Windsor Town Council Meeting - June 17, 2024

The Windsor Town Council met on June 17, 2024. The meeting included public testimony on open burning, council member communications, reports from boards and the town manager, approval of two tax-relief ordinance changes, year-end finance actions, grant authorizations, board appointments, a minutes correction, and a vote to enter executive session on pending litigation. All votes were unanimous or as noted below; one councilor recused from the Voya-related executive session matter.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tim Tomcho, 101 Winthrop Road, asked the council to consider revising Windsor's open burning ordinances. He described recurring smoke from a neighbor's fire pit, said Windsor prohibits brush burning but allows recreational fires and bonfires, and expressed concern that police and the fire marshal have not consistently enforced hazardous-condition provisions. He left materials about wood-smoke health effects and other towns' ordinances with the clerk.
• Ryan Tomcho, also of 101 Winthrop Road and a lifelong Windsor resident, said his family had been affected for three years by a neighbor's smoky outdoor fires located less than 50 feet from their home. He said the smoke affects his father's breathing and has made him consider moving, and he urged the council to revise ordinances so neighbors cannot make it impossible for others to enjoy their property.
• George Slate, in the later public comment period, criticized the town's OPEB funding, saying it is underfunded and represents intergenerational inequity. He cited $17.5 million in prior-year revenues, estimated roughly $16 million after revaluation, and referenced $2.3 million paid annually on a pay-as-you-go basis for OPEB. He urged the council to fund OPEB more appropriately.

Council Member Communications

• Councilors highlighted the Windsor High School graduation, a Juneteenth event on the town green, the first Eid prayer held at the Day Hill Dome, the Windsor Art Center's Art in Bloom event, and the Yale Campaign School graduation of the mayor and a Board of Education vice president.
• Several councilors reminded residents to vote in the June 18, 2024 budget referendum; noted heat safety and cooling-station resources; encouraged swim lessons and pool use; thanked lifeguards for handling a recent incident; promoted volunteer firefighter recruitment; and reminded drivers to slow down for children playing outside during the summer.

Board and Commission Reports

• Public Building Commission representative Jim Mennett reported on numerous capital projects. Key updates included: Oliver Ellsworth School moisture mitigation demolition was 75 percent complete with prefabricated duct sections delivered and completion expected by the end of August 2024; Sage Park HVAC phases 2 and 3 were substantially complete but had an auditorium noise issue requiring additional engineering testing, with completion also expected by the end of August 2024; Clover Street School restroom ADA work and Sage Park roof replacement were targeting August 2024 completion; J.F. School HVAC phase 3 was targeting the end of July 2024; LP Wilson Community Center HVAC phases 1 and 2 were underway, with phase 2 demolition about 30 percent complete; Welch Park pool enhancements were nearly finished, with the lap pool being filled and overall completion expected by the end of June 2024. Milo Peck School HVAC work remained in a holding pattern pending long-lead cast-iron boiler parts.
• Todd Seely, assistant town planner and liaison to the Historic District Commission, presented the commission's annual report. The commission regulates exterior appearance of structures visible from the street within the Windsor Historic District. From June 2023 to May 2024, it held two regular and two special meetings and approved seven applications, including window replacements, solar panels, air conditioning, a pergola, and a playground structure. There were no rejections or modifications. Town staff later noted 41 properties and districts in Windsor on the National Historic Landmark list and said a fuller breakdown would be provided.

Town Manager's Report

• The town manager reminded residents of the June 18 budget referendum and said polling locations could be found on the town website. Polls were open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 18.
• The downtown farmers market begins Thursday, June 20, 2024, and runs Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. through October 17, except July 4. Concerts on the Green begin July 11 and run through August 22, starting at 6:30 p.m.
• MDC plans a significant sewer project on Pearson Lane beginning in the first week of July, with alternating one-way traffic and an anticipated two-week closure of the section near the railroad tracks in mid-to-late July. Detour signs have been posted and property owners notified.
• A Broad Street road diet / complete streets informational meeting is scheduled for June 25, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers to present options based on earlier public input.
• The town has been pressing Amtrak to remove a large log and debris jam at the Farmington River / Amtrak bridge; Amtrak has indicated specialized equipment will arrive later in June.
• Windsor received two grants for the former Standardine complex on Deerfield Road: a $2 million remediation grant for 90 Deerfield Road and a $200,000 assessment grant for two other buildings. The funds will be passed through to the owner/developer IRG to help reposition the roughly 400,000-square-foot former production facility as a multi-tenant business park.
• The Longest Day Concert, originally planned for the town green, was moved to the LP Wilson Community Center auditorium due to heat, running 6:30 to 8 p.m. and supporting the Alzheimer's Association.
• The town manager advised residents that the libraries and LP Wilson Community Center could serve as cooling-off locations during hot weather.
• The town is exploring a cooperative public-safety radio project with East Windsor, which wants to use three privately owned cell towers on town of Windsor sites. Connecticut has approved bond funding to assist East Windsor and potentially offset Windsor's planned radio software and equipment upgrade costs; council decision points are expected within about 60 days.

Standing Committee Reports

• The Town Improvements Committee will review CIP projects and report on their status. The Finance Committee had met and planned to bring motions later in the meeting. Another committee scheduled a July 8, 2024 meeting at 6 p.m., and the Personnel Committee scheduled a June 27 meeting ahead of appointments later that evening.

Ordinances

• The council waived the reading of and then approved an ordinance amending Chapter 5, Article 17, Property Tax Relief for Elderly and/or Disabled Homeowners. The ordinance increases the benefit for income-eligible households without changing income caps and raises the state match cap from 50 percent to 100 percent. The application period is February 1 through May 15, so the change would apply to the next cycle. Vote: 8-0-0.
• The council also waived the reading of and then approved an ordinance amending Chapter 5, Article 14, Veterans Exemption. The measure increases the veterans exemption from $2,000 to $20,000 of assessed value, the state maximum. The town receives partial state reimbursement for the veterans exemption but not for the elderly/disabled program. Vote: 8-0-0.

New Business

• The council authorized year-end transfers in the general fund, allowing the finance director to make transfers of no more than $5,000 per service unit and transferring $24,510 from safety services to general government to cover a projected year-end deficit. Vote: 8-0-0.
• The council extended fiscal year 2024 general fund year-end open purchase orders until October 21, 2024. Vote: 9-0-0.
• The council authorized submission of a $51,000 grant application to the Stanton Foundation canine grant program to help purchase, train, and equip a second police canine unit. The police chief detailed the K9 program's history, capabilities, officer stipend of roughly $5,700 to $5,800 per year, and typical canine service length of about eight to nine years. Vote: 9-0-0.
• The council authorized submission of an application to the Department of Economic and Community Development Community Investment Fund for $5,670,000, with a $630,000 local match, for HVAC and window upgrades at LP Wilson Community Center. The estimated project cost is $6.3 million; most HVAC equipment is original to the 1957 building. The state received $508 million in requests in a competitive round, and the Community Investment Board is scheduled to meet September 10, 2024. Vote: 9-0-0.
• The council voted 8-0-1 to move agenda item 12E to the executive session portion of the agenda.

Appointments and Minutes

• The council approved an omnibus appointments motion, 9-0-0, that reappointed or appointed members to boards and commissions, including: Carol Elkins to the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission; Noah A. (transcribed as 'Noah as Wiki') to the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission; Sandra Rayleigh as alternate to the Human Relations Commission; Keegan Elder to the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission; Mark Perdue to the Public Building Commission; Dominic Darcarlo to the Town Planning and Zoning Commission; Sophie Tita as alternate to the Town Planning and Zoning Commission; Charles Jackson to the Wilson Deerfield Advisory Committee; Don Zikkowski to the Fair Rent Commission; Copeland (transcribed as 'Castilla Castella Copeland') to the Human Relations Commission; Monica Nugent to the Human Relations Commission; Lizette Latory to the Human Relations Commission; Jody Dinow as alternate to the Human Relations Commission; Carol Sama to the Library Advisory Board; Denise Panos to the Library Advisory Board; and Alvin Bigham to the Wilson Deerfield Advisory Committee. Terms and expiration dates were approved as stated in the motion.
• The council approved minutes from the May 20, 2024 regular meeting, the June 3, 2024 public hearing, the June 3, 2024 special meeting, and the June 3, 2024 regular meeting, with a friendly amendment directing correction of the May 20 minutes. Councilor Naeem clarified that the motion to extend that meeting to 11:30 p.m. failed 5-4 because a 6-3 vote was required. Vote: 9-0-0.

Key Outcomes

• No formal action was taken on the open-burning ordinance request, but the request and supporting documents were presented to the council and the town manager.
• Approved both the elderly/disabled property tax relief ordinance and the veterans exemption ordinance, each by 8-0-0.
• Approved the $24,510 year-end transfer and transfer authority, and extended open purchase orders through October 21, 2024.
• Authorized grant applications for a second K9 unit and for LP Wilson Community Center HVAC/window improvements.
• Approved all listed board and commission appointments, 9-0-0.
• Approved the meeting minutes with the May 20 vote correction, 9-0-0.
• Moved into executive session to discuss a settlement involving Voyager/Voya and the town of Windsor; Councilor Ellaville recused because his wife works for Voya, and the executive session motion passed 8-0-1.