington, which is why Windsor got settled. I'd like to somehow get the removal of those small dams near the old pump house, what used to serve the golf course in the Windsor public area now. to be remediated and to be included in the 2027 budget plan.

And, you know, if it has to wait until 2040, let's do it.

And it shouldn't cost that much either. The whole thing is like $700,000, $800,000 budget for the remediation sites, and that's including the markup for contingencies. And if we look at the economics, there's like $70,000 per... area that's going to get the control for the erosion along Millbrook in the golf course area. So to remove the dam is probably going to be only the same amount of cost. All the vehicles are going to be bringing the equipment down, bringing the riprap and the natural plantings to restore the parts of the Millbrook stream that they want to remediate to stop the erosion. And on the way back out, They can bring the dam, the particles that have been removed. And they're going to have all the, they're going to have the engineering skill, and they're going to have the way to make the cofferdams. They're going to manually place sandbags with a rubber tarp. They're going to cut the brook in half. They're going to do the work to repair where they need to control the erosion.

All hand-placed.

right there in Beaubourg. So add that to the plan, whether it's 2035, whether it's 2040, whether it's for 2027. Thank you. Thank you.

Anyone else? All right, yes, we have a letter.

This is an email from Owen Deutsch. It was dated... This one came in after the council meeting Oh, okay. Goal seven, mobility and infrastructure strategy A. I'd like to request an additional I or three or a new item that new sidewalks be provided as feasible when road improvements are undertaken or new sub-developments or large-scale developments are undertaken. Okay.

I believe that's also part of our plan right now.

I agree, I thought it was too, or at least in some of our building regulations.

Yeah, it's baked into our zoning regulations that any new developments are required to put sidewalks in along the frontages of any town road. And then generally when we're doing public improvements or, you know, I'm thinking of Baker Hollow that they recently connected, they put in sidewalks as that.

No one else? Going once. Going twice. Ms. Cecilia, anything to add?

Just to comment on Mr. Mazur's comment, the POCD doesn't get into the specifics of a construction project. I mean, I think some of the things that you were pointing out there could be captured under a couple of different strategies for the open space and natural resources, specifically fund and build priority drainage and culvert upgrades, monitor sensitive areas and enforce appeals. Unfortunately, the commission doesn't have any authority to really get involved with an active construction project at this time. I'd encourage you to continue communications with the town engineer and town council, but I think we've captured it in a broad sense to where we could make those improvements and make a case and argument for those improvements, but it doesn't get into the specifics of that. But thank you for your comments.

It would have to go into the CIP, wouldn't it?

Right. That's what I was about to say, too. The CIP, that's the Capital Improvement Plan. It's a six-year lookout of projects the council wants to spend money on, and they plan accordingly. Oh, we have a letter from Krog.

Dated February 20, 2026. REPORT ON UPDATE TO POCD 2025-3, A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO THE MUNICIPAL POCD COMMISSIONERS. RECEIPT IS ACKNOWLEDGED OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED REFERRAL. NOTICE OF THIS PROPOSAL WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF THE CAPITOL regional the capital region council of governments under the provisions of section 8-3b of the connecticut general statutes as amended the staff of the regional planning commission of the capital region council of governments has reviewed this zoning referral and finds no conflict with regional plans or policies or the concerns of neighboring towns staff commend the municipality for the number of relevant updates within the plan of conservation and development that align with the regional plan of conservation and development. One great example of alignment is the strategy to encourage mixed use and innovative housing models directly aligns with the regional goal to diversify the region's housing stock. The local plans update further aligns with the region regional plan in improving bicycle and pedestrian safety through the streetscape improvements, prioritizing infill development to better take advantage of underutilized spaces that are already developed and pursuing parking alternatives to further reduce the footprint underutilized parking has in the region. This plan also aligns with the Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan as actions outlined in the update directly joint to partner with CROG to continue efforts related to the NHMP. This plan does an incredible job at balancing the natural growth Windsor experiences while protecting and preserving existing natural resources. One recommendation from staff would be to review some of the highlighted density residential zones and examine the potential potential to allow duplexes and even triplexes, of course with appropriate design guidelines to preserve the existing identity of those zones. Developments such as duplexes often seamlessly blend into the streetscape of majority single-family neighborhoods with well-written design standards in place and offer no threat to affordable options for individuals looking to live in the more exclusively residential zones. Staff applause the municipality in its extensive efforts to update the Windsor Plan of Conservation and Development. CROG looks forward to working with the municipality to accomplish THE ACTIONS OUTLINED ACROSS BOTH THE LOCAL AND THE REGIONAL PLAN. PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 24, 2026, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR PROCEDURE, THIS LETTER CONSTITUTES FINAL CRAWG ACTION ON THIS REFERRAL AND QUESTIONS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO JACOB KNOLTON, AND THIS WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE PLANNERS IN WINDSOR LOCKS, EAST GRAMBY, EAST WINDSOR, BLOOMFIELD, HARTFORD, AND SOUTH WINDSOR, AND IT'S SIGNED JENNIFER BARDAS EARLY, CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION, William Rice, Vice Chairman, Regional Planning Commission, and Jacob Knowlton, Community Development Planner.

Thank you.

All right, so I'll close the public hearing, and do we have a motion?

I move that the... Madam, excuse me, I'm sorry.

Madam Chair, you indicated that there were some things. That's right. You had some comments. Oh, that's right.

I was just referring to the spreadsheet that you presented with the changes. I think those are all good. And the only thing I'm concerned about is when we're going to duplexes or triplexes or whatever, is that parking. Because I'm noticing in town now that we have a number of homes that they're parking on the front lawns in fact in one one street they plowed the front lawn so that the vehicle could park on that if we're going to be going into that we're going to have to make sure that our regulations stipulate there has to be parking uh enough parking that's one of the big things that i was noticing yes ma'am duly noted thank you

Do you have anything else, Anita?

No, because I think all of the changes that were on there, I don't see. I think everything you've taken out certain little words that made sense, and you've added, left in what I think should be left in. I think you did a great job.

Okay. Cecilia, last word?

No, thank you. Thank you, Rory. Thank you to everybody here tonight. Oh, yeah. Maybe you should vote first before I start saying thank yous.

I move that the 2025 to 2035 proposed plan of conservation and development be adopted by this commission. Second. Second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye.

Aye.