Windsor Town Council Meeting – September 16, 2024: Public Hearing on Line-of-Duty Death Ordinance, Proclamations, and ARPA Allocations
Windsor Town Council Meeting – September 16, 2024
The Windsor Town Council convened on September 16, 2024, at 7:20 PM for a public hearing followed by the regular meeting at 7:30 PM. The agenda included a public hearing on an ordinance designating authority to declare line-of-duty deaths, proclamations honoring Adult Day Services Week and Paralympic gold medalist Sydney Satchell, reports from the Public Building Commission and Insurance Commission, the Town Manager's report, discussion of the line-of-duty death ordinance, and several new business items including an early voting grant, a lease for Stony Hill School, acceptance of grants, and allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The council tabled the line-of-duty death ordinance to a special meeting before the October 1 deadline, and approved all other items.
Proclamations & Awards
- Adult Day Services Week (September 15-21, 2024): The council proclaimed the week in honor of the Caring Connection Adult Health Center, which provides professional and compassionate services for older adults.
- Sydney Satchell – Gold Medalist, Team USA Paralympics: The council honored Sydney Satchell, a Windsor native and member of the U.S. women's national sitting volleyball team, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Satchell addressed the council, thanking the town for its support and highlighting the role of first responders and community in her recovery.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Hearing on Line-of-Duty Death Ordinance: Ryan Wilder, president of the Windsor Police Union, voiced concerns on behalf of the membership. He stated that the proposed ordinance designates the town manager to determine line-of-duty death without requiring consultation with medical professionals (e.g., medical examiners, forensic pathologists) who specialize in cause and manner of death. Wilder argued that the ordinance references the risk manager and human resources director as professional resources, but neither has medical expertise. He expressed concern that financial considerations could influence the decision and urged the council not to adopt the ordinance as written, asking them to consider his comments.
Reports of Appointed Boards and Commissions
- Public Building Commission: Commissioner Peck reported on several projects: Oliver Ellsworth School humidity mitigation punch list near completion; Sage Park Middle School slab moisture mitigation project dry and closing out; Sage Park HVAC phase three duct work to be completed by end of November; LP Wilson Community Center HVAC renovation phase one punch list items by end of October, phase two construction underway with 100% piping and 90% electrical; Clover Street School restroom ADA compliance project completed smoothly; Welch Park Pool House renovations completed with punch list items; JFK Elementary HVAC upgrades phase three by end of September. Milo Peck (Discovery Center) boiler replacement planned for later in November, with a potential HVAC redesign project requiring future council authorization.
- Insurance Commission: Chair Al Rellier presented the commission's report. The town's insurance renewal with Travelers resulted in a 2.4% rate increase and a 5.9% exposure increase (due to growth in auto and law enforcement counts), overall 7% increase. The broker USI found the rate significantly lower than the Connecticut book average. The commission recommended the package as fair. They are working to improve risk management dashboards.
Town Manager's Report
- Town Manager Sousa announced upcoming events: Eco Monarch Festival (Sept 21), Windsor Lions Club tag sale (Sept 28), applications for volunteer poet laureate due Oct 4, Northwest Parks Country Fair (Oct 5), and a public session on teen stress reduction (Sept 25, 7-9 PM at LP Wilson).
- Catalytic converter theft: Several dial-a-ride buses had catalytic converters stolen from LP Wilson Community Center. Two buses remain in service; two minivans (wheelchair accessible) are being used. Group trips (e.g., to the Big E) are rescheduled. The town is investigating and seeking replacement parts. Councilors discussed preventive measures, including temporary fencing and potential garage structure.
Discussion Items
- Line-of-Duty Death Ordinance (Public Act 24-16): The ordinance would designate the town manager to make line-of-duty death determinations (for cardiac/stroke events within 24 hours of duty) after consulting with the relevant chief, risk manager, and HR director. The state law allows alternative designations if adopted by October 1, 2024. Councilors debated amendments to include medical experts. Councilor Naeem moved to amend to include “medical experts”; Councilor Armstrong amended to “outside medical experts.” After discussion, Councilor Pelkey expressed concern about the vagueness of “medical experts” and suggested specific expertise. Councilor Walker emphasized the need to keep the volunteer fire department comfortable. Councilor Pelkey preferred to table for more discussion. The council then withdrew all amendments and tabled the ordinance to a special meeting before October 1 to allow further community engagement and refine language.
New Business Items
- Early Voting Grant (12A): Town Clerk Ianna Posniak explained that the Secretary of State awarded $8,895.29 to offset costs of early voting (Oct 21-Nov 3). Estimated total cost is $25,000. The council approved the grant and expenditure.
- Lease for Stony Hill School (12B): The council approved a three-year lease (with two-year renewal option) with Lucinda House (Lucinda Canty) for $530/month (rising 3% annually) to use the Stony Hill School for prenatal/postnatal education and support. The tenant pays utilities, insurance, and housekeeping; town responsible for grounds and major maintenance. The lease was approved unanimously.
- Grants for Human Relations Commission (12C): The council accepted a $4,500 grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving's Greater Together Community Fund for the Juneteenth celebration, and a $646.58 grant from the Lynn Farley Gillette Social Justice Fund for general programming. Both were approved.
- ARPA Fund Allocations (12D): The council approved $20,000 for the School to Business Career Connection (speaker bureau), $15,000 for Journey Home (homelessness prevention for Windsor residents), $20,000 for the Arts and Culture Series (partnership with First Town Downtown and Windsor Arts Center), and $42,000 for replacement of four entry signs (Park Ave, Dudley Town Rd, Archer Rd, Palisado) and landscape improvements. Councilor Pelkey expressed a preference to redirect the $42,000 to people-focused programs, but the motion passed unanimously.
Minutes
- The council approved the minutes of the September 3, 2024 public hearing and regular meeting (vote 7-0-2, with two abstentions).
Key Outcomes
- Tabled: Ordinance on line-of-duty death determination – to be revisited at a special meeting before October 1, 2024.
- Approved: Proclamations for Adult Day Services Week and Sydney Satchell.
- Approved: Early voting grant acceptance and expenditure ($8,895.29).
- Approved: Lease for Stony Hill School with Lucinda House.
- Approved: Acceptance of two grants for Human Relations Commission ($4,500 + $646.58).
- Approved: ARPA allocations totaling $97,000 for school-to-business connection, Journey Home, arts & culture series, and entry signs/landscaping.
- Approved: Minutes of September 3, 2024 meetings.
- Next Steps: Special council meeting to be scheduled before October 1 to finalize the line-of-duty death ordinance.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. The time is now seven twenty PM. And welcome to the public hearing of September sixteenth, twenty twenty-four. And before I open it, I would like to read the public notice. Notice is hereby given that the town council of the town of Windsor will hold a virtual and in-person public hearing in the council chamber at the Windsor Town Hall, two seventy-five Broad Street on Monday, September sixteenth, twenty twenty-four at seven twenty PM to hear public comment on the following items. Excuse me, info button found on the front page and select town council meeting for the meeting of September sixteenth. Please state your name and address. When you are called on, you'll be prompted with with you are now unmuted. For those dialing by phone, once prompted, you will press star six to unmute. For clear communication, we ask that you do not place the call on speaker phone. We do not have any uh attendee with their hand up at this time. Thank you, Mr. Angelo. So we'll move to the town hall chamber. Um if there's anyone here that would like to speak, please move forward to the podium and you can do so. You can say right. You sure can. And just please um state your name, and you will have three minutes to speak, and at the sound of the chime, we just ask you to conclude your comments. Okay. Thank you. Yes, sorry. Your name and your address. Thank you. Okay. Uh Ryan Wilder with the uh police department. And the address is my personal address. 1075 Southfield Street in Southfield, Connecticut. Thank you. All right, so good evening. Uh my name is Ryan Wilder as a stated. I'm the president of the police union here in town. I'm here to voice concern on behalf of our membership regarding some of the language and implementation of the proposed town ordinance that designates authority to declare that a firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical service personnel die in the line of duty. The police union's main concern is that this authority is designated to the town manager, does not require he or she to consult with any professionals who specialize in a particular field as it relates to the cause of or manners or manner of death. The town ordinance only states the town manager in quotes the town manager shall make the determination after consulting with either the police chief, fire chief, or EMS chief, depending upon the employee's department, along with other professional resources, such as the risk manager or human resource director, end quote. I point out that the ordinance specifically refers to the risk manager and human resource director as professional resources for line of duty death. The union disagrees because neither of them are medical examiners, uh forensic pathologists, uh medical professional nor a doctor. Such professional resources sought out in a line of duty death should specialize or have professional expertise in determining causes of death or even manners in which death could have occurred or been linked to. Because of this, it is important to make sure that God forbid that we should ever encounter this, that we get this determination right. I'll also point out that there are obvious concerns with leaving this determination up to the town manager, risk manager, and human resource department. Those concerns include financial impacts that they may have in mind when making such a determination. Those concerns uh excuse me, finances should not even have a role in this determination. This determination should be made with the most accurate and correct information only after consulting with real professional resources who specialize in cause of and manner of death as it relates to cardiac events. Uh, but to their surviving family. The police union sincerely hopes that the town does not vote for this ordinance that is currently written and request that you take some uh take some of what have I said what I have said here tonight and consider it in making your determination. So with that, I appreciate all your time and uh thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Well, I don't see anyone else stepping forward to provide commentary at this time. So with that being said, what we will do now is that we will conclude the public hearing.
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