Windsor Town Council Special Meeting - April 30, 2025

The Windsor Town Council held a hybrid special meeting on April 30, 2025, at 6:30 PM to conduct final deliberations and vote on the Fiscal Year 2026 proposed budget, set the referendum date, and hear public comment. The meeting lasted until 8:51 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Leanne Tyson (141 Giddings Ave) expressed support for the proposed budget, warning that failure to pass it could lead to cuts in roads, police, fire services, SEL programs, teachers, JROTC, strings program, snow removal, library hours, senior center services, and pool operations. She described the budget as a "bare bones, stay put flat budget" with increases due to base costs like insurance, electricity, heating, and bus transportation.
• Dr. Linda Alexander (155 Fieldstone Lane) opposed the current budget proposal, arguing that the town and schools should have rolled back temporary spending from earlier positions. She questioned the necessity of low student-teacher ratios, noting her own success in large classes.
• John Castro (48 Year Oak Road) opposed the budget, criticizing the need for new fire trucks, suggesting dissolving volunteer fire service, and alleging that Board of Education funds were spent without state approval. He demanded transparency on salaries, overtime, and bonuses, and criticized the council's decision to revaluate property taxes over two years instead of five.
• Aaron Jubri (38 Crab Apple Road) thanked volunteers and spoke in favor of increased school funding, arguing it boosts property values and community prosperity. He urged support for education as an investment in the future.
• Sharon Gothier (142 Sunnyfield Drive) defended town staff and services, urging residents to engage civically rather than complain. She noted that health insurance cost increases are the primary driver of the budget, not town mismanagement.
• Joe Zapiary (347 Route Av) complained about tax increases, citing his own tax bill rising from $3,511 in 2022 to a projected $4,508. He requested that senior tax relief be based on adjusted gross income rather than gross income.
• Ariela Trifon (28 Spring Street, student at JFK School) opposed cutting the school budget, emphasizing the importance of teachers and manageable class sizes. She asked the council to consider students who cannot vote.
• George Slate (74 Ethan Drive) criticized the town for not addressing OPEB liabilities (post-retirement medical benefits), calling the budget reliance on a "credit card." He proposed increasing senior tax relief for the 432 current participants, giving them $850 each to offset projected increases, and urged the council to take action.
• Eric Weiner (130 Palo Saido) supported George Slate's senior tax relief proposal and suggested expanding it. He advocated for delaying the referendum to allow time for an ordinance change before the vote.
• Chloe Taylor (88 Farmstead Lane, Windsor High School senior) spoke in favor of the budget, opposing cuts to schools, sports, and services. She emphasized the importance of not implementing pay-to-play sports and said she would vote yes for the budget.
• Warisha Khan (25 Colton Street, student representative to Board of Education) asked the council to consider long-term impacts on students and families, urging investment in schools and futures.
• Becky Jacobson (50 Lighthouse Hill Road) read letters from parents supporting the school budget, highlighting the importance of special education, SEL, and extracurricular programs.
• Sarah Thornton (1946 Boquanic Avenue) supported the budget, noting that increases are due to inflation and that cutting staff would harm children. She thanked the council for considering senior relief.
• Sally Grossman (106 Matt Road) argued against cutting the budget, stating that the national economic situation should not lead to harming community members. She emphasized that the budget only maintains current services.
• Pamela Woodruff (72 Toby Avenue) supported the budget, noting her son receives special education support and that schools need every dollar to maintain services.

Discussion Items

• Great Pond Improvement District: Councilors clarified that the district contributes over $4 million in property taxes annually, with 50% returned for public infrastructure debt service. Private investment at Great Pond exceeds $200 million.
• Senior Tax Relief: Councilor Naeem proposed increasing the senior tax credit match from 100% to 150% of the state level, adding $130,000 to the benefit line. Councilor Elliveld inquired about the process, and Town Manager Sousa explained it requires an ordinance amendment with a public hearing, which could be fast-tracked by the second meeting in May. The council voted 9-0 to amend the budget for this increase.
• Budget Cuts and Affordability: Councilors debated the impact of cuts. Town Manager Sousa detailed that a 1% reduction on the town side ($550,000) could be achieved by reducing pay-as-you-go capital (paving, sidewalks), debt service, OPEB contributions, and other items. Deeper cuts would affect public safety headcount. Councilor Pelkey noted that reducing the mill rate by one point ($4.4 million) would require drastic service cuts. Councilor Naeem emphasized that cuts to paving, sidewalks, dispatch, and OPEB would harm long-term quality of life.
• Board of Education Budget: Councilor King presented the BOE budget of $89,275,120, describing it as a maintenance budget that eliminated a pre-K program and reflects a reduction of almost $1 million from initial requests. She warned that further cuts could lead to loss of up to 12 teachers per $1 million. The motion passed 5-4.
• Pay-to-Play Sports: Councilors clarified that Windsor does not charge students for middle/high school sports, and that maintaining the budget is necessary to continue this policy.

Key Outcomes

• Board of Education Budget: Approved ($89,275,120) on a 5-4 vote.
• Town Support for Education: Approved ($6,474,060) unanimously (5-0? actually 5-0, but no opposition recorded).
• Safety Services (Police): Amended to reduce equipment replacement by $10,000 ($14,422,640 final). Passed 9-0.
• Recreation and Leisure Services: Approved ($2,720,830) on a 5-4 vote.
• Human Services: Approved ($593,690) on a 5-4 vote.
• Health Services: Approved ($692,880) on a 5-0 vote.
• Library Services: Approved ($2,064,550) on a 6-3 vote.
• Development Services: Approved ($2,399,360) on a 6-3 vote.
• Community Development: Approved ($125,550) unanimously.
• Public Works: Amended to reduce materials and supplies by $10,000 ($7,297,840 final). Passed 9-0.
• Information Services: Approved ($755,450) unanimously.
• Administrative Services: Approved ($3,146,170) unanimously.
• General Government: Amended to reduce anti-littering/drive-wise programs by $5,000 ($1,333,680 final). Passed 9-0.
• General Services: Amended to reduce paving ($30,000), sidewalk replacement ($25,000), debt service ($55,000), open space ($35,000), Great Pond Improvement District transfer ($34,150), and Windsor Center TIF district ($6,160) — total $185,310 reduction ($20,710,700 final). Passed 9-0.
• Total General Fund Expenditures: Reduced by $210,310 to $152,012,160. Passed 5-0.
• Revenue Adjustments: Levy decreased by $2,210,310 to $127,358,700 (including $2 million use of opening cash). Passed 9-0 (opening cash motion 6-3).
• Tax Collection Rate: Set at 98.8% (unanimous).
• Senior Tax Relief: Increased benefit from 100% to 150% state match, adding $130,000 ($564,475 total). Passed 9-0. Requires ordinance amendment with public hearing on May 12 or later.
• Veterans Tax Relief: Approved at $38,270 (unanimous).
• Volunteer Firefighter Exemption: Approved at $118,500 (unanimous).
• Enterprise Funds: Landfill ($801,610), Transfer Station ($372,300), Caring Connection Adult Daycare ($620,730), Windsor Montessori ($1,642,070) — all approved unanimously.
• Fee Schedule (Appendix G): Approved unanimously.
• Referendum Date: Set for Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM at all seven polling places. Passed 8-1.
• Adjournment: Motion carried at 8:51 PM.