Windsor Town Council Special Meeting – Budget Review (April 22, 2025)
Windsor Town Council Special Meeting – Budget Review (April 22, 2025)
The Windsor Town Council held a special meeting on April 22, 2025, to review four enterprise fund budgets: Adult Daycare (Caring Connection), Information Services (Town Clerk and Public Relations), Library Services, and Child Development (Montessori School). The meeting began with a motion to reorder the agenda, moving the Adult Daycare item to second, which passed unanimously. No public comments were taken during this special meeting; the public budget hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2025.
Adult Daycare Enterprise Fund
- Presentation by Cheryl Rosenbaum (Caring Connection coordinator) announced her retirement at the end of the fiscal year after eight budget presentations. She reported census growth attributed to marketing, Google outreach, and reduced competition. Recent facility improvements (carpet, paint, chairs) and a new outdoor pavilion funded by state COVID relief funds were highlighted.
- Revenue & Loss Projections: The FY25 year-end revenue estimate is $433,000 (down from a budgeted $483,000 due to overzealous projections). FY26 revenue is projected at $504,000 based on typical fourth-quarter census increases. The fund anticipates a $107,000 loss for FY25.
- Building Cost Discussion: The Caring Connection contributes $65,000 in rent and a $62,000 transfer for transportation to the general fund for 330 Windsor Avenue. If these contributions were absent, the program would show a small profit. Town Manager Sousa noted the town would still incur most of the building costs if the program ceased.
- Questions: Deputy Mayor inquired about state funding for the home care program (business as usual reported). Council members asked about nursing services (on-site full-time nurse), marketing to neighboring towns (Bloomfield, Hartford, Windsor Locks – they lack adult day programs), intergenerational programs (post-COVID challenges), and the revenue shortfall.
Information Services
- Town Clerk (Scott Nolan): Reported that for the November 2024 presidential election, over 7,000 early voting ballots were issued (~30% of Windsor's voting population). Anticipating no-excuse absentee ballot voting in FY26. The office applied for a state historic document preservation grant to restore documents from 1874-1894. Revenue from death certificates increased due to statewide purchasing.
- Public Relations (Anita Jubri & Andrew Goldberg): Proposed a 4.5% FY26 general fund increase driven by personnel and software fees (Granicus, SeeClickFix, Social Archive). Highlighted engagement strategies: “Molly on the Move” videos, top post (Windsor High graduates winning Grammy – 38,000 views), and the “stay connected” campaign. The team is working with IT on a new town website.
- Questions: Council discussed unfunded state election mandates; Town Manager stated CCM and COST are advocating but no state funding expected. Citizens Academy cost ~$200 for supplies (staff time is a soft cost); possible youth academy in development. SeeClickFix response rate is monitored with a one-business-day acknowledgment goal. Engagement metrics (monthly KPI reports) are used to assess print vs. digital effectiveness.
Library Services
- Presentation by Gay Rizzo (Library Director) & Kayleigh Classen (Wilson Branch Manager): FY25 general fund budget came under by $3,760; FY26 increase of $73,350 (3.7%) for personnel. Library had over 200,000 visitors and 222,000 items borrowed. Nearly 10,000 people attended 800 programs. Late fees totaled $12,196.80 last year – Rizzo defended retaining fines as an incentive for timely returns, noting a lower lost-item problem compared to peer libraries.
- Goals for FY26: Migrate to a new integrated library system with mobile app; partner with IT for an accessible website; develop memory kits and adaptive equipment for seniors aging in place. The Wilson branch tutoring program is funded via reimbursement from Upper Albany Neighborhood Alliance for supplies (snacks, workbooks); no formal grant.
- Services: Free conversion of VHS to DVD and photo recovery from old devices using makerspace equipment. Meeting rooms available for free to nonprofit Windsor-based groups; $45/hour for private companies. Copiers owned, with fees (20¢ B&W, 50¢ color) set aside for replacements.
- Questions: Council King asked about late fees; Rizzo explained their importance. Council discussed the tutoring program’s funding uncertainty and the proctoring service ($25 fee, declining use). Council Armstrong inquired about conversion services (no cost, supplies donated) and meeting room fees.
Child Development Enterprise Fund
- Presentation by Laura Casey (Montessori School): New state ratios allowed expansion of toddler (4:1 to 5:1) and elementary after-school (1:10 to 1:15) programs without adding staff. FY25 estimated loss $45,930 (budgeted loss $6,360) due to under-enrollment in full-day primary slots. FY26 projected loss $3,800 with tuition increases and new full-time spaces. Current enrollment: 4 primary classrooms (avg. 19.5 students), 2 toddler classrooms (19 children).
- Program Highlights: New state-funded playground; Spanish, music, art, drama classes; parent involvement events (100+ at trick-or-treat). A Windsor High Scout funded a greenhouse rebuild for his Eagle Scout project.
- Rent & Staffing: Rent at Milo Peck Building is $118,000/year; Town Manager noted this covers operational costs but not major capital, and the building would remain a town liability if closed. Staffing challenges persist; one employee received Montessori certification assistance. The after-school program does not require Montessori certification.
- Questions: Council asked about tuition (no sliding scale, but state Care 4 Kids subsidy accepted), comparison to private centers (within 5% of non-Montessori prices, higher than other Montessori schools but not undercutting), and the waiting list for under-3 children through July 2026 due to sibling priority.
Key Outcomes
- The agenda reorder motion passed unanimously.
- No votes on the budgets themselves occurred; the presentations were informational.
- The public budget hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2025, where residents may comment.
- The meeting adjourned without further action.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, and welcome to the special meeting of the Windsor Town Council. Um, this evening we are going to discuss adult daycare enterprises, information services, library services, and the child development enterprise fund. We do have a quorum, so we'll move um straight into our business for the evening. So at this time, is there a motion? Yes, I move to move number five on the agenda, adult take care enterprise fund to ahead of number two, information services. Thank you so much, uh, Council Walker. I don't believe there's any discussion on that. All in favor. If the opposition or abstentions. So that motion passes. And so we will move uh number five to number two. And so adult daycare enterprise fund. Mr. Susan. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, like to invite up Cheryl Rosenbaum, who's the interconnection coordinator. And thank you very much for um adjusting the schedule this evening. And so Cheryl will present the um overview of the twenty-six twenty-five and twenty-six budget. Whenever you're ready, Cheryl. Growth in this industry can be murky. With increases to census projections comes increases to not only revenue, but staffing, as dictated by our required staffing ratio of one to seven hands-on caregivers. Also, increases to supplies, food costs, and salaries, salaries that will attract the most qualified staff, all affecting the budget daily. Recent census growth can be attributed to a combination of successful marketing initiatives, increases to our outreach efforts on Google, the excellent reputation of the caring connection has amongst professionals in the community, and the overall decreased numbers of other day centers in the general area. By maintaining a robust presence on Google, we ensure that when families are seeking care options for their loved ones, the caring connection is prominently featured in search results, making a meaningful impact and providing the most support and information required when needed. You may recall my saying research shows that adult day center participants thrive when the activity program includes special activity therapies in their offerings. We have been experienced this as prospective clients are choosing to sign up for the programs on days we offer some of this niche programming that we are using our state of Connecticut COVID relief funds for to enhance our therapeutic activity offerings at the Caring Connection. We continue to work closely with senior transportation, researching additional creative ways to accommodate the transportation needs of our clients, accomplishing this in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. As part of the board for the Association of Adult Day Centers, I recently testified in support of House Bill 6549, which, if passed, may bring a percentage increase to the daily rate intended to assist with costs associated with transportation to our state supported clients next fiscal year. Inside the caring connection, we are enjoying a new look since we last spoke. Carpet and paint have really brightened our facility, and new chairs easily disinfected with excellent lumbar support for our clients complete the new look. I hope you will each get a chance to stop down and visit. In just about a month, we will be extending the look to our outdoor space with the installation of a beautiful pavilion paid for by the State of Connecticut COVID relief funds, affording us increased opportunities to be outside in shade during warmer weather. For over 37 years, countless seniors from Windsor and the immediate surrounding area have been able to stay in their homes and community, aging in place, staying out of long-term care facilities because of the dedication and talent of current and past employees of the caring connection, who are and currently are passionate and dedicated to our motto, we change how our clients live, not where they live. Tonight, after eight opportunities to share my passion for the caring connection with you during budget presentations, I announce that this will be my last as I plan to retire at the end of the fiscal year. I have had to address such topics as staffing changes, revenue challenges, and COVID closing and reopenings, just to name a few. We've recently been celebrating increased revenues and the receiving of State of Connecticut relief funds for the Caring Connection. It has been my distinct honor and pleasure to be associated with this amazing program Windsor has for its residents. And I have you, former mayors, and past councils to thank for that. At this time, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you so much, Sharon, for the presentation. And do want to say that you'll be missed. Thank you for your dedication, your service. Indeed, yes, we've had lots of great conversations. I've had the opportunity along with many counselors and past councils to visit and support. So thank you. Thank you for all that you've done and your incredible team. So thank you for that. Um counselors. Yes. Deputy Mayor.
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