Windsor Town Council Meeting and Public Hearing – September 2, 2025
Windsor Town Council Meeting and Public Hearing – September 2, 2025
The Windsor Town Council held a public hearing at 7:20 p.m. followed by its regular meeting on September 2, 2025, in the Council Chambers at Windsor Town Hall with hybrid Zoom access. Mayor Nuchette Black-Burke presided. The council approved a $2.1 million fire ladder truck bond ordinance, authorized a $15,000 youth violence prevention grant application, accepted donated land for road improvements, approved Information Technology job description changes, and received extensive public testimony about the town's Flock Safety license plate reader cameras.
Public Hearing
- The 7:20 p.m. public hearing was held on the ordinance appropriating $2,100,000 for purchasing a ladder truck. No members of the public offered testimony, and the hearing was closed.
Proclamations and Awards
- Mayor Black-Burke read a proclamation designating September 21–27, 2025 as National Adult Day Services Week, recognizing Windsor's Caring Connection Adult Day Health Center. A Caring Connection representative thanked the council for its support.
- Mayor Black-Burke read a proclamation declaring September 2025 as Monarch Butterfly Month in Windsor, highlighting the Windsor Monarch Project, the Eco Monarch Festival, and the town's goal of becoming Connecticut's first designated Monarch City through Monarch City USA. Representatives from First Town Downtown and volunteers involved in pollinator gardens were recognized.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple residents opposed or voiced serious concerns about the Windsor Police Department's use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers (ALPRs). Speakers raised issues including warrantless surveillance, data sharing with out-of-state agencies and ICE, alleged violations of the Connecticut Trust Act and Data Privacy Act, lack of public notice and vetting, and Fourth Amendment concerns. Several speakers said they support speed cameras, red-light cameras, or police cameras for investigations but believe Flock is different.
- Brad Smolkin, 258 Kenswick Lane, stated that Flock's CEO has admitted sharing collected data with ICE and Homeland Security without ensuring it was not used illegally. He also claimed that from April 1 to June 9 of this year, Windsor's data was included in nationwide searches 54 times using the search term "immigration" and once in a nationwide search related to a woman from Texas who had an abortion.
- Kevin Doyle, 143 Palisado Avenue, said Flock's data is stored on a privately owned system accessible with a login and password, that its privacy protections are illusory, and that the system raises serious constitutional issues. He said if the town endorses this surveillance with its budget, it would be the last time he votes for a town budget.
- Eric Weiner, 130 Palisado Avenue, quoted a statement by a lead investor in Flock and argued the company is incompatible with Windsor's values. He proposed an action plan including pausing the Flock system within two weeks, holding public informational sessions, creating a resident task force, and publishing camera locations, contracts, and payments. He said the system has some benefits but presents major civil liberties concerns.
- A resident who discussed Wilson neighborhood issues and unregistered vehicles called for the creation of a local traffic authority and asked the Health and Safety Committee to take up the matter. Another resident described repeated problems with commercial trucks parking on residential streets and lack of enforcement, asking the council to hold the town manager and police chief accountable for enforcing existing laws.
- A resident praised the council for beginning to examine Flock policy under the Health and Safety Committee and urged the council to exercise its policy-making authority.
- Mayor Black-Burke responded that the Flock camera issue and Wilson parking concerns would be referred to the Health and Safety Committee. She said a committee meeting would be scheduled in September, with the date published once finalized, and emphasized that the council is committed to hearing residents' concerns.
Council Member Communications
- Councilors thanked public speakers and acknowledged the concerns raised about Flock and quality-of-life issues. Councilor Pelkey described a personal experience with speeding on Palisado Avenue and said quality-of-life issues such as illegal parking and commercial vehicles on residential streets need serious attention. Councilor Walker said recurring problems in the Wilson neighborhood need corrective action. Councilors also promoted community events, including Hayden Station Fire Company's 75th anniversary celebration on September 26.
Reports of Appointed Boards and Commissions
- Board of Education: Secretary Leonard Lockhart reported that the 2025–2026 school year began Monday, August 25, 2025. He noted the district welcomed staff at Convocation, held its fourth annual Back 2 School Block Party on August 21, and welcomed Kristen Bloom and Robert Fleeting as permanent assistant principals. Dr. Noha Abdel-Hady is serving as Acting Superintendent while Dr. Terrell Hill is out on leave; the first regular Board of Education meeting is September 16, 2025. In response to a councilor's question, Lockhart clarified that Dr. Hill remains superintendent.
- Arts Commission: The commission reported on Windsor's first Poet Laureate, a three-year term, and on providing input on American Rescue Plan funds for the Windsor Arts Center. It also promotes monthly open mic nights and is exploring a continued music series and more collaborations.
- Human Relations Commission: The commission described a "benchmark year," with significantly increased turnout across its four main events, including more than a 100% participation increase for One Book One Windsor after moving it to the Windsor Public Library. It plans to hold Phenomenal Women on International Women's Day, March 8, and is considering a collaborative, multicultural Juneteenth event. The commission is exploring whether Hartford Foundation grant funds earmarked for Juneteenth can be used flexibly.
Town Manager's Report
- Town Manager Peter Souza said absentee ballots will be available starting Friday, October 3, 2025, with applications accepted before that date. Early voting begins October 20, 2025, at Town Hall.
- The tax office will close at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025, for maintenance; a secure drop box and online payments will remain available.
- LP Wilson Community Center's gym will be closed on September 15 for HVAC work.
- A food bank client satisfaction survey received 201 responses from roughly 295 households served in June; 88% of respondents rated service as good or excellent, and 90% said the food selection was good or better.
- Upcoming events include the Freedom Trail Run on September 20, the Freedom Trail Walk on September 27, a storytelling and wellness event on September 18, and an electronics recycling event at Town Hall on September 13.
- In response to public testimony, Police Chief Melanson said Windsor has 16 fixed Flock ALPR cameras that photograph the rear of vehicles and retain data for 30 days. He said the system has helped solve crimes, citing a commercial burglary with over $800,000 in damages where arrests were made. Chief Melanson said Windsor had previously opted into Flock nationwide searches but is currently no longer part of that program; current data sharing is limited to Connecticut local agencies, with no federal agency access. Town Manager Souza said the annual lease cost is approximately $48,000, funded by $18,000 from the General Fund and the balance from the Police Private Duty account, which is generated from administrative fees rather than direct taxpayer appropriations.
Discussion Items
- Unfinished Business — Ladder Truck Bond Ordinance: Agenda materials stated the ordinance appropriates $2,100,000 to replace the 1997 Pierce Ladder Truck assigned to Company 3 at the Poquonock Firehouse. The truck responds to approximately 75% of fire/rescue calls, about 500 responses per year. Funding would come from $1,000,000 in bonds or notes, $500,000 from the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund Capital Budget, and $600,000 from the Public Safety Equipment Capital Fund. The purchase cost is $2,055,653, with the remainder covering bond issuance costs; delivery is expected 18 to 20 months after contract execution. The motion to waive the reading passed 8-0-0, and the motion to approve the bond ordinance passed 8-0-0.
- New Business — Youth Violence Prevention Grant: The council authorized the Town Manager to submit an application to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development for a $15,000 Youth Violence Prevention Grant. The grant does not require a match and is reimbursement-based. Funds would provide free teen center access and social learning programs. The motion passed 9-0-0.
- New Business — Baker Hollow Road Land Acceptance: The council accepted a 3,258-square-foot, 0.075-acre parcel at 75 and 85 Baker Hollow Road, shown on a subdivision plan prepared for Condyne Capital Partners LLC. The land is being donated at no cost and will be used for off-site public improvements to realign the intersection of Baker Hollow Road and Old Poquonock Road as a four-way stop-controlled intersection at no cost to the town. The motion passed 9-0-0.
- New Business — Information Technology Job Descriptions: The council approved updated and revised job descriptions for the Coordinator of Information Technology, Systems Applications Specialist, and Information Technology Specialist. The Coordinator of Information Technology position will be retitled Director of Information Technology. The Information Technology Specialist position will move from Pay Grade 5, $64,420–$86,968, to Pay Grade 6, $72,000–$100,800, with no financial impact because the current incumbent's salary is within that range. The descriptions emphasize cybersecurity, networks, cloud services, risk assessment, and disaster recovery. The motion passed 9-0-0.
- Minutes: The council approved the August 4, 2025 Regular Town Council meeting minutes by a 9-0-0 vote.
- Resignations and Appointments: None were reported.
- Executive Session: The council voted 9-0-0 to enter executive session to discuss the selection of a site or purchase of real estate and strategy and negotiations related to collective bargaining with the Teamsters.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the $2,100,000 ladder truck bond ordinance, including $1,000,000 in bonds/notes, $500,000 from the FY26 General Fund Capital Budget, and $600,000 from the Public Safety Equipment Capital Fund (8-0-0).
- Authorized submission of a $15,000 Youth Violence Prevention Grant application to the State of Connecticut (9-0-0).
- Accepted the donated 3,258-square-foot parcel at 75/85 Baker Hollow Road for intersection improvements (9-0-0).
- Approved IT job description changes, including the Director of Information Technology title and placement of the Information Technology Specialist in Pay Grade 6 (9-0-0).
- Approved the August 4, 2025 Town Council minutes (9-0-0).
- Referred Flock/ALPR camera concerns and Wilson parking/traffic enforcement issues to the Health and Safety Committee for further review.
- Entered executive session for real estate and Teamsters collective bargaining discussions (9-0-0).
Meeting Transcript
Person public hearing in the council chamber at the Windsor Town Hall, two seventy-five Broad Street on Tuesday, September 2nd, 720 PM prevailing time, to hear public comment on the following items. To hear public comment on an ordinance entitled an ordinance appropriating two million one hundred thousand for cost and connection with purchasing of a ladder truck and authorizing the issue of one million dollars bonds and notes and five hundred thousand from fiscal year twenty twenty-six general fund capital budget and six hundred thousand from the public safety equipment capital fund to finance the appropriation. Dated at Windsor, Connecticut, this eighth day of August, twenty twenty-five. A copy of the full text is on file at the office of the town clerk and is available for public inspection. Information on how to attend the Zoom meeting via phone or computer will be included in the town council agenda. You can visit the town website, click on the virtual meeting info button found on the front page and select town council meeting for September second, twenty twenty-five. Windsor Town Council by Peter Sousa, town manager. With the notice being read, the public hearing is now open. I will now turn this over to our moderator Scott Colby, Assistant Town Manager, who will provide the instructions. Thank you, Mr. Colby. At this time we have no attendees virtual with their hand raised. Thank you. And so we'll move to the town hall chamber if there is anyone here who would like to speak to the topic of this public hearing, the ordinance appropriating a purchase of a ladder truck. You can please step forward and state your name and address and be heard. Seeing none, we will bring the public hearing to a close. Good evening. And welcome to the September 2nd, 2025 Town Council meeting. This evening, all of our counselors are here, and that accounts for our roll call. Item number one. And next on our agenda is a prayer and or reflection and the pledge of allegiance. And this evening I will lead us in the prayer and or reflection and the pledge of allegiance. We thank you for another day, oh Lord. We're grateful that we can come here together to do the work of our community. We ask that you bless the proceedings. We ask that you bless every staff member, every volunteer, everyone that has taken time to be a part of this gathering. And we do ask that you will guide our thoughts, our discussion, our motives, and that when all is said and done, we'll continue to do the work for our community. We thank you and for all of these blessings, we all say Amen. Let's stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Item number four on our agenda is proclamations and awards. And so, Deputy Mayor, do we want to step over there? And our first proclamation this evening is a proclamation designating September 21st through the 27th, 2025 as National Adult Day Services Week. And it reads, whereas Windsor's Caring Connection Adult Day Health Center, located at 330 Windsor Avenue in Windsor provides professional and compassionate services, and whereas through its services, the Caring Connection enables functionally and cognitively other abled older adults with a safe, supportive and enriching environment that fosters opportunities for social connection, creative expression, physical activity, community integration, pet therapy, art and music therapy, horticultural engagement, wellness-centered events, and access to healthy nutrition. And whereas adult day health centers provide a coordinated program to serve the elders of the community, including skilled and preventive nursing care assistance with activities of daily living as needed, rehabilitation, and individual and group therapeutic recreation. And whereas adult day health centers offer participants an opportunity for enriching educational, therapeutic, and social experiences outside the home and in their community. And whereas centers alike the Care and Connection provide much needed respite, assistance, guidance, support, and counseling for caregivers and involved others. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and the Windsor Town Council that the Town of Windsor Caring Connection Adult Day Health Center and the National Adult Day Services Association have designated September 21st, 2025 through September 27, 2025 as a National Adult Day Services Week, celebrating adult day services, integration and community in Windsor, Connecticut, and we urge the citizens of Windsor to honor and celebrate this event. Signed Nishette Black Burke, Mayor of Windsor, September 2nd, 2025. And at this time, yes, a round of applause. And on behalf of Caring Connection, we just wanted to say thank you so much for your incredible support and for this recognition. This proclamation represents the meaningful work that we're doing out in the community, and I am for one very honored to be a part of it. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you for your work. Thank you. Thanks for all you do. Thank you. Congratulations. Our second proclamation is declaring September 2025 as Monarch Butterfly Month. Whereas the monarch butterfly, I'm not going to say that.
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