Windsor Town Council Meeting - June 16, 2025

The Windsor Town Council held a public hearing and regular meeting on June 16, 2025. The public hearing addressed the proposed construction of a sidewalk along Prospect Hill Road. During the regular meeting, the council approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Windsor Police Department Employee Association (WPDEA), authorized an interlocal agreement with East Windsor for a shared public safety radio system, approved year-end budget transfers and purchase orders, and tabled a motion on the sidewalk construction pending further discussion on snow removal responsibilities.

Public Hearing (Prospect Hill Road Sidewalk)

• The hearing was called to order at 7:20 p.m. by Mayor Nuchette Black-Burke to hear public comment on the proposed construction of a new sidewalk along Prospect Hill Road between Woodduck Farms Road and Day Hill Road.
• Two residents spoke in opposition to the sidewalk due to snow removal concerns:
  • David Marley (630 Prospect Hill Road) stated his property has 800 feet of frontage and his neighbor Sharon Zavarella has another 800 feet, totaling 1,600 feet of sidewalk. He argued that it is unreasonable to expect a 65-year-old and a 75-year-old to maintain such a long stretch, and proposed that the town take responsibility for snow removal on those sections, citing existing town-maintained sidewalk segments nearby.
  • Judith Cedor (740 Prospect Hill Road, Newgate Farms) expressed concern about losing 10 feet of frontage for vegetable farming and emphasized the difficulty of snow removal on a five-foot-wide sidewalk. She requested the town assume maintenance for large frontage properties.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of FY 25 General Fund Year-End Transfers: Moved to transfer $44,180 from Safety Services to General Government to cover legal fees ($81,230) and election costs ($13,450), and $98,500 from Safety Services to General Services to cover Great Pond transfer ($96,160) and MDC sewer charges ($19,420). The Finance Director was also authorized to make year-end transfers of up to $5,000 per service unit. Passed 9-0-0.
• Approval of FY 25 Year-End General Fund Purchase Orders: Seven open purchase orders totaling $221,827.01 were extended until October 20, 2025. Items include a police vehicle, HVAC units, public safety drone, firearms, speed detection units, and equipment repairs. Passed 9-0-0.

Discussion Items

• Prospect Hill Road Sidewalk (Tabled): Councilor Pelkey expressed concern about the burden of snow removal on property owners with large frontages, noting that he would not support the motion unless the town assumed responsibility for snow removal on those segments. Town Manager Peter Souza confirmed that the town could take on snow removal, as it has done for other long sidewalks (e.g., Hayden Station Road, Kennedy Road). Councilor Naeem clarified that the sidewalk approval and snow removal policy are separate but linked. Deputy Mayor Klase noted that the neighborhood has many walkers and sidewalks are welcome. Councilor Eleveld suggested exploring town snow removal for the 1,600-foot stretch. The council voted to table the motion until July 7, 2025, to gather more information on cost and feasibility. No further public hearing required.
• WPDEA Collective Bargaining Agreement (Approved): The three-year agreement (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027) was ratified by union members. Key provisions include:
  • Wages: General wage increases of 2.5% in FY26 and 2.25% in FY27; Animal Control Officer receives 3.5% annually. The two-tier pay plan for officers hired before/after 2016 is merged into a single higher plan, improving competitiveness and resolving pay compression.
  • Health Insurance: Employee premium share increases by 0.5% per year (PPO: 23% to 24.5%; HDHP: 19% to 20.5%). Office visit copays increase by $5–$10; outpatient surgery copay to $250; inpatient hospital to $200/day ($600 max). Prescription copays increase $5/$10. Retiree premium cap rises from 25% to 30%.
  • Other changes: Vacation accrual for officers hired after 2013 accelerated (3-week at 5 years, 4-week at 13). Frontloading vacation on anniversary date. Detective uniform allowance increased by $375/year. Bi-weekly pay authorized. Overtime rules clarified for order-in and mandatory training. Academy work period changed to 86 hours bi-weekly, saving ~$1,950 per recruit.
  • Financial impact: $472,100 in additional wage/step costs over the contract. Health insurance changes are projected to save the town ~$120,000 over years two and three. Passed 9-0-0.
• Shared Public Safety Radio System with East Windsor (Approved): The council authorized the Town Manager to execute an interlocal agreement with East Windsor for a joint P25 Phase 2 700 MHz radio system. East Windsor has secured an $8 million state grant to fund the expansion, including two new towers in East Windsor and integration with Windsor's existing three-tower system. Benefits include enhanced regional coverage, interoperability, redundancy (shared dispatch), and direct communication with East Windsor EMS (backup for Windsor EMS). Windsor's annual maintenance costs will increase from ~$150,000 to ~$210,000, but this is 55% less than the projected standalone cost after required upgrades. Over five years, Windsor is expected to avoid over $1.5 million in capital and maintenance costs. The agreement has a 10-year term and establishes a Joint Oversight Committee. Passed 9-0-0.

Key Outcomes

• Prospect Hill Road Sidewalk: Motion tabled to July 7, 2025, pending additional information on snow removal options and costs for large frontage properties.
• FY 25 Year-End Transfers: Approved as presented.
• FY 25 Year-End Purchase Orders: Extended until October 20, 2025.
• WPDEA Collective Bargaining Agreement: Ratified.
• Interlocal Agreement with East Windsor for Radio System: Authorized.
• Minutes of June 2, 2025: Approved.