Windsor Town Council Meeting – December 15, 2025
Windsor Town Council Meeting – December 15, 2025
The Windsor Town Council met on December 15, 2025, beginning with a public hearing on property tax relief and veterans exemption ordinances, followed by the regular meeting. The council heard public comments on police department concerns and a report from the Windsor Arts Center, received updates from the Public Building Commission, and approved several items including the Veterans Pool design study, FY27 budget parameters, and a public hearing on the Plan of Conservation and Development.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the December 1, 2025 regular town council meeting (8-0).
- Approved the town council meeting dates for calendar year 2026 and January 2027 (8-0).
- Approved the fiscal year 2027 budget calendar as presented (8-0).
- Approved the fiscal year 2027 budget format to remain the same as fiscal year 2026 (8-0).
- Approved the 2026 schedule of board and commission annual reports to the town council (8-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Neil Sachdev and Jim Burke of the Windsor Arts Center reported on 2025 accomplishments: six exhibitions, 40 classes enrolling 245 students, an audience of 4,500, and a series of community events. They expressed gratitude for the town's support and noted the upcoming Prison Arts Program exhibition.
- Patrick Dowden, a police union representative, stated that 97% of the police department has no confidence in the administration, 88% believe the administration is retaliatory, and 91% believe the department does not promote a professional work environment. He reported that since the current police chief was hired, nine officers have transferred to other agencies, and seven more are seeking outside employment. He called the situation a crisis and urged the council to address it.
- A female speaker (name not given) expressed support for the police officers, criticized the treatment of a female officer with cancer, and questioned the exclusion of some individuals from a town employee Christmas party. She pledged to attend every meeting until the issues are resolved.
Discussion Items
- Public Building Commission Report: Chair Rusty Peck reported several projects: HVAC and interior renovations at town hall are 98% complete; town hall HVAC work postponed to spring due to weather; Windsor High School HVAC replacement kickoff meeting held; LP Wilson Board of Ed restroom renovations planned for summer; a consulting firm selected for the Veterans Pool conceptual design study; Wilson Fire Station interior renovations completed on time and under budget; Clover Street ADA restroom punch list to be completed over winter break.
- Veterans Pool Design Project: Paul Norris, Recreation Director, presented a request for $85,000 from the Capital Projects Fund for a conceptual design study. The study will assess the pool's condition, propose at least three options (ranging from renovation to full replacement), and provide cost estimates. The pool currently serves summer camp programs but has limited public use due to aging infrastructure and lack of ADA compliance. Council approved the appropriation 8-0 after discussion.
- Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD): Town Planner Todd Seely presented the draft plan, noting a 14-month community engagement process including workshops, focus groups, and an online survey with over 800 responses. The plan is now in a 65-day review period by the Capital Region Council of Governments and the Town Planning and Zoning Commission. The council voted unanimously (8-0) to hold a public hearing on the POCD at the second council meeting in January 2026.
- FY27 Budget Assumptions and Parameters: Finance Director Jim Bork outlined key assumptions: grand list growth estimated at 1%, state aid expected to be level-funded, health insurance costs projected to increase 8-9%, retirement contributions up 4%, and utilities up 5%. The council approved the assumptions 8-0 after discussion on interest rate trends and the end of incremental tax revenue from Amazon's tax abatement.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance – Property Tax Relief for Elderly/Disabled Homeowners: Approved an amendment to Chapter 5, Article 17, providing an additional $300 benefit for married homeowners with income under $45,200 and unmarried homeowners with income under $37,900. The estimated total program cost is $692,000. (8-0)
- Ordinance – Veterans Exemption: Approved an amendment to Chapter 5, Article 14, adding three local options: (1) extending 100% exemption to veterans with total disability based on individual unemployability (affecting 4 residents, reducing assessed value by $815,000, equating to $23,000 in foregone taxes); (2) 100% exemption for Gold Star spouses; (3) a look-back provision to January 1, 2000 for surviving spouses of veterans who would have qualified for 100% PT exemption (affecting 3 spouses, reducing assessed value by $538,000, equating to $15,000 in foregone taxes). (8-0)
- Veterans Pool Design Project: Appropriated $85,000 from the Capital Projects Fund assigned fund balance for a conceptual design study. (8-0)
- FY27 Budget Assumptions and Parameters: Approved as presented. (8-0)
- Public Hearing on POCD: Set for the second council meeting in January 2026. (8-0)
Meeting Transcript
Everybody in my office is six I'm gonna take it. Good evening. The time is now seven twenty-one p.m. and welcome to the public hearing of December 15th, 2025. And before I open it, I would like to read the public notice. Notices hereby given that the town council of the town of Windsor will hold a virtual and in-person public hearing in the council chamber at the Windsor Town Hall, two seventy-five Broad Street on Monday, December fifteenth, two thousand twenty-five at seven twenty p.m. prevailing time to hear public comment on the following items. Article 17 property tax relief for elderly and or disabled homeowners. And to hear public comments on an ordinance entitled and ordinance amending chapter five. So we'll move to the town hall chamber. If there's anyone here who would like to address the two items for a public hearing, we do ask that you step forward, state your name and address. Good evening and welcome to the town council meeting for December 15th, 2025. Thank you. Um this evening, we have all of our counselors present. Uh Councillor King will be absent, uh sending prayers for him to feel better. And the prayer andor reflection will be done by myself, and then the Pledge of Allegiance will be done with Cub Scout Pac 149, who they are visiting with us this evening. We had a great time prior to the meeting with them. So I will at this time move to our prayer and or reflection. Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us together. Guide our discussions with wisdom, grant us open minds and respectful hearts, and bless our time and our decisions that they may benefit all in your name. Amen. So I'm going to invite um Cub Scouts Pack 149 to join me right over here. Yeah. Where's the club? Right over here by the flag. Where'd it go? The flag moved. That's what happened. That's a happened. All right. It swings from time to time. And we're gonna stand right here. All right. Yep. You're gonna turn this way. All right. And we can on both sides. All right, everybody ready. All right, nice and loud. Go for it. Congratulations to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. Thank you so much. Thank you. Can we give them a round of applause? Yeah, yeah. We're gonna get a picture. All right. All together, right? Yeah, yes.
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