Windsor Town Council Special Meeting – Budget Discussions for Key Departments (April 21, 2026)
Windsor Town Council Special Budget Meeting – April 21, 2026
The Windsor Town Council held a special meeting on April 21, 2026, to review proposed budgets for information services, human services, the child development enterprise fund (Montessori School), and the adult daycare enterprise fund (Care and Connection). Presentations detailed current operations, financial trends, and future projections. Council members asked questions and offered comments but took no final votes on the budgets.
Discussion Items
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Information Services (Scott Nolan, Anita Jubri, Andrew Goldberg):
- The overall and general fund budgets are projected to come in under budget by about 2% due to lower personnel costs from partial-year vacancies. The town clerk’s office continues to prepare for possible no-excuse absentee ballot voting, pending state legislation following a November 2024 constitutional amendment. No state funding is guaranteed.
- The public relations division highlighted the “Summer of 10,000 Flowers” campaign in partnership with the planning department to promote the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). Activities included distributing sunflower seed packets, partnering with 8 civic organizations, 8 businesses, and 7 town departments, a social media contest, lawn signs, a photo booth, and a float in the Shad Derby Parade. A communications preference survey was conducted.
- Upcoming: Walk of Light event for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 on Friday, September 11, 2026, on the town green.
- In response to questions, Scott Nolan reported that the budget referendum participation rate was 15% (approximately 3,290 voters). The March 11 Broad Street Comming Project referendum had a similar rate. Voter participation has shown an upward trend, attributed to improved advertising.
- Discussion of the special revenue fund for town clerk copies: fees are state-mandated (e.g., $1 per page in office), and online access through IQS costs $2 per page, with IQS retaining $1. Some fees can be changed by town council resolution.
- Council members praised the team’s outreach and website, particularly “Molly on the Move,” and the weekly agenda notifications.
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Human Services (Jasmine Hall, Anita Dhubre):
- FY26 general fund expenditures are expected to be under budget by about $2,300 through use of grants. The FY27 proposed general fund budget increases by about $20,000 (3.4%), primarily due to personnel costs offset by grants.
- Special revenue funds increase by 24% (approximately $22,000) to add a temporary part-time position (20 hours/week) for the food bank, fully funded by Windsor Food and Fuel Bank funds for a two-year period.
- Food bank demand has grown: registered families increased from 597 in January 2025 to 707 in January 2026, now at 727. Approximately 210 volunteer shifts per month are scheduled.
- Highlights: Longest Table event (200+ participants on the green), successful launch of client self-shop at the food bank, serving as a distribution site for the senior farmers market nutrition program.
- Questions covered informational seminars (renter’s rebate, at-risk registry, mental health initiatives), the at-risk registry (voluntary sign-up for seniors without support), the human service assistance fund (restricted bequest requiring board approval), and grants (e.g., from CT Food Share, which recently provided a $20,000 grant).
- Jasmine Hall noted increasing requests for housing support (eviction prevention, affordable housing) due to inflation, but no issues of unfair treatment.
- Council members expressed concern about the upward trend in food insecurity and praised the department’s holistic approach, including restored WIC appointments in town.
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Child Development Enterprise Fund – Montessori School (Laura Casey):
- The school is in a positive position with growing waiting lists across all programs. Currently 117 students from 92 families (66 Windsor residents, 26 non-residents).
- Activities: third-year students performed “Rumble in the Jungle,” art displayed at Windsor Library, parent group “Friends of Montessori” formed (organizing Literacy Night, special persons dance, Munson’s chocolate fundraiser, planning 501c3 status for future playground equipment).
- Financial: FY27 projected positive balance of $6,790, compared to a budgeted loss of $3,800 in FY26. Improvement driven by modest tuition adjustment, increased full-time enrollment, an unprecedented number of third-year students (19 registered for next year, up from 9 this year), and cost management.
- One teacher obtained American Montessori Society certification this year.
- Questions: waiting list – 95 families with approximately 3-year wait; bad debt ($2,000 budgeted); rent paid to town of Windsor; surplus minimal. Laura Casey explained that non-payment leads to removal after attempts to work with families.
- Council members praised the program and noted the small surplus after years of near-break-even.
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Adult Daycare Enterprise Fund – Care and Connection (Tara Nuzzo):
- Growing interest: 38 clients on roster, 8 on hold due to medical reasons, 12 new enrolments since January 2026 (averaging 4 per month), 5 additional in final enrollment stages. Windsor representation is increasing.
- Marketing includes Google advertising (budgeted $10,500 for FY27), social media, partnerships with VA, Alzheimer’s Association, and state of Connecticut. A recent ad placed in the Windsor Journal.
- New software system for billing and compliance; online payment capability for clients/families.
- Activity programming: intergenerational music program, field trips, partnership with Windsor Public Library, art, drumming, gardening, etc.
- Financial: rate increases implemented July 2025 (private pay) and early 2026 (state). Bad debt of $22,890 (mostly timing issues for VA benefits; $3,300 deemed uncollectible). The town provides $100,000 general fund subsidy; the center pays $65,000 rent to town and contributes $63,000 to senior transportation. Net subsidy about $35,000.
- Questions: location (330 Windsor Avenue), non-sufficient funds fee (existing policy now written), reduction in therapeutic recreation services line ($44k to $31k), advertising methods, donations (accepts medical supplies, hygiene products, equipment).
- Council members acknowledged the service as valuable and noted the net cost to taxpayers is limited.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken on the proposed budgets. The presentations served as a review for council members, who will continue budget discussions at future meetings (the next day’s session scheduled to cover development services, administrative services, general government, etc.).
- The meeting adjourned with a motion and second, passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the special meeting of the town council. Uh, this evening we are here discussing the following items in our budget: information services, human services, child development enterprise fund, and the adult daycare enterprise fund. Um, counselors, we will go back and forth as far as questions are concerned. Um we will try to keep it to two questions, but if I have to tap-tap with the gavel, that means that you've gone from A through G and it's still question one. She's going to Z. Okay. A through G. So we're good to G now? Well, I'm just saying, if I if I have to tap tap, that means you need to wrap it up. Okay. I need a yellow and pink card. Yeah. That part. So let's say EFGF. So the F he gets the yellow. Oh, sorry. No, no, the E he gets the yellow. F he gets the uh red, and then the G, you get banged on the head. If you get the tax app, it's time to wrap up. Okay. So we'll begin with information services. So information services, if you can please step forward. All right. All right. So Anita, Scott, Andrew, all right. Good evening. Good evening. Uh good evening, uh Mayor Blackberrick and members of the town council. My name is Scott Nolan, town clerk, and together with Anita Jubri, assistant to the town manager, and senior communications specialist Andrew Goldberg, we will be presenting the information services budget that begins on page N one. Both of our overall and general fund budgets are projected to come in under budget by around two percent due to lower personnel costs resulting from partial year vacancies. Most recently, including 19th century school district account journals from 1880 through about 1910 that have been restored. As we look forward to fiscal year 2027, the town clerk's office continues to work with and support our register of voters office as it relates to our elections and as we prepare to implement no excuse absentee ballot voting subject to the state's direction. As you may recall, in November of 2024, Connecticut voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the Connecticut General Assembly to explore additional legislation that would allow for no excuse absentee ballot voting. This could mean that any qualified registered voter could request an absentee ballot without needing a or to without providing a reason as previously outlined in our state state's constitution. While this constitutional amendment did not automatically change the law, it gave the state legislatures the authority to pass new legislation that would ultimately could expand access to the ballot box. We anticipate that legislation may be considered in the current session of the Connecticut General Assembly, potentially affecting elections beginning upon passage or in 2027. At this time, we are still waiting guidance on the implementation of no excuse absentee voting and what that may entail, any potential change to early voting days for primaries or general elections, and whether continued state funding will be available to support these changes. I should note at this time there is no requirement for the state of Connecticut to provide funding to support early voting or no excuse absentee balloting. However, that is always subject to change at the state's direction. I will continue to monitor developments closely and prepare our elections accordingly. Anita will now review the public relations budget found on page N6 and N7. Thank you, Scott, and good evening. The FY27 supplies and services line show a slight uptick. The services line reflects a $2,500 transfer from the IT department. This funding supports the town's email notification system, which will now be managed managed by the public relations department. The $4,670 previously budgeted under maintenance and repair has been reallocated to services. This is not a new expense, but an existing cost associated with our Granicus software. The adjustment was made for cleaner accounting as Granicus now issues us a single invoice with everything on it as opposed to itemized that they did in the past. The highlight of our year was our summer of 10,000 flowers campaign in partnership with the planning department. This promotion was designed to maintain visibility and encourage community engagement during the multi-month process of the Windsor's POCD, the plan of conservation and development.
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