Windsor Special Town Meeting, Public Hearing, and Town Council Meeting – September 3, 2024

On September 3, 2024, the Town of Windsor held a special town meeting at 7:00 p.m., a public hearing at 7:20 p.m., and a regular town council meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Windsor Town Hall, 275 Broad Street. The special town meeting unanimously approved a $2 million state Brownfield grant ordinance for environmental remediation of 90 Deerfield Road. The public hearing received one comment. The regular town council meeting included board and commission reports, approval of grants and tax abatements, creation of a poet laureate program, introduction of a line-of-duty death declaration ordinance, and an executive session on pending litigation.

Special Town Meeting (7:00 p.m.)

• The town clerk read the notice for the September 3, 2024 special town meeting. The purpose was to adopt or reject an ordinance approving the acceptance and expenditure of a $2 million State of Connecticut Brownfield grant for environmental remediation of 90 Deerfield Road, adopted by the town council on August 5, 2024.
• The moderator appointed the town clerk as secretary and town attorney Kevin Denin as parliamentarian.
• Meeting rules were adopted by voice vote, including a three-minute speaker limit and a rule that only eligible voters may speak.
• A motion to approve the ordinance was made by Darlene Clace, seconded, and passed unanimously with no public speakers.
• The special town meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Consent Calendar / Routine Approvals

• No formal consent calendar was used. Routine items approved by voice vote during the regular meeting included:
  • Approval of the August 5, 2024 public hearing minutes and the August 5, 2024 regular town council meeting minutes (7–0).
  • Appointment and reappointment of all board and commission nominees listed in the agenda packet (7–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public hearing testimony (7:20 p.m.): One Windsor resident spoke. She described a nonprofit started in 2022 to address maternal health equity through virtual health education and emotional support. She said “Lucinda’s house needs a home,” expressed interest in using the Stony Hill school building, and noted she grew up in Windsor, currently lives in Windsor, has a staff of one, and relies on volunteers for community events.
• First public communications period: Ronnie Suggs, 33 Canterbury Lane, spoke as a volunteer for the Windsor Giants youth football and cheer organization. He said the Giants have existed for more than 50 years, provided $500 college scholarships to Windsor High graduates, and used the Sage Park field house for over two decades. He said the organization had canceled recent seasons due to low registration and that the town had requested the Giants move their equipment immediately; he asked the council to reconsider that request.
• Neil Sachdev, 960 Kennedy Road, thanked the council for supporting the first Connecticut River & Roots Festival, praised organizer Sarah McKay and sponsors, and, on behalf of the Windsor Arts Commission, asked the council to support creating a Windsor poet laureate role.
• Second public communications period: No members of the public came forward.

Proclamation & Council Member Communications

• Mayor Black-Burke proclaimed September 2024 as Hunger Action Month and presented the proclamation to Windsor Hunger Action Team representatives Jasmine Hall, Denise, and Sharon. Residents were encouraged to wear orange on September 10 and to visit the Hunger Action Team table at the Windsor Farmers Market on September 12.
• Councilors shared community updates, including the Battle of the Badges softball game, congratulations to Matthew Glad as the Windsor Police Department’s first Special Olympics of Connecticut Ambassador, school-zone safety reminders, the BARTS beer garden opening on September 6, the Eco Monarch Festival on September 21, and the planned welcome-home celebration for Windsor native and Paris Paralympics sitting volleyball player Sydney Satchel.

Reports from Boards and Commissions

• Board of Education Secretary Lockhart reported on the August 20, 2024 staff convocation, the August 22, 2024 Rock the Block Party, and the August 26, 2024 opening of the 2024–25 school year. He said there were few transportation issues on opening day and that special-education bus issues were quickly addressed. He introduced Ms. Bloom, a 23-year Windsor educator, as a new school leader. Dr. Hill’s Coffee Talk series begins September 24, 2024 at 10 a.m. at the Bean on Broad Street, and the first Board of Education meeting is September 17, 2024 at 7 p.m. at LP Wilson Community Center. Lockhart also thanked the council and town staff for work on the OE school project, calling it much improved.
• Human Relations Commission Chair Lisette Later-Mazinski and Vice Chair Monica Nugent presented the 2023–24 report. The commission has five vacancies among 13 charter positions. It hosted or supported events including Bridge Builders, the Phenomenal Women’s Awards, One Book One Windsor, Shad Derby, and Juneteenth. Grants received included more than $600 from the Gillette Fund, $1,000 from First Church, and $4,500 from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving earmarked for Juneteenth. The commission plans to focus on four core events next year. Nugent said the commission does “a lot with a little” and welcomed increased investment.

Town Manager’s Report

• Town Manager Peter Sousa discussed the Windsor Giants and Windsor 095 youth football and cheer programs. Windsor 095 has access to the Sage Park concession and restroom areas. The Giants’ equipment will be relocated to a secure storage unit at Sage Park, with the town offering to move it and asking the Giants to evaluate the equipment for safety standards. If the Giants field a team in summer 2025, the town will work on shared facility arrangements.
• Other announcements included the Freedom Trail run on September 21, a Freedom Trail walk on September 28, the Sydney Satchel welcome-home celebration and Union Street Tavern Run on September 15, the BARTS ribbon cutting on September 6, fall flu clinics, a September 14 electronics recycling event, and the MDC sewer line extension project on Pearson Lane, now scheduled to begin later in September and take 8–10 weeks.
• Applications for the second round of the Community and Neighborhood Enhancement Grant Program are due September 26, 2024.
• The Windsor Public Library launched Flipster, a digital magazine platform for library cardholders.

Discussion Items

• Poet Laureate (Item 12A): The council voted to establish a Town of Windsor Poet Laureate and approve the attached program and selection guidelines. Assistant Town Manager Scott Coby explained that the position is voluntary, requires Windsor residency and age 18 or older, and carries a three-year term. The motion passed with one abstention.
• Brownfield Grant – 92 Deerfield Road (Item 12B): The council approved acceptance and expenditure of a $200,000 State of Connecticut Brownfield grant for environmental assessment at 92 Deerfield Road, part of the former Standardine property. Economic Development Director Patrick McMahon said the grant will fund Phase II and Phase III environmental site assessments for the proposed Connecticut River Business Park and has no municipal cost. Passed 7–0.
• Manufacturing Exemptions (Items 12C and 12D): The council granted CGS Section 12-94e manufacturing machinery and equipment exemptions to Dudley Town Brewing Company and Howden Roots LLC for the October 1, 2023 grand list. The Dudley Town exemption would reduce personal property tax liability by about $49,000, leaving a liability of $7,347. The Howden Roots exemption includes a 25% late-filing penalty; the FY25 liability would be $21,949. Both passed by voice vote.
• Job Description Updates (Item 12E): The council approved updated job descriptions for Northwest Park Manager, Assistant Recreation Manager, Recreation Program Specialist, and Environmental Education Educator. Changes included renaming two positions to reflect supervisory duties, adding revenue and partnership duties, and updating qualifications. Pay grades remained unchanged, with no financial impact. Passed 7–0.
• Tax Appeal Settlement – 184 Windsor Avenue (Item 12F): The council approved a $379,579.24 appropriation from the general fund unassigned fund balance to 184 Windsor Ave LLC to settle a property tax appeal for grand lists 2018–2022. Town Manager Sousa said the settlement reflects about $74,000 per year and that the property owner paid taxes throughout the appeal. Passed 7–0.
• Line-of-Duty Death Ordinance (Items 12G, 12H, and 12I): After waiving a reading of the ordinance text, the council introduced an ordinance titled “Authority to Declare That a Firefighter, Police Officer, or Emergency Medical Service Personnel Died in the Line of Duty.” The proposal designates the town manager as the decision-maker after consulting with the appropriate chief, risk manager, and human resources director. Municipalities have until October 1, 2024 to enact such an ordinance. Councilor Pelkey opposed designating the town manager rather than the agency chiefs. The introduction passed 6–1, and a public hearing was scheduled for September 16, 2024 at 7:20 p.m.
• Agenda Reordering: Items 12I and 12J were moved to after executive session by unanimous consent.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the $2 million Brownfield grant ordinance for 90 Deerfield Road by unanimous voice vote at the special town meeting.
• Established a Windsor Poet Laureate position with a three-year volunteer term and selection guidelines.
• Approved a $200,000 Brownfield grant for environmental assessment at 92 Deerfield Road (7–0).
• Granted manufacturing equipment tax exemptions to Dudley Town Brewing Company and Howden Roots LLC.
• Approved updated recreation job descriptions with no pay-grade changes (7–0).
• Appropriated $379,579.24 from the general fund unassigned fund balance for the 184 Windsor Avenue tax appeal settlement (7–0).
• Introduced the line-of-duty death declaration ordinance (6–1) and scheduled a September 16, 2024 public hearing at 7:20 p.m.
• Approved appointments to boards and commissions and the August 5, 2024 minutes (7–0).
• Moved into executive session to discuss strategy and negotiations in pending litigation: Malden v. Town of Windsor and Miller v. Town of Windsor.