Windsor Town Council Meeting — November 2, 2026

The Windsor Town Council met on November 2, 2026. Identifiable business included a town manager report on the MDC water and sewer budget, setting a public hearing on a lease of the Luddy Carriage House, a Riverfront Recapture park update, routine appointments, approval of prior minutes, and entry into executive session for the town manager evaluation. No public comment was offered. No agenda or minutes were available; the transcript contains duplicated and unrelated material, so this summary is limited to identifiable council business.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the October 19, 2026 public hearing on the parking ordinance and the October 19, 2026 regular Town Council meeting, 8-0.
• Accepted the resignations of Charlie Copeland from the Human Relations Commission and John Supportus from the Housing Code Board of Appeals, 8-0.
• Approved appointments and reappointments, 8-0: Gary Morey as an unaffiliated member of the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission for an unexpired term to March 31, 2028; Sarah Summers as a Democratic member of the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission to March 31, 2028; Daniel Dow as a Democratic member of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Committee to August 3, 2028; Victoria Virgo Christie as a Republican member of the Wilson Deerfield Advisory Committee to April 30, 2029; Rachel Chandler as a Democratic member of the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission to March 31, 2029; Donald Trinks as a Democratic member of the Windsor Housing Authority to July 31, 2031; Patricia Braun as a Democratic member of the Hartford Area Cable Television Advisory Council to June 30, 2028; and Christina Crossett, Christiane Bay, James Clace, Spencer Moore, Neil Sachdev, and Michael Daly to the Arts Commission to August 29, 2029.
• A councilor asked about vacancy counts on the Human Relations Commission and the Hartford Area Cable Television Advisory Council; the transcript did not establish definitive counts.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No in-person or virtual speakers addressed the council; public communications and petitions were closed without testimony.

Discussion Items

• MDC proposed 2027 budget: Town Manager Sousa reported a preliminary water rate increase of just under 4%, described as one of the larger increases in recent years after rates had been kept mostly flat. Other fees, including fire protection rates for businesses and monthly customer service fees, were also proposed to rise. The annual fire hydrant maintenance fee was proposed to increase by $10 per hydrant, which would add about $50,000 to $55,000 to fiscal year 2028 costs if approved. The overall MDC sewer budget was proposed to increase just under 6% year over year, with nearly half tied to the first year of operating the new South Hartford storage tunnel and pump station. Windsor's sewer assessment increase was projected at $538,000, against a current appropriation of approximately $4.9 million. Sousa said the $538,000 figure did not reflect any use of MDC reserves and could be reduced by MDC board action. He explained that MDC's assessment formula looks back three years of town tax collections across the eight member towns; Windsor would see about an 11% increase if the budget stood, while Bloomfield would see about 5%, and tax abatements are factored in. MDC scheduled a public hearing for November 9 at 5:30 p.m. and board adoption for December 7. Town staff participated in two sessions with MDC staff; Sousa urged judicious and prudent use of reserves, potentially stepping them down over two or three years rather than in one fell swoop.
• Town manager announcements: The Windsor Palette and Brush Club fall art exhibit opening reception was announced for November 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Town Hall, with the exhibit running November 8 through December 3 and no cost for the reception or exhibit. The Veterans Day observance was scheduled for Wednesday, November 11 at 7 p.m. Windsor was recognized as No. 9 in the Connecticut top 50 commercial markets by the Hartford Business Journal and Yankee Institute. A councilor asked about the winter parking ban; the transcript gives inconsistent start dates of November 5 and November 15, but the discussion indicated it runs to April 15.
• Luddy Carriage House lease: The council set a public hearing for Monday, November 16, 2026 at 7:20 p.m. on a proposed lease of town-owned property at the Luddy Carriage House, 261 Broad Street, and authorized the town manager to publish and post notice. Economic Development Director Patrick McMahon said the town solicited expressions of interest, posted notice, emailed interested parties, and received four letters of interest. Staff recommended Zarya Lockhart's fashion boutique and alteration business. Proposed terms included a three-year term with two possible one-year extensions, monthly rent starting at $872 and increasing 3% annually, first-year rent of $10,464 from December 2026 through November 2027, lessee responsibility for housekeeping, rubbish, liability insurance, phone and utilities and cable, town responsibility for property maintenance, electricity, natural gas, water, grounds, snow removal and major maintenance, and either party able to terminate with 60 days written notice. Rent payments go into a special revenue fund and were confirmed to exceed utility costs. The council approved setting the hearing, 8-0.
• Riverfront Recapture update: Mike Zelinski, Martha Knaily, and Windsor resident Debbie Baker presented. Riverfront Recapture is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 1981, now 45 years into its mission of connecting people with the Connecticut River. It manages four parks, attracts more than 1 million people annually, runs the second-largest community rowing program in New England with almost 800 participants ages 14 to 84, took on management of Batterson Park in 2026, and saw Wilson Gateway Park open in 2025. The Hartford-Windsor line project involves 60 acres purchased in 2019, a master plan released in January 2025 after engaging more than 2,000 people, a 19-acre cove, the Joe Marfugi Riverwalk running 2.5 miles from Riverside Park north through the site into Windsor Meadow State Park, connection to the East Coast Greenway, and about 14 acres of mixed-use commercial development. Brownfield remediation began in January 2026; phases 1A, 1B, and 2A were complete, Phase 2B was to start in December, a $5 million Urban Act grant was secured, Phase 2C was to start in March 2027, and riverwalk construction was to start in December 2026 with the Windsor Meadow segment starting in 2027 and completing by spring 2028. Additional permits and funding were still needed. Work in 2027 was expected to include zoning changes, lot line revisions, geotechnical borings, Meadow Road extension concept plans, and a land transfer with Elgin; the town recently purchased 33 Meadow Road. The total project area was described as 76 acres, including 60 acres plus 17 acres managed from the state. Council members thanked the presenters; no vote was taken.
• Windsor Housing Authority update: Representatives reported about 150 units, a waiting list of over 600, more than $2 million spent in the past year on upgrades, and 10 units set aside for veterans, all occupied. They said demand remains high, future housing development should be evaluated, Shad Run is undergoing renovation with interior funding still needed, and the DeMarco Management contract is coming up for renewal with the commission pleased with performance. Council members praised improved operations and communication. No vote was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Set a public hearing for November 16, 2026 at 7:20 p.m. on the proposed Luddy Carriage House lease and authorized the town manager to publish and post notice, 8-0.
• Approved prior meeting minutes, resignations, and appointments/reappointments, each by 8-0 votes.
• Received the MDC budget report with no council action; MDC public hearing set for November 9 at 5:30 p.m. and board adoption for December 7.
• Received Riverfront Recapture and Windsor Housing Authority updates with no action.
• Voted to enter executive session for discussion of the town manager evaluation; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.