Windsor Town Council Public Hearing and Regular Meeting - January 6, 2025

The Town Council of Windsor held a virtual and in-person public hearing and regular meeting on Monday, January 6, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The public hearing focused on a proposed bond ordinance for the Broad Street Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety project. Following the hearing, the regular meeting addressed several agenda items, including a fire rescue pumper bond, a land sale, and a veterans' exemption ordinance amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Hilary Carpenter (45 Bradford Drive) expressed strong support for the Broad Street project, citing public safety, increased pedestrian traffic, and business development benefits.
• Neil Chowdery (21 Hillcrest Road) voiced enthusiastic support for the proposal, emphasizing the need for public safety improvements and positive business impact.
• Paul Panos (48 Brookview Road) opposed the road diet, arguing that two lanes each way are needed for traffic volume, that roundabouts would not promote foot traffic, and that speed reduction claims are unconvincing.
• Adam Gutchen (19 Mechanics Street) strongly supported the project, describing Broad Street as unsafe for pedestrians and calling for a walkable, livable town center. He said he does not apologize for inconveniencing drivers who speed.
• Mark Harrington (1217 Windsor Avenue), local business owner and board chair of Windsor Street Safety Advocacy Group (WATTS), fully supported the project, citing high speeds and accidents. He argued that safety and business vibrancy must be addressed together.
• John Dunn (Strawberry Hill, Windsor) asked about the net change in parking spaces and raised concerns about traffic diverting to side streets. He emphasized government's responsibility for physical safety and urged putting the project to referendum.
• Jeff Lance (1203 Windsor Avenue) tied the need for traffic control on Broad Street to feeder roads, noting dangerous speeds near Stony Hill School. He urged protecting pedestrians above all else.
• Sam Savelli (7 Moren Lane, Windsor) opposed the project, citing negative experience with a road diet in the Wilson section, raised concerns about trolley tracks, drainage costs, and emergency vehicle access. He suggested using police enforcement instead.
• Liz DuPont Deal (78 Palisado F) supported the plan, praising the study and public hearings. She noted dangerous speeding on Windsor Avenue and expressed confidence in roundabouts based on examples in other communities.
• Linda Rickard (62 Sycamore Street) supported the road diet for safety but expressed dismay about roundabouts, particularly for visually impaired pedestrians. She questioned whether the roundabouts were part of the package.
• Bridget Harrington (1217 Windsor Avenue) reminded that a $4 million grant is already secured, noted that the proposed road diet includes turn lanes (unlike the Wilson project), and stated emergency vehicles will not be slowed.
• Sharon Seeleck Bennett (810 Bookbinder) strongly favored traffic calming, recalling that widening Broad Street to four lanes was a mistake. She urged the council to put the referendum to the public.

Discussion Items

• Broad Street Traffic Calming Bond Ordinance: Town Manager Peter Sousa presented the ordinance appropriating $6,100,000 for the project, with funding from $2,100,000 in bonds, $1,000,000 from a State Urban Act grant, and $3,000,000 from a federal Highway Infrastructure grant. The project (Option 3) includes roundabouts, one lane each direction, parking on the west side, and bike lanes. The timeline after referendum approval is about 9 months of design and DOT approval. Debt service would not impact the budget until FY28. The ordinance provided 35-37 parking spaces on the west side.
• Fire Rescue Pumper Bond: Fire Chief Steve Bianchi and Fire Administrator Paul Goldberg requested $1,400,000 for a new rescue pumper for Company 3 at the Pequonic Firehouse, replacing a 32-year-old vehicle. Funding includes $816,000 in bonds and $584,000 from the Public Safety Equipment Fund. Delivery is expected in 30 months. Debt service of approximately $62,000 annually would begin in FY28. Councilor Pelke questioned the bonding versus cash decision; Sousa explained it preserves flexibility in the operating budget.
• Windsor Poet Laureate: Assistant Town Manager Scott Colby reported that the Arts Commission, after reviewing five applications and interviewing three candidates, recommends Britannia Tatum (Versatile Poetic) for appointment. The appointment will be considered at the January 21 meeting.
• Land Sale to Founder Square Developer: Patrick McMahon presented the sale of 0.032 acres of town-owned land along 114 Upper Broad Street to 144152 Broad Street LLC for $7,923, based on appraised value. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the sale on December 10, 2024, contingent on acquisition. The second phase of Founder Square will increase units from 36 to 50.
• Veterans Exemption Ordinance Amendment: Scott Colby introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 5, Article 14, raising the local veterans' income limit from $20,000 to $62,200, indexed proportionally to state guidelines. This aligns with the local elderly program income limits. The application period runs February 1 to October 1 annually.

Key Outcomes

• Broad Street Bond Ordinance Vote: The motion to approve the bond ordinance for the traffic calming project failed, with 4 in favor, 3 opposed, and 1 abstention. Five votes were required for passage. The item will be brought back to the council.
• Fire Rescue Pumper Bond Ordinance: The council voted unanimously (8-0) to introduce the bond ordinance and set a public hearing for January 21, 2025, at 7:20 p.m.
• Land Sale: The council approved the sale of 0.032 acres to the Founder Square developer (6-1-1).
• Veterans Exemption Ordinance: The council voted unanimously (8-0) to introduce the ordinance and set a public hearing for January 21, 2025, at 7:20 p.m.
• Resignations Accepted: The council accepted the resignations of Jeff Adamson from the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission and Edward Richters from the Windsor Arts Commission (8-0).
• Minutes Approved: The minutes of the December 16, 2024 public hearing and regular meeting were approved unanimously (8-0).
• Meeting Adjourned: The meeting adjourned after public communications.