Windsor Town Council Meeting November 18, 2024: Proclamations, Funding Approvals, and Reports
Windsor Town Council Regular Meeting – November 18, 2024
The Windsor Town Council met on Monday, November 18, 2024, for its regular meeting. The meeting opened with a roll call, a moment of silence for Windsor Police Officer Lewis Clayton, a Thanksgiving-themed prayer/reflection led by Councillor Ellaveld, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Councillor Naeem was initially excused but later joined. The council honored outgoing Windsor Fire Marshal Lori Volkert, received reports from appointed boards, the town manager, and standing committees, and voted unanimously on all three new business items.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public came forward during either public comment period; no virtual attendees raised hands. Assistant Town Manager Scott Kobe moderated the virtual portion.
Proclamations & Awards
- The council issued a proclamation honoring Windsor Fire Marshal Lori Volkert, who joined the town in 2009, was promoted to Fire Marshal in 2023, and has been selected as the State of Connecticut Fire Marshal. The proclamation cited her fire-safety education work, national presentations through the NFPA, and her 2021 NFPA Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year award. Volkert thanked the Windsor community and reminded residents to check their smoke alarms.
Council Communications
- Multiple council members wished residents a safe Thanksgiving, urged safe driving, and encouraged checking smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Councillor Pelke encouraged residents to join the Windsor Fire Department as volunteers, noting about 20 new members were already in the pipeline. Mayor Black Burke also thanked Councillors Glowacki-Hoffman and Walker for their recent campaigns, recounted the Veterans Day program, noted Windsor Food and Fuel Bank honorees, promoted Small Business Saturday on November 30, and mentioned the inaugural Velo Airlines flight from Bradley Airport to Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Reports
- Public Building Commission: Commissioner Rusty Peck reported that construction has started on the Wilson Fire Station rooftop replacement; LP Wilson Community Center HVAC phase one is expected to finish before year-end and phase two is 95% complete, with window/wall AC unit removal expected around the end of February; and GFK Elementary School HVAC work is being inspected and should be completed by the end of Thanksgiving vacation. Peck also shared a personal note that former PBC chairman Bob Gustison is recovering in rehab.
- Town Manager's Report: Town Manager Sousa thanked Volkert for 15 years of service. He reminded the public that the town clerk's office will close at 3:30 p.m. through mid-next week; winter parking rules are in effect through April 15, 2025, with no on-street parking from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.; town offices will be closed November 28–29; leaf collection continues through November 20; the Day Hill corporate area listening session will be held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.; Project Santa sponsors can sign up at Project Santa Windsor.org, with the program serving 354 children last year; and the Deck the House holiday lighting contest registration closes December 2. He also expressed condolences for retired Police Chief Kevin Searles and gratitude for community support for Windsor Police after Officer Clayton's death.
- Standing Committees: Councillor Smith summarized the Town Improvements Committee's November 14 meeting and FY2025 projects, including the Day Hill Road Adaptive Signal Project, Wilson Park redevelopment, pavement management, sidewalk and curb work, fire engine #8 replacement, and multiple roof/HVAC design projects. Councillor Naeem reminded everyone that the Finance Committee will meet Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to discuss tax credits, with budget recommendations not expected until late December or early January. Councillor Armstrong noted mobile clinics remain available.
New Business
- Priority Redevelopment Property List (Item 12A): The council unanimously adopted the amended priority redevelopment property list, as recommended under the town's tax increment financing (TIF) policy. The amendment removed the redevelopment parcel, the former Scranton Chevrolet site, and Windsor Center Plaza, and added the Mechanic Street transit-oriented development site and the one in ten targeting center. Economic Development Director Patrick McMahon explained that inclusion on the list does not grant automatic TIF eligibility, only the ability to be considered. Councillor Ellaveld noted the current TIF district only applies to four properties and asked about limits; McMahon said non-Windsor Center properties would require a district master plan approved by the town council, and TIF is capped at no more than 10 percent of taxable real estate value. Councillor Armstrong noted one of the added properties is under foreclosure and up for auction; McMahon confirmed the listing does not prevent foreclosure and mentioned an approved 201-unit apartment complex nearby. Vote: 9–0.
- Senior Lunch Program Funding (Item 12B): The council unanimously appropriated $40,000 from the general fund unassigned fund balance to continue the senior lunch program at the Windsor Senior Center through June 30, 2025. Paul Norris, Director of Recreational Leisure Services, explained that Connecticut Renewal Team's ARPA-funded lunch service is being reduced from five days per week to two days per week, with a cap of about 54 meals weekly, and the part-time program coordinator cost will shift to the town. The $40,000 covers about $28,000 for meals and $11,600 for the coordinator. The program serves about 28–30 meals daily, with no income guidelines; 75 percent of participants attend all five days, about 90 percent use Dial-A-Ride, and lunch is also a key social opportunity. Council members expressed support, with several calling senior food insecurity and social isolation important issues. Vote: 9–0.
- Pedestrian Bridge Assessments (Item 12C): The council unanimously appropriated $75,000 from the Capital Projects Fund assigned fund balance for assessment and design services for the town's 18 pedestrian bridges. Town Engineer Suzanne Chuck said many are about 25 years old and the project will produce field inspections, condition reports, recommended work, and cost estimates so the town can prioritize asset management. Vote: 9–0.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted the amended priority redevelopment property list by a 9–0 vote.
- Appropriated $40,000 from the general fund unassigned fund balance for the senior lunch program through June 30, 2025, by a 9–0 vote.
- Appropriated $75,000 from the Capital Projects Fund for pedestrian bridge inspections and design reports by a 9–0 vote.
- Approved the minutes of the November 4, 2024 regular town council meeting by a 9–0 vote.
- There were no resignations or appointments and no executive session; the meeting adjourned after council communications.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the town council meeting for November 18th, 2024. At this time, all of our counselors have been accounted for. Counselor Naeem is excused for this evening. And that will suffice as our roll call. So we'll move to items two and three on our agenda, which is the prayer and/or reflection. And this evening that will be led by Councillor Ellaveld. Thank you very much, ma'am mayor. The uh first thing I'd like to do is take a moment of silence uh for the passing of Officer Lewis Clayton. Uh a uh had been with our department for about three years, and unfortunately passed in the last two weeks. If we could please take a moment of silence for that. Thank you. Um as we're coming up to the Thanksgiving holiday, I found a prayer of Thanksgiving by the uh Dr. Colleen Heines from Xavier University. And let me read that. Let us remember that we are in the presence of God, loving Creator. We asked for strength and you gave us difficulties to make us strong. We asked for wisdom, and you gave us problems to solve. We asked for prosperity, and you gave us purpose and brains to use. We asked for courage, and you gave us fears to overcome. We asked for patience, and you gave us situations we were forced to wait. We asked for love, and you gave us troubled people to help. We asked for justice, and you called us to be just and to lead with integrity. God, we have received nothing that we asked for or wanted, and yet we received everything that we needed. For this, we give thanks. Amen. Pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance. Honor God, liberty and for all. Thank you, Councillor Elliveld. Um, Counselor Naeem has joined us, but Councillor Naeem, uh, we want you to know that we are thinking of you, and if you do need to uh leave the meeting early, that's understandable. But thank you for your dedication and commitment for showing up this evening. At this time, we're going to move to item number four on our agenda, which is proclamations and awards. And this evening we do have a proclamation honoring Lori Volker, Windsor Fire Marshal. And it's beautiful to see the room in the just the support. All right, Deputy Mayor. All right. I can't read without my glasses. Yep. Okay. All right, a proclamation honoring Windsor Fire Marshal Lori Volkert. Whereas Lori Volkart joined the town of Windsor as a fire inspector in 2009, and through her exceptional dedication and expertise was promoted to Windsor Fire Marshal in 2023. And whereas Lori has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety through her work alongside mentors, former fire marshals Ray Walker and Bob Balsevic, diligently pursuing education, training, and staying current with local, state, and federal fire and building codes to ensure the safety of the Windsor community. And whereas Lori's passion for public education and her innovative use of technology have kept the fire marshal's office at the forefront of modern fire prevention, including a robust presence on social media, creating the bugle seasonal seasonal safety newsletter, and the implementation of the OpenGov online permitting system. And whereas during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lori played a crit, excuse me, a crucial role in promoting safety precautions to the community, including hosting a live Facebook event and providing play-by-play color commentary during the Windsor Together Tour, a four-hour parade of emergency and town vehicles across Windsor that provided uplifting support to residents who had been confined to their homes during the pandemic. And whereas beyond the home for front, Lori has also earned the earned recognition on the national stage for her contributions to fire safety safety, successfully securing numerous grants, presenting and speaking at national NFPA conferences, and being named Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year by the NFPA in 2021. And whereas it should come as no surprise that Lori has now been selected as the State of Connecticut Fire Marshal, a role that will allow her to share her expertise, passion, and forward-thinking approach to fire prevention with a pro excuse me with a wider and broader audience. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor of Windsor that Windsor Fire Marshal Lori Volkert is hereby honored for her dedicated service to the town of Windsor and recognized as a national leader in fire prevention. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Lori for her remarkable accomplishments and extend our best wishes as she embarks on this new chapter. Signed Nishette Black Burke, Mayor of Windsor, November 18th, 2024, thank you everybody for being here. Thank you, Fire Service, for showing up for my folks who got me my start in uh service and in the fire service.
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