Windsor Town Council Special Meeting – April 22, 2026: FY27 Budget Presentations

This special meeting of the Windsor Town Council was held on April 22, 2026, at 6:30 PM in a hybrid format (Council Chambers and Zoom) to continue budget discussions for Fiscal Year 2027. Presentations were delivered by department heads for Development Services, Administrative Services, General Government, Community Development, General Services/Capital Spending, Insurance Internal Service Fund, and Town Support for Education. Councilors asked questions and received clarifications, but no formal votes were taken. Councillor King was absent due to a work assignment, and Councillor Naeem participated online.

Development Services

• Presenter: Todd Seely, Town Planner, representing building, economic development, engineering, fire marshal, and planning divisions.
• Budget Overview: Proposed FY27 general fund increase of 2.7% (compared to FY26), driven by personnel costs and service contracts. Overall department increase of 0.6%.
• Achievements: Building department completed Founders Square Phase 1, Wilson Gateway Park, and a solar facility; engineering rehabilitated ~6 miles of roadway; fire marshal transitioned to a new national reporting system (Nearus); economic development secured a $250,000 Community Investment Fund grant for senior/disabled housing planning near Millbrook Village.
• Key Questions:
  • Councillor Durant asked about building permit revenue estimates dropping from $102 million (FY20) to $57,000 (FY27 target). Staff explained that large commercial/warehouse projects are excluded from revenue forecasts due to unpredictability; estimates rely on residential/community activity.
  • Councillor Koki inquired about GIS system cost increases. Staff noted a ~$7,000 year-over-year increase due to licensing changes.
  • Councillor Armstrong asked about the Shad Run senior housing project (52 units) and the Fitch Court feasibility study. Patrick McMahon stated an RFQ for development services will be issued in coming months; no unit count or timeline yet.
  • Councillor Elliveld noted a reduction of 0.25 FTE in building safety, attributed to part-time hours adjustments.
  • Councillor Elliveld asked about fee competitiveness; staff responded that fees are reviewed annually.
  • Deputy Mayor asked about occupancy at Founders Square apartments: ~70% leased (70 units), with 20% deed-restricted at 80% area median income.
  • Councillor Surin asked about permit turnaround times. Staff reported commercial permits average 6-10 days; inspections scheduled within 2 business days.

Administrative Services

• Presenter: Jim Bork, Finance Director, with HR Director Amelia Bliss, IT Director Frank Angelillo, Risk Manager Jack Goldberg, and Assessor Josh Gaston.
• Budget Overview: FY27 general fund increase of ~$250,000, driven by new budgeting software, website contract, unemployment claims, and personnel costs. FY26 expected to be $17,000 under budget.
• Highlights: Finance completed third-year audit with CLA; GFOA awards for financial reporting and budget. HR negotiated police and Teamsters contracts; IT prioritizing cybersecurity and software deployment suite replacement. Risk manager initiated safety walkthroughs and corrective actions.
• Key Questions:
  • Councillor Durant asked about a 7% increase for IT due to Wi-Fi project grants – reimbursable grants require upfront funding; turnaround 60-90 days.
  • Councillor Naeem asked about cybersecurity prioritization. Frank Angelillo described multi‑layered approach: region 3 cybersecurity group, training every other week, phishing tests, user grading. Multi‑factor authentication (MFA) is not used on internal network but is enforced for remote access and IT administrative accounts.
  • Councillor Pelkey asked about MFA for Board of Education (BoE) – BoE rolled out full MFA last year.
  • Councillor Koki asked about employee turnover rate (16%): half due to retirements, half resignations. Probationary period pass rate set at 90% target for FY27.
  • Deputy Mayor asked about supervisory training – HR provides townwide sessions; departments may send employees to specific courses. HR training budget is $20,000.
  • Councillor Surin asked about time-to-hire metrics: current 4.5 weeks from job posting closing date to offer; FY27 target 4 weeks.
  • Councillor Armstrong asked about delinquent tax collection – funds go to General Fund.
  • Councillor Pelkey asked about unemployment claims increase – town pays per claim; uptick partly due to higher-paid police officers collecting more weeks.
  • Councillor Pelkey asked about building security – risk manager acknowledged employee concerns; exploring short-term and long-term options while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.

General Government

• Presenter: Jim Bork
• Budget Overview: FY27 general fund increase of ~$114,000 (8.5%) due to a new full-time clerical position for succession planning and three elections (vs. two in FY26). FY26 expected to be $68,000 over budget due to workers’ compensation litigation.
• Key Questions:
  • Councillor Naeem asked about legal costs for workers’ comp – staff noted difficulty predicting, but transfers between departments at year-end are possible.
  • Councillor Naeem also requested a summary report on community grants with outcome data; staff agreed to work on providing trend data.
  • Councillor Pelkey explained the Town Council budget covers legal ads, retreats, CCM convention, phone lines, iPads, and supplies.
  • Councillor Pelkey asked about community grant application process – current process involves letters to past recipients; no online portal, but staff will explore.
  • Councillor Armstrong asked about the $400 membership fee for the town attorney in the CT Municipal Attorneys Association.
  • Councillor Armstrong also asked about community contributions (P13) – staff confirmed these are requests from organizations following council policy.
  • Councillor Elliveld noted the Network Against Domestic Abuse is now under Hartford Interval House; funding request is flat-funded.
  • Councillor Elliveld asked about election costs: early voting personnel ~$33,000, regular voting ~$66,000, budget referendum personnel ~$16,000, plus ballots and supplies.
  • Deputy Mayor noted First Town Downtown and Windsor Arts Center receive funding through the Windsor Center TIF, not directly from this budget.
  • Councillor Surin requested a consolidated breakdown of total election costs; staff agreed to provide.
  • Councillor Surin also noted the community services section could be better publicized; possibly a road show to civic organizations.

Community Development

• Presenter: Flavia Rey DeCastro, Community Development Specialist, with Patrick McMahon.
• Budget Overview: FY27 overall decrease of ~$145,000, mostly from Shad Run construction timeline shift; general fund increase of $1,350. FY26 is expected $193,000 under budget.
• Highlights: Completed 13 housing rehab projects; average loan $29,000; committed $450,000. Secured $2 million CDBG for Shad Run exterior improvements. $250,000 Community Investment Fund grant for Fitch Court feasibility planning. Launching Power Smart Windsor energy efficiency program.
• Key Questions:
  • Councillor Naeem asked about affordability protections for rental units – mortgages include commitment to maintain affordable rents for low/moderate-income households for the mortgage duration.
  • Councillor Pelkey asked about the NAA tax credit program – small amounts ($2,500 typically) but occasionally larger; staff will provide a summary.
  • Councillor Armstrong asked about Wilson/Deerfield partnership – staff described events like cleanup (30-40 participants) and tree planting.
  • Councillor Elliveld clarified that housing rehab funds are loans, creating a revolving fund.

General Services & Capital Spending

• Presenter: Jim Bork
• Budget Overview: FY27 proposed increase of $1,789,560 (8.6%), driven by $500,000 increase in general fund capital spending, $214,000 increase in Windsor Center TIF transfer, $200,000 increase in Great Pond Improvement District transfer, $123,000 MDC sewer increase, and $65,000 OPEB contribution increase.
• Key Questions:
  • Councillor Naeem expressed concern about OPEB funding – current contribution is $246,000 vs. actuarially recommended $1 million. Risk of growing unfunded liability (~$38 million). Staff suggested a multi-year plan to rebuild to $800,000–$1 million.
  • Councillor Pelkey asked about the impact of $65,000 increase – negligible; meaningful dent requires ~$1 million.
  • Councillor Elliveld asked about the Founders Square credit enhancement agreement – 10-year rebate of up to 100% of incremental tax revenue for first 4 years, then sliding scale. Estimated benefit to developer ~$3.2 million.
  • Councillor Elliveld also asked about Great Pond increase – due to personal property additions at 500 Groton Road (Target distribution center).
  • Councillor Elliveld noted that mill rate changes will affect these transfers; staff acknowledged.
  • Councilors asked about Town Center TIF contributions – town is contributing an extra $125,000 to general fund to offset revaluation impacts.
  • Councillor Durant asked for clarification on the VAC developer incentive – confirmed as 10-year rebate.

Insurance Internal Service Fund

• Employee & Retiree Benefits (presented by Amelia Bliss):
  • FY26 under budget by $933,750 (14.3%) due to lower claims. FY27 total costs decreasing $218,260 (3.4%) because 32 Teamsters moved to their own plan.
  • FY27 general fund contribution increasing $64,210 (1.4%).
  • Councilors asked about disability benefits – town provides short-term (self-funded, 26 weeks) and long-term (premium-based, up to 2 years, then any occupation).
  • Councillor Elliveld clarified net cost to town ~$4.7 million after employee co‑pays and other revenues.
• Liability & Workers’ Compensation (presented by Jack Goldberg):
  • Premium increases projected 3–8% due to market conditions. Cyber liability premium modest due to no recent claims.
  • Workers’ comp excess coverage modest increase offset by payroll adjustments. Town self-insures up to $600,000 per claim.
  • Councillor Pelkey asked about shopping for insurance – last formal shopping >4 years ago; staff believes current carrier (Travelers) is competitive. Goldberg noted town is a top performer, allowing creative savings across lines.
  • Councillor Elliveld asked about market softening – no significant softening expected.
  • Staff explained that favorable claims experience positions the town well.

Town Support for Education

• Presenter: Jim Bork
• Budget Overview: FY27 proposed decrease of $428,140, mainly from lower debt service and school retirement allocations.
• Key Questions:
  • Councillor Elliveld confirmed debt service reduction reflects no major new school borrowing and retirement of past debt.
  • School retirement contributions declining as active employees retire; costs shift to general services.
  • OPEB contribution split 60% general services / 40% education support.
  • Councillor Glauck Hoffman asked about aid to private schools – state statute requires funding for nurses; amount depends on enrollment. St. Gabriel’s enrollment is lower but a nurse is still needed.
  • Councillor Armstrong asked about difference between School Resource Officer (SRO) and Youth Engagement Officer – SRO assigned to high school; Youth Engagement Officer works at Sage Park and elementary schools, and with recreation in summer.
  • Staff noted that the education support line items help the town qualify for state education aid.

Key Outcomes

• No votes or formal decisions were taken during the meeting. The council heard presentations and asked questions to inform future budget deliberations.
• Several requests were made for additional data: consolidated election costs, summary of community grant outcomes, NAA tax credit summary, and easier public access to community contribution application policies.
• The meeting adjourned with a motion; all councilors present (with Councillor King absent) approved, but no recorded roll call.
• The next step is for the council to continue budget review and potentially adopt a budget in a following meeting.