Windsor Town Council Meeting - November 4, 2024

The Windsor Town Council met on Nov. 4, 2024, with all council members accounted for and Councillor Smith joining via Zoom. No agenda or minutes were available in the source material, so this summary is based on the raw transcript. The meeting featured council and community reports, board and commission updates, a Riverfront Recapture presentation, approval of appointments and minutes, one public comment, and an executive session on the town manager's evaluation.

Council and Community Reports

• Mayor thanked participants in the visit of Audrey Marks, Jamaica's ambassador, and praised town staff for organizing it on short notice. She also received a flu shot during the meeting.
• Nurse Jenny encouraged residents to get flu, RSV, and updated COVID vaccines, noting a Beacon Pharmacy clinic at Windsor Library on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 4-7 p.m.
• Council members urged residents to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5; Councillor Elliveld noted early voter turnout had surpassed 30 percent, and Councillor Pelky noted polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Town Manager later reported early voting at 33.5 percent of registered voters.
• Council members also highlighted Nightmare on Broad Street, food and fuel bank needs, volunteer firefighter recruitment, self-care and senior outreach, and recognition of Coach Rob Fleeting.

Board and Commission Reports

• Board of Education Secretary Lockhart reported: CABE Board of Distinction Level 2 recognition; Bonnie B. Carney Award for Windsor Public Schools Staff Wellness Newsletter; Coach Rob Fleeting named New York Giants/Gatorade Coach of the Week with a $2,000 grant to the football program; EKGs for Elijah free heart screening event Nov. 19; service award celebration Nov. 13 honoring over 65 district employees; no school Nov. 5; next BOE meeting Nov. 19.
• Windsor Housing Authority: serves 355 families, directly manages 152 units, and administers a voucher program. A 10-unit veteran set-aside at Millbrook Village is 100 percent occupied. Fitch Court roof replacement is expected to be completed within 30 days, and a CDBG grant will support energy-saving improvements at Shad Run. About $3 million in grants have been committed. Occupancy is 97 percent at Millbrook Village, about 86 percent at Fitch Court pending roof completion, and in the 80s at Shad Run. WHA receives no town funds for maintenance; the town provided about $15,000 for design support.

Town Manager's Report

• Early voting ended with 33.5 percent of registered voters casting ballots; same-day registration is available only at Town Hall on Nov. 5 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with an ID and mail addressed to a Windsor address.
• Town offices are closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day; an observance will be held at 7 p.m. in council chambers with speakers, the Windsor High School Band, and Junior ROTC.
• Town Clerk's office will close at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 12 through the end of November because of staffing.
• Additional flu clinics: Nov. 5 at main library 1-3 p.m.; Nov. 12 at branch library 1-3 p.m.; Nov. 13 at main library 4-7 p.m.; Nov. 19 afternoon.
• Residents affected by the MDC's recent water pressure problems and well over a dozen waterline breaks should call the MDC to report service issues.
• Leaf collection continues through mid-December, and the overnight parking ban starts Nov. 15.
• The Bridge Builders Award event was rescheduled to Sunday, Dec. 8 at Northwest Park Nature Center.

Standing Committee Reports

• Finance Committee held quarterly reviews and began future forecasting for the FY2025-26 budget; additional meetings are scheduled in November and December.
• Deputy Mayor announced the council would enter executive session to begin the town manager's evaluation.

New Business: Riverfront Recapture Presentation

• Town Manager introduced the item as Great River Park but noted that is not the formal name. Mike Zoleschi, president and CEO, presented a master plan for a future park on the Hartford-Windsor line. The 60-acre brownfield site off Meadow Road was purchased in September 2019, has been inaccessible for decades, and would include a roughly 19-20 acre cove up to 8-12 feet deep, trails, a fishing pier, launch dock, concert pavilion, and nature center.
• The planning process engaged more than 2,000 people over about eight months. A riverwalk connector would eventually link Windsor Center to Hartford and create more than 9 miles of riverwalk.
• About 10-12 acres near the railroad tracks are reserved for commercial development; Riverfront Recapture said industrial or warehouse use would not be considered and potential uses could include housing, restaurants, or destination/conference space.
• Brownfield remediation is fully funded; permits from the state DEP and Army Corps are expected within two to three months, and the work is targeted for 2025. A $500,000 town grant would help build the riverwalk and bridge over Decker's Brook. Partnering with the state on 17 additional acres would create an almost 80-acre park. Completion was estimated at two to four years, subject to permits and fundraising.
• Council members asked about floodplain mitigation, cove depth, ecological and wildlife protections, kayak/canoe rental access, camping for youth and river paddlers, lighting, electric maintenance vehicles, and the small amount of land actually in Windsor. Riverfront Recapture said the project would continue to include public tours and community engagement in 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Karen Jackson, 351 Constitution, said she is a new Windsor resident whose son attends Windsor High School. She praised the Health Department's response to complaints but raised concerns about police interactions, including a $298 ticket issued to her son on private property, an officer's alleged threat to pepper spray him at the Halloween event on the town green, and what she described as police following or watching her son. She said she wrote to the police chief and received no response, and asked the town to stop what she called racial profiling.

Key Outcomes

• Council accepted the resignations of Ann Bowden and Ms. Adams from the Conservation Committee.
• Council approved 9-0 the following appointments/reappointments: Rhonda Myers (Board of Ethics, unexpired term to July 31, 2028; Human Relations Commission alternate, to May 31, 2027), Julian Bremry (Capitol Improvements Committee alternate, unexpired term to May 5, 2027), Beverly Fitzpatrick (Human Relations Commission alternate, to May 31, 2027), Danette Brown (Commission on Aging and Persons with Disabilities alternate, to Jan. 30, 2026), Patricia Brun (Hartford Area Cable Television Advisory Council, to June 30, 2026), Judy Ann Cook (Human Relations Commission, to May 31, 2027), Charles Jackson (Hartford Area Cable Television Advisory Council, to June 30, 2026), Donald Jeffson (Green Improvement District, to July 20, 2028), Steve McKay (Windsor Housing Authority, to July 31, 2029), and La Toya Edmond (Central Connecticut Tourism District, to July 1, 2027).
• Council approved 9-0 the minutes of the Oct. 21, 2024 public hearing and regular town council meeting.
• Council voted to enter executive session for discussion concerning the appointment, employment, performance, health, or dismissal of a public officer or employee in connection with the town manager's evaluation.
• The Riverfront Recapture item was informational; no formal vote was taken on the park proposal.