Board of Selectmen - June 1, 2026 Regular Meeting

001Good evening. Today is Monday, June the 1st, 2026. It is 7 p.m. I'd like to call the regular board of selections meeting to order. >> Troy Lamir, >> Kevin Bishop, Paul Marrio, >> Paul Harrington, >> Todd Archalashi, >> Glenn Alberius, >> William Hester, >> Cheryl Hef, and McGlin, >> William Poso. >> Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Item [clears throat] three, agenda review. Does anyone have anything? >> Seeing nothing. Item four, the approval of minutes of the regular meeting on May the 18th. >> So move. >> Second. >> Thank Troy. Thank you, Cher. Any discussion, corrections, additions? >> Seeing none, all in

002favor? Unanimous? Meeting [clears throat] minutes are approved. Item number five, citizens comments. The board of selectman welcomes public comments. Speakers be limited to three minutes and may speak once this round. Please give your name and address. There's a signup sheet up here. Uh so after you speak, please sign. Would anyone like to speak? >> Mine's longer than three minutes. >> So, >> okay. Anyone else? >> And Mr. Canol, just hit the red button on the microphone to turn it on so everybody can hear you. >> Hit the red button. The microphone picture. >> There you go. >> I was looking for a green button. >> [clears throat] >> We should put the signup sheet on the side table so that people can sign up and then speak rather than have to sign up once they

003get there. [clears throat] >> Good evening. I Well, you know why I'm here again? >> You can guess, huh? >> We have looked into that. >> But go ahead, continue. I want to uh know how far along you are on naming uh new street after name it Veterans Road, Veteran Street, Veteran Boulevard. Any uh I talked the town manager was supposed to get back to me a month ago and never did, but I imagine you're busy. But >> where do we stand on renaming >> the ordinance? I want to refresh and I first off, Mr. I apologize. I thought the mayor was going to email you back, but um let's do this. Um we'll get we'll we'll get a response out to you immediately tomorrow. Um we looked into the ordinance. Correct me if I'm

004wrong, Mr. Mayor. Um the ordinance for the town is going to prohibit [clears throat] us from renaming that street. >> Why? >> So, we have a a a naming ordinance that it has to go through a a >> act of Congress. in in in your words, but I guess that would be an accurate >> I just want to name it. I talked to uh Jay Case about naming the bridge after the two Medal of Honor winners are up in Forest View Cemetery. >> And if you walk through those cemeteries, if you walk through any of those cemeteries, you see the flags, you walk through any of the cemetery in his flag. >> And some of the board members used to be veterans. Mr. Ficeri was a veteran. a lot of people been that sat in

005those chairs and it takes that long. >> It does. >> It's not as easy as just >> Why didn't you say that? You know, >> I've been here five times over four years. >> Yeah, [clears throat] you have. >> May I suggest the three of us this week, next week, whatever your availability is, the mayor's availability, I'm always here. Why don't the three of us sit down and we can go through everything with you? Does that work for you? I can reach out to you. We can set up a time. >> You got plans to rename it under for somebody else? >> No. >> All right. The reason I asked is because uh never mind. I'll probably know why. But I don't understand why it takes so long. I mean, I could pack this place

006full of veterans every week until we get a decision. Is it up to these people up together? >> It it it ties back to the ordinance and the reason of why it's changing and and I don't think the mayor, myself, or anybody, and I don't want to speak for the board, doesn't [clears throat] want to do everything they can for a veteran. Um, it's just a matter of the ordinance that is existent on the books. In order to actually change the name of a street, >> what's the ordinance say? >> There has to be I'm and I want to quote it correctly. Um, the ordinance says there there there has to be more than a reason to rename a street. Um, there has to be committees that form. There has to be signatures. >> New

007street. Who named it New Street? >> Maybe the developer at the time. also about 48 of a mile. >> Yeah. Again, I again, I don't want to speak for the board, but I don't think there's anybody up here that that isn't thinking that the idea of renaming the street for a veteran for a veteran uh uh organization is a horrible idea. I think everybody will think it's a great idea. It's just a matter of what the ordinance allows us to do as as a municipal. >> Change the ordinance. Who can change the ordinance? >> This board of segment can change the ordinance and that's something that the mayor and I have a vote tonight. >> Well, Believe it or not, to even do that, it would require more than just one meeting tonight. >> So,

008so could you, >> so it's got to be an act of Congress. >> Could you get get that information? I actually, since I'm a history buff, I look back and I've had a family member fight in almost every single conflict this United States has been all the way back to the Revolutionary War. I'd like to see this happen if we can. >> My father was up Pearl Harbor when I was in World War I. My father was in World War II. I have a brother serving. Nobody wants a purple heart anyway, but I got two of them. >> So, let's see if we can >> Not me. They do. >> Let's see what the ordinance is. I'll look it up, too, when we get home. >> And I marched in the parade with guys that

009had purple hearts. >> Let's see what we can do about this. >> And you say, "Thank you for your service. Thank you for your service." >> Absolutely. >> Well, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Can we make that as an agenda item for next meeting? >> Yes, I'll second that. Yes, please do. uh agenda item is just renaming new street or renaming any research for finding out what needs to be done to accomplish that. [clears throat] >> Yes, please. >> So, let's get the ordinance out. Let's see what it says. >> Change your ordinance. >> Change your And then just so we're going down the road and and Mr. Posley, [clears throat] you'll remember this when we were looking at or when when the parks commission was looking at possibly changing the building's name. um

010that ordinance had came come into play. Um they the the parks commission saw the quote unquote act of Congress that it was going to take and we just did we didn't rename the building. We just put up a plaque honoring >> we we found a way around it. >> Yeah. We honor So we want to just not only look at streets [clears throat] but also um look at buildings naming naming rights I guess is is what we're looking the right way. Yes. >> Okay. So look at the whole thing please. Done. >> Who else wishes to speak? All right. So, come up and try to make it as close to three minutes as possible. >> There [clears throat] are two sections. So, you can do some of it. The first section and >> I'm going

011to condense it. Okay. All right. >> So, thanks. I'd like to share some thoughts about the budget development process and the recent vote. >> Can you give us your name, please? >> Oh, name and address. >> Sorry, I wrote it and I followed it up. >> Thank you. >> Mary, mayor on 111 virtual. My husband and I agree. We would have liked to vote on the budget that was originally presented by the town manager with the higher education mount requested by the school superintendent. We both were disappointed to see the education portion reduced so dramatically. My husband voted no because he rejected the proposed budget as too low. I voted yes because I could not see any way that this board would put forth a higher budget amount in the next vote if this one

012was rejected. So, we canceled each other out. As the budget is being developed, the public can provide feedback at the regular board of selectman meetings or via email or in casual conversations around town with individual board of selectman members. Many people emailed and came to the meetings to request the education budget not be reduced or at least to let the voters decide if the original budget was too high. Several board of selection members described conversations in the community in which people express expressed frustration about the town roads and about not wanting to pay higher taxes. These private feedback conversations seem to have a greater impact on the board's decision about reducing the budget than the feedback presented at the board of selectman meetings. I'm not sure why. Maybe these folks offering private feedback do watch

013the board of selectman meetings on YouTube, but if not, I encourage them to do so or attend the meetings in person. It's been my experience as someone waiting until later in life to start attending town meetings that doing so is eyeopening. Hearing why road repairs go so slowly and what exactly is the education program losing as this budget is reduced makes all the difference. It's easier to let off steam in a private conversation than it is to find an actual solution within the parameters of state mandates, grant limitations, inflation, equipment failures, or staff shortages. I ask you, our board of selectmen, to urge those who share their frustrations with you privately to come to board of selectman meetings and be part of an informed solution for the sake of this town. Thank you. Can't smell

014my own ink. >> I passed my time to this young lady. It's >> okay. I'm going to do the condensed version. I think I can get my point across that way. You want my full address? >> Uh, street address for >> street address. Okay. [clears throat] Okay. Hi. My name is Caitlyn the plant. Um, some of you know who I am. I've corresponded with some of you. I've lived in Winstead for over six years with my husband and two small children ages four and 10 months. We signed up our four-year-old son for the lottery for the preschool program this year as we are paying what amounts to a second mortgage for him to go to preschool and be school ready. [clears throat] My husband and I both work full-time. So, we do not qualify for

015any incomebased programs and we are on a a lengthy wait list for others. It goes without saying we were not selected thanks to the cuts the board of selectment made to the education budget. When inquiring about our place on the wait list, it was clarified to me that my son [clears throat] would have gotten a spot had the cuts not been made and there even may not have been a need for a tuition requirement. We now need to continue to live paycheck to paycheck to make sure our child is ready for kindergarten and does not stay back a year because we cannot afford it. I am just one of many families that were directly and negatively impacted by your actions. These families lost the opportunity for their child to go to what was a free

016program in their own district and one of the best in the state. I would have much rather taken that amount of money that I am paying right now for his preschool in another town and put it towards these educational programs for my child to go to school here and for him to have the best teachers and resources available to him. I am sure I am not alone in that. I'm going to skip convinced. Do I believe you did the best you could on this budget with what you had? No, I don't. And I'll tell you why. No one who prioritizes what the what's important to the taxpayers and truly felt they did right by them would ever threaten them to vote yes on this or else. That kind of behavior is very distasteful. You knew

017we were unhappy and did not care. Mismanagement of the budget every year needs to stop because right now you are cutting and ruining programs that are actually bringing people to Winstead. Just this past weekend, I heard a few stories of families looking to move into another town in direct response to this budget. And a business that was right in the center of town left and is now running their business out of New Hartford. I'm hope I'm wrong, but I think with this budget, we can expect more of this over the next year. You have an opportunity to start a clean slate this year and I suggest that we all can take it. Referendums are going to happen. It's healthy. It's part of the process. And there are people who are just going to vote no

018on a budget because that's what they do. It's it you're never going to find a town that's not going to vote no on a budget. It still does not make what you did this year right. Because if you did right by us, the families, we probably would have stood by you and worked with you. And even if we had one referendum, come back to the table, we would have worked something out with you. I And I think that's why a lot of people did not come out to vote this year. 10,000 registered voters in Winston, Connecticut, and only slightly over 1,000 showed up. That should speak volumes to you. As Paul Harrington did a great job revamping the website to make it userfriendly, easy to navigate. He got people access to Everbridge so they would

019get news and alerts about the meetings and about the vote. I knew about it better than any other years I've been here. But even I announced on social media that I wasn't going to vote for this budget because when you're told how to vote or you're told what's going to happen if you vote a certain way, why bother? Why? What? What? Don't waste my time. I'm not anybody's puppet. I don't like that. And I don't We could have voted no out of spite, I suppose. But I have children to think about and their future. And I did not appreciate the position that I was put in by being told more cuts would come if this budget did not pass. I'll end with this. You were hired by us. You work for all of us, not

020just the people who agree with you. And since last year, there has been a growing gap between this board and the residents of Winstead. And it's become a distraction from what actually matters, our kids, our schools, and the future of this town. And I implore you to think about that for next year's vote. Thank you. I hope that was three minutes. >> [clears throat] >> Who else would like to speak? Anyone else? >> Hi, I'm John Buzznik, 281 Grant Hill Road in Winchester. Um, I'm looking here. I'm jumping a little bit ahead. um because I see later on you're having an executive session, but agenda item B under new business, you're going to be talking about roads and um sidewalks. Um so I'm not sure what's coming out of that, but I don't know if

021I'll be here for the other executive session, so let me be a little premature. Um I've watched a few of the selectman meetings. Um, a while back, uh, Selectman Marino mentioned, let's take care of the majority roads. Um, my background is in production planning and, um, I think there's a rule that applies. [clears throat] There is, um, something called the 8020 rule. I don't know if any of you are familiar with that, paro analysis. Um, basically what I'm asking is, can we look at it in terms of the fact that 80% of the people are going to drive the same 20% of the roads or 9010 or whatever the breakdown is. So, if we prioritize the roads, let's try to do that. I mean, last time I saw Cornelio Avenue being um on the list

022to be done. Now, Cornelian Avenue to me is a driveway. Um, if you know what I'm saying. It's two houses, a bunch of empty lots. Nobody uses it. Granted, it's in terrible shape. However, you look at a Newfield Road, a South Road, um, some of the other major roads. 80% of the people in Winchester are going to use that road. The only advantage I'd see in you not doing it, it's going to force people to come to Winston instead of trying to shop. And I mean that little sarcastically, but uh if we can do that in our analysis, and I know Paul, I apologize to you because you've got this coming up with what you're doing with Jim, but if that is in consideration in your calculation, not just condition of roads, but a weighted

023factor type thing. Thank you. And I also want to thank everybody for all the work they did on the um on the budget. It's not easy. As u our mayor said at the um town meeting, you're going to make some people happy. You're going to make other people miserable no matter what you do. But thank you for your effort on that. Thanks. [clears throat] Would anyone else like to speak? >> Moving on to item number six, town manager report. We have a two weaker. >> We got a we got a four weaker. Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor, and good evening, board. Uh, again, I do apologize for my absence two weeks ago. um I went down um and it was not fun. So, uh I I uh I thought about it, but I I'm I

024I'm going to give a short uh town manager report, but just update the board on as much as I can. Obviously, the big news is is the uh the fiscal year 2627 budget was successfully approved by the voters. The town is now preparing the implementation of that new fiscal year to have it all ready to go um on July 1st. Moving on, automatic the the uh traffic enforcement, the speed camera program. We haven't talked about it in a while. We all know several weeks ago we did get the approval from CT dot allowing us to put the cameras up because we are going on state roads in particular 44 now becomes the encroachment and permits, the permits to to put this stuff up on Main Street. I'm not saying it's it's it's a problem. I'm

025just saying it's the process we have to go through. I see some people shaking their head out there. They must have worked with the Connecticut DOT in the past. Um it's not the easiest process. Um you kind of get uh put back, but um the other issue that we came up with is the one that's going to be located more in the center of town. Um there's some trees that may be blocking the solar. So when we are putting these cameras up, we are looking to also potentially electrify that camera as well. You won't know that the solar is going to give all the power that it needs different times of year. So, um, that's not slowing down the process, just that you know that the cameras are going to look a little bit different.

026The one down, uh, by the dry dam is going to look a little bit different than this one because we we know the one at dry dam will work 100% on solar. This [clears throat] one down here, the slight tree covering. We're just overthinking the process or I should say sight stream is. With all that being said, the goal is is to have these cameras up and running uh and and issuing actual citations in July. Um the end of July, which means by the end of June, we should have the cameras uh up and installed in Main Street around 44. I apologize. So, just a small update on that. It's been quiet, but there's a lot of work working in the in the background, including hearing officers, the whole appeals process online, getting the citation

027perfected, all of that stuff. So, still work being done. Um, and as we get closer and closer to the speed cameras launching, of course, I'll update the the board. Moving on, safe streets for all. Uh, we pretty much pounded that as much as we possibly could because the survey closed on May 30th. Uh, our consultants, Tyen Bond, they said we are very similar with other communities, in fact, larger communities of the amount of participation that we got in the survey. So, I want to thank all of the residents, the board of selection because I know they also helped with that. Um what that survey is going to do is it's going to help us unlock federal and state grants to get these roads uh paved and worked on. Um tremendous work by a lot of

028residents that went out. I see a few of them in the back. Literally had flyers. We're doing it in gez. They they did so much work to try and get the word out to get people to participate in the survey. It's not going to happen tomorrow, but once this report is done, the $250,000 report that we got a grant for will allow us to now apply for federal and state grants because we have the data to back it up. So, congrats to the community. On some good news, the Winchester Fire Department was awarded two grants to to support firefighting uh within the community. Northwest Community Bank Foundation awarded $5,000 for the purchase of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to be distributed and installed for residents in need. So, if you're a resident in need and

029simply and and I I'll put this out there, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, they're only good for 10 years. Okay? The battery should be replaced obviously when you switch the clocks, but the sensors with and and and there's nothing that the smoke detector is going to tell you that it's old. You got to look at the install date or the manufacturer date. It's going to be on the literally the back side of it. You'll learn a lot when you talk to your chief of uh firefighting. Um the date on the back of it will tell you the age of it. If your smoke detector carbon monoxide detector is more than 10 years old, your family's at risk. Um if you're in need, please reach out to our fire department. We got a $5,000 grant

030to help you guys get um smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Um so that's important. And another grant um in first responders foundation awarded $1,450 for firefighter accountability tags which will enhance the department's ability to monitor personnel during emergency uh scenarios. So firefighters in the building there's smoke. We may need to locate that particular firefighter. This grant is going to allow us to un unlock the uh the tags that we know where the firefighters are. So thank you to both those organizations. I know our fire department and our residents appreciate it. Main Street Roadway uh restoration project. Fortunately, it's a little bit delayed tonight. I'm sure as you were driving in, you saw that the milling that was done in front of town hall. Uh CT do along with Eversource began this project last night.

031The goal is to take small sections, do each small section already. They've gone back a little bit on the word. It was supposed to be mill and pave the same night. was a big surprise this morning when I just saw mill and no pave. I reached out. I've gotten no phone call back. So, tomorrow I become the one that everybody knows that it can be that. Okay, where's the pave? Um, but that is going to continue all the way through Saturday night. Keeping in mind the parking ban is in effect from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. small section. If you're on Main Street, make sure you're on the uh Riverside tonight because they're going to be right out in front of town hall continuing where the milling is or paving where where the milling is

032tonight. So, that goes through Saturday. Um huge one. We we we did put it out uh on our on our uh channels is the we completed the $850,000 federal funded public safety communication upgrade which provided 800 band radios um for Connecticut's landline mobile radio network which means our radios in Winstead can actually talk down to Fairfield County because they're on the 800 band or anywhere else in the state of Connecticut. Um, real huge appreciation goes out to Senator Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal because those are the two senators that got us the $850,000 roughly. That's one mil if we had to go out and fund these radios. It was something that we need. I don't think there's anybody that doesn't think the police should be able to communicate with other police or back to dispatch,

033fire, ambulance, all of it. So, those two senators, big thank you because they were able to get us $850,000 to be able to upgrade our radios to this 800 band. And last but not least, 2027 revaluation services RFP is live. We are going to have to go to revalve. Um the revalve is going to start in in the in the fall. We're going to bring them in and they're going to start reval, but that doesn't take effect until the 29 budget. Okay? So, it's a reval by by state law. probably have to do it every 5 years. Just wanted to let people know that the revalve services RFP is out and it's live. Any firm that's interested, you know, please look on our website and uh submit um to do a reval. With that, I'll

034open it for any questions. >> Uh before we start, Mr. Town Manager, your contract expired in April. So, at the next meeting, please add executive session for your review and contract negotiations and bring with us some goals that you hope to accomplish next year. >> And you guys did the whole agenda for next year. I will get that done. >> Any questions on the board? >> Two, one question, one statement. First question, um, speed cameras, are they going on the light poles? Are they going on a telephone pole? >> They're going on its own separate pole. Okay. They go on their own little pole. And that's why we need the encroachment permit for the >> tree in the way. Why can't you just move the pole? >> Interesting you say that because the Connecticut DOT

035only gives you about 50 feet from where you actually submitted to put the poll. Any variance of 50 feet, we have to go back to the drawing board. >> Already asked that question. And the statement I want to make is I would hesitate on pushing the DOT to pave small sections of of Main Street because the coal joint is going to cause a bump all the way down Main Street. So, you're better off having to mill the whole thing and pave the whole thing because it's going to be cold seams are going to I don't care how good the paving company is, it's not going to be good. >> So, it's a cold joint. >> Yeah. If you go one night to the next, it's a cold joint and they're not going to cut it.

036They're going to lay right up to it. They usually put a piece of paper and whatever and a little bit of tar on it to make a ramp and it's it's not it's going to be a bump. So, I would recommend from my experience >> to let them >> mill the whole thing and then pave the whole thing. >> That's just my my input. >> Other questions? >> I think you get a better job if you do that. I I better >> our thought was we want to disrupt well it was actually um the contractor and the DOT came back with the suggestion of doing small little sections at a time to not disrupt the businesses um because they're starting at 6:00 at night and that's why they wanted to mill and then they wanted

037to pave >> but there was a decision that was made that the town hasn't been looped in yet >> because they had said they were going to mill and pave. I I was surprised when I came in this morning and saw that the road was just mil and not paved. >> But again, phone calls were made. No response yet, but it it's literally a post-it note on my monitor. So, >> you said they're supposed to start paving at 6:00 working. They're not working. >> They're not working right now either. >> Dump trucks were empty. So, that are on Main Street. So, they're going to know. >> Do you see dump trucks? I didn't get a chance to step out there. >> They came in parked on the side of the road. >> So, they're going

038to mill then. If they're empty dump trucks, then they're going to mill tonight. That's what you want. I mean, they're putting down 4 in. It's pretty thick, so it's not going to be good. They should do a binder and then put the finished coat on it. >> I agree with that. >> All right. >> So, I I had a question. Um, what is the timeline with the wall and sill? I know we had proposals. Where where are we with that? >> I have all the proposals upstairs. I have the GMAN and York study as well. I wanted to get through the budget process, but that was going to be on the agenda for next meeting as well. Um, start to begin to talk about that. One of the questions, and I'm glad you brought that

039up with Wallen Hill, Gman in York, um, did do a a big dive into it. Would you like the representative from Gman and York to be here? Or would you like to receive the information at the next meeting? Take time to review it, come back with questions, perhaps we can have Gman and York come to a following meeting or a meeting after that. >> I'd like to see the process move along a little faster than we're doing it. Um I actually expect it on this week's agenda. So if we can get the documentation earlier, all right, put it on the agenda for next week. have the individual here so we can question him. We we should all do our due diligence and be prepared to discuss it with him next week, next week, two weeks,

040>> you know, >> can you give us the information in the middle of the week so we have time to review it at home before the meeting soon >> if possible? [clears throat] >> If you like, you all can come up to my office um after the meeting and take it all home with you. It's in boxes and I can give each one of you actually each one of the proposal. How's that? >> Yeah, perfect. >> So, great. >> Other questions? >> Yep. I I I think we're kind of moving in the right direction because I think we need grandless growth and that's the only way we're going to move anything forward in this town. So, when's the uh Paul, when's the plan of conservation and development? When is that due? >> It's every 10

041years. So, we're probably got >> I think 21 was the last >> 21 was the last one that was that was done. >> So, 2031 >> 2031. Yes. >> Okay. So, I just want to share some stuff. starting to happen uh with u the EDC what they've actually been working on. I read their their report. So the old Cumberland Farms is going to get a New York style delian market. So that's going to be coming into town shortly. Um there's possible some affordable housing behind the Mad River detail that's in the works with the EDC. The mobile home park is also getting two more units. Uh there's a forsaken land haunted attractions that's trying to come into town. I know that's in front of planning and zoning right now. Um, and obviously everybody knows that

042Skippers is open and also the Laurel City Gardens is open. So, I think that's what where our answer is is growing that grand list and I like to see something on the agenda. Again, we're going to fill up your agenda at least some type of report if there's nothing that's happening instead so that everybody can see what's happening with the EDC and the planning and zoning because that's where we're going to be able to uh grow the town, keep moving forward, is grow that grand list. I've said it before, I'll say it again. 400 homes at $5,000 each is $2 million. It's it's it's not a far stretch. It's just going to take a little time to get there, but I think we can get there slowly and methodically. Um, so especially with the Wallen

043Hill, some other stuff that's happening in town that's not even counting 508 and 510 Main Street. I know there's a hiccup there because it's in series. So you kill power to one building, you're going to kill a bunch of them. Remember the old Christmas lights? One blows out, they all go out. That's a series, by the way. And uh, can't forget the old Highland Acres is being redeveloped. So there is some growth going, but I think everybody needs to know it a little bit more and get it out there. So there is things happening. We're not just up here uh doing nothing and cutting budgets or whatever. We are trying to grow and keep moving. Um I like what John said. I actually was going to bring that myself about switching some of the roads

044around. Get some of these important roads done first, not ones that's way out. Not that that doesn't matter so much. And then maybe it came up in one of the other discussions, especially Danbury Quarter Road on the Norfork line. Oh my god, it it it's it's horrible. We'd be better off just ripping it right down, put it to dirt. It would be better and easier to maintain. I know we've talked about that a couple times before. So >> to piggy back on what Selectman Hester spoke about, we've got a number of vacant commercial buildings on Main Street to which there supposedly plans on. I know far apparently 508's had some hiccups. Yep. >> And they didn't start when they're supposed to. I know we have that contractor agreement too that's supposed to be done in

045November. I'd kind of like to have a public the public to be informed about actually what's going on there. But what's going on with the other buildings? There's been years in the progress. They've been purchased. They've been sitting there. Nothing's happening. I don't know who's responsible for that. Who can we bring, you know, into this meeting to discuss what the process is, why there's delays, why there's not incentives made so that there's progress that if we can address that because I'm sure you don't have all the answers to the tip of your tongue but you know I think you know again we're trying to build the town we can't do it if we're just letting people sit on these properties that are just rotting on Main Street which affects the attractiveness it affects our mill

046rate it affects everything about this town >> right you know it's sad that the that the Gillson which used to be the Strand and that's where I used to do Saturday matineese when I was a kid That's the first time I saw Willy Wonk in the chocolate factory was right down here in downtown Winston. It's sad that it's gone, but at least we're trying. You know, [clears throat] >> I think we could have done a lot more to help exist. >> Sorry. Sorry. Those buildings along along the river. I think those are the ones you're talking about, right? Along the Mad River. Yeah. Is there any way that we could go through like building by building and find out like what the deal is with each one? is I mean we do need development but

047it would be great to fill and reuse the things that are already developed before we start you know destroying our landscape and and beautiful surroundings with new developments. So I like those I feel like and they're being so downtown like what what can we do? What do we need to what are the steps we need to take to know like each and every building like what the deal is and how we get it moving. >> We need to tell Paul to do it. [laughter] >> I think we just sort of did but I know the building's across. It's the bar grant. I remember you brought it up last time. We have to wait for that. Um because there was old factories there. There's a good possibility the ground is contaminated and that's that's a that's

048a giant thing right there. I'm actually dealing with something like that myself at work with contamination ground and it's not even from the gasoline spill that they had. So yeah, and we also have to remember that some of those buildings are that's private property. That's somebody's else's buildings. You know, it's I I I saw the word eminent domain today on Facebook and I just shrugged as like no, we really don't want to go down that road. That's not good. That's really overstepping boundaries. But but they are private buildings and you know, maybe we could reach out to whoever owns them, find out what's happening. >> Any other comments for the town manager? >> If I could respond to a few. So I I I I think the board is locked with uh with the town

049manager's office. So EDC is scheduled to come to the July 6th meeting. They are doing some wonderful things. They want to share with the board some of the stuff that we're doing to advertise the town. They want to update the board. So they are scheduled for the July 6th meeting. And then to the questions about what what what is commonly known as the legacy buildings. They were dubbed that I think when I first got here um or made that as the public name. So right now we are currently in the bar grant with the COG and what the bar grant is figuring out right now is it's going in and and figuring out what exact remediation needs to be done to those buildings to either create retail and or housing into any of those buildings.

050So until we have those answers on the bar grant and we go to the current owner and say, "Do you understand that it's going to cost roughly $67 million for you to get this building actually in a condition where then you can actually renovate it?" Um and and the bar grant. We should have it done probably. We just had a meeting the other day about a Meadow Street uh um strip of land right across the street from where uh Little Red Barn Little Red Barn is. Um the amount of remediation just to potentially turn that into a parking lot is massive because of what was done on that prior to but that was the first >> childare center across the street from >> No the other go the other way Meadow Street um Meadow Street

051there >> me there was a garage there >> is that actually our land doesn't >> it is our land yes so and the reason why that was actually looked at quickly in the in the bar grant is Eversource is looking to do a substation there. Um, and when we actually looked at it, we're actually going to have potentially have Eversource pay for an easement. We don't want to actually give up the land, but pay for an easement to put their substation on it. Um, and right now we're still going through with the engineers of exactly what needs to be done in order for them to even put a substation on it. It's substantial amount of remediation just to put a substation that no one's going to live at. their work is continuing down the street

052in all of the legacy buildings. So, and I hear you loud and clear because I get to look out my windows every single day and see, you know, windows that are, you know, taken out and buildings that aren't being occupied. But until we have a firm idea of exactly what the remediation's going to cost, it's hard to go to the owners of these particular buildings and say, "Hey, do you know what it's going to, you know, be to remediate these buildings?" No. Do you? >> Well, no. Um, but when we're done with this bar grant, we 100% will roughly know. But more importantly, when we have the bar grant information and we have engineers that have gone in and they looked at what remediation needs to be done, we can then go and seek out

053grants to remediate these buildings, which is very important because when you asking whether it's the existing owners of the buildings or potentially a new developer, any money that has to go into remediation that they can't unlock a state or a federal or grant, they will walk away from the project because simply the ROI will not be there on those builds for them because you're talking millions upon millions of dollars and the project no longer makes sense if they have to spend5 to $6 million to remediate the building plus the construction of the building. >> The ROI is simply not there for what is the how long has this study been underway and what's the expected end date for it? >> End date should be the end of the summer and the study probably began about

054two months ago. So, we'll have a report sometime in the fall. >> And I and I do want to I I do want to astric that it was the COG that got the grant for the for the VAR grant. Um, so it's the COG study. We obviously will will will be, you know, privy to the information. >> Why has it taken so long? >> Engineers, it took so long just to get the engineer going. Um, and there were >> years. It was been years since that property was sold. Yes. >> To a collective of individuals and it got resold and nothing's happened. It's been years. >> I can't speak of why it's been years. I can just speak of >> why it's been months. >> Yeah. [laughter] Why has it been months? And what, you

055know, we're looking to do is okay, we know the buildings need remediation. Let's find out what remediation needs to be done. What's the cost of that remediation? Again, I don't try and comment on anything that happened before I got here. People do things the way they do it. But we got real about it. And, you know, we were fortunate that the COG teamed up with us. We got the $250,000 grant and now we're really studying these buildings to figure out exactly what it's going to take to get those buildings back up and running. Um, >> okay. Um, I actually have a couple more things. Um, there's also another building, the one right across from Dairy Queen, the old Dana Electric, that's kind of would be nice to be fixed. I I believe the Ralph Nater

056owns that building if I >> So, um, >> is that in the study? >> Uh, that particular building is not in the study. No, it is not. But that's that's another [clears throat] one that something should happen. The other thing is >> isn't that one being used? Isn't he using it for >> maybe like a couple rooms? I think >> wasn't that just pulled put back on the tax roles? >> Is it? >> It's either back on the tax roles or or about to be back. There was a portion of it that was um exempt because of >> the community lawyer. >> That's not there. that then appeared on the tax roles and I and and I want to look I know you had asked me I had sent the information out about the particular

057buildings or the or the tax um abatements. Um I believe that building >> isn't abated anymore. I think it's it's it's full back that's the one that had a little paper sticker up that said office community lawyer right for 10 years. It's the old Daniel Electric building and there's over 25,000 car cars that drive through that intersection in a day, right? So, it's kind of a little bit of a with the rest of the buildings of town, unfortunately. The other thing I wanted to bring up is that um the land trust um they just took another 90 acres off the tax roles. Um they've already taken in the last year and a half, two years almost 500 acres off the tax roles. Um and I and I'm I'm definitely behind having some open space. Um

058right now they're sitting at 6%. Um roughly the state of Connecticut wants each town to have around 11 11%. So if you include what the land trust owns, what's around the water system, even some of the state land, we're we're well over the 11%. I also figured out that roughly if you I kind of did a rough estimate um on some of the land that's either not taxed or they're paying a partial tax. It's almost 20 25 to 30% of the town isn't paying either little or no tax at all. Some of it's our land. I mean there's 250 properties that that we own that we've have been selling off. There's actually one now that we're talking about and there's others that we s are selling off because we're not in the real estate business.

059I don't think we're in the entertainment business. But but to me, I I am in the the grand list growing business. And if that continues, that's that that hurts everybody. That hurts the schools, that hurts the town. Um somewhere along the line, there's got to be like a limit. You know, when is enough enough? So, like I said, and I I'm into I I like open space. I'm all for it too, but when is enough enough to sell? >> I got a question for you. Your figures are doing are those including the 440 properties as well as more private kind of land trust properties? >> Uh, a little bit. Some not like are some, you know, farms that are that are um not paying so much because they're farms. So, some of them are tax

060exempt and I and I understand all that, but again, where does it end? You know, when where does it end? Again, another 90 acres was just taken off the tax rolls recently. Plus, all that stuff, all that 400 acres up over top of that overlooks Highland, >> which which I understand from talking to realators in town becomes a really big selling point, increase in property values, which increases the taxes, you know, which is considered. I'm still talking the but the 440 properties are generally usually purchased by people and I think some of the lake people have those as well and they create their own little private parks for not things that benefit necessarily the whole community and they pay really reduced um taxes significantly reduced taxes. So if we're going to be talking about you

061know that I think we need to include the whole >> concept into it that's all. Yeah, I I sort of did. I did. >> That's why I why I asked you whether it didn't, and you said it kind of did include, so that's why. >> Yeah, it was some of that. You know, I didn't really get too picky. You know, I I do have to work and have a life outside, but I was just curious. You know, there right now the land trust is sitting on,35 acres >> for the benefit of the community, >> right? But when like I say, when is enough enough? I think this highlights um the importance of going after just just everything we've already said going after the buildings that are currently empty because we have so much that we

062can develop without destroying our natural resources because the fact that we're a small town surrounded by beautiful mountains and beautiful forest is our selling point. I mean that's one of the many reasons why I was attracted to here and coming out of the Hartford area. Um so I mean we got we have to fill up every space we have as best we can you know and we've got Wall and Hill already coming. So, there's that. Um, but you know, I I >> Speaking of which, what's happening with Rollins Hill? Is that going to move forward faster? >> Oh, that's right. You're going to give us the thing afterwards. >> There will be no meeting going on in our office, although all the select people are coming up. It's just handing out material time. >> All

063right. Uh, we're kind of going around in circles here. >> Item number seven, correspondence. Does anyone on the board have correspondence? Item number eight, boards and commissions. We have no actions from boards and commissions. Correct? >> None. >> Are we full up on the commissions and boards or there still seats available? >> There are still seats available. >> Should we announce what those are so that people may be interested in participating? We seem to have it seems to it seems to me that we're having people really become interested in being involved in making a difference. So, I think I think the rule is that we're supposed to announce any vacancies at every meeting. So, if there's vacancies, I think we should be announcing them so people know. >> You name the commission, there's most likely

064a vacancy on it. >> Okay. So, folks, if you want to help, you want to play a role, you want to be involved, make things work smoothly, please check check the commission list. We really need people. >> And, you know, piggybacking on that, we are in Laurel City Commission territory. We had five openings on the commission. We almost had to cancel the Laurel Festival because we didn't have volunteers. So, it's very important that people get involved and volunteer for border commission. We have no unfinished business. So, moving on to item 10. >> I was just going to I was just going to say uh goes on with the uh development stuff we were talking about. The we have a new cultural commission that cultural district commission that's starting up. So, we have just enough people,

065but we need more people on that commission. Um, and what that does is, uh, we're working to get a designation from the state of Connecticut along with a very few other communities that have a high concentration of arts and culture, um, in our in the town, which we do. And, um, we have what we need to qualify. We just have to take the steps to get that from the state. And then what that unlocks is all sorts of um new free advertising through the state channels and stuff to bring people to telling people that Winchester is a place to come to spend a nice day to experience arts and culture to go to our museums and all of that. So we have just enough people to get started. We're going to be getting started this

066month. Um but we we definitely need a few more. So, if you're interested in arts and culture or especially if you work with a nonprofit or um if you are involved with the museums or or anything anything that's music, art, culture, museums, anything like that in town, uh please join us so we can get that going. That'll help with all of the development we were talking about. >> Now, moving on to item 10, new business. Item A, Pearson School hot water system superintendent and town manager Harrington. >> And Mr. R if I could. uh Dean and I'm not even going to try and pronounce his last name starts with a P from Connecticut Confession Corporation if he could join us as well. >> Come on up. >> Don't be shy. >> I'm just going to

067preview and hand off to Dean. We I don't know if it was two weeks ago. >> That was I'm not staying close. Um we started our day either two Mondays ago or three Mondays ago. It's a blur at this point. um to a 6 am phone call from Dave Prudin, who I give so much appreciation to, who keeps us up and running saying, "We have no hot water at Pearson School." Um Dean was there in a flash. It took all day and well into the evening to get us back up and running. I could tell you why, but Dean's going to do a much better job of that. I gave you some pictures. He gave you some better pictures, but um the over and under is this is a 28-year-old system that should have made

068it 20 years. It owes us nothing. Um and we are limping to the end of the school year. He's going to tell you all the mechanical stuff. What I'll say to you is um the pinch for us is that you can't use the building without hot water. In order to fix this, we need either to bypass and Dean has talked about a way he could do that to keep us up and running, but our building is used year round. Park and Wreck has been there all day, every day, all summer. And we cook for the community in the Pearson kitchen. We have uh we cook for all the kids in the park and wreck program as well as the summer school program. And we do weekly pickups all with federally funded food. But nonetheless, we're

069cooking in our kitchens. So, it isn't like we can just say, "Oh, thank goodness it's summer and we don't have to worry about this." It's a, you know, park and wreck would be out on the street if we didn't get it back up and running. So, the >> Thank you, Dr. Living. >> Hi, good evening. Uh, my last name is uh Petrazio, but thank >> you because we do have some uh new board members. Um, but I also, if the board doesn't remember, uh, Dean's company was also the company that, uh, replaced the boiler, um, the heater. Was it last year? The year? Two years ago? It was two years ago. If you remember, we met at the Gilbert School during one of the referendum uh, town meetings. So, uh, Connecticut uh, combustion uh, was

070the company that came in and did the uh, uh, the repair or not the repair, the replacement of the uh, HVAC, the the the boiler for for the heating system. So, I just wanted to put a little reference to Dean um while he's here. So, Dean, take it away. I'm going to share the pictures with the board. So, um go ahead. Okay. So, uh what we have at the school is uh what we call an indirect hot water system. Uh and that you have two uh heating boilers that act as the heat source and they heat domestic hot water tanks. Those tanks are essentially heat exchangers. Um there's four tanks again heated by two boilers. Um at the moment we have one of those two boilers down with a burner problem. The remaining boiler that

071is operating has now cracked. Uh and I think that's in the lower right of the photo four photographs that you're looking at is a closeup of that crack failure. uh of the four tanks that are there uh three of them are online, one has been isolated due to leaks for some time. So um I think it's fair to say that uh the superintendent described it very accurately and the system is we're we're hoping to get through the remainder of the year without any other uh hiccups. Um that being said, uh I I also think it was accurate to say it's a roughly a 20 year life system. Um the boilers in particular um you might recall build the same brand of boiler that was the previous uh heating boiler at the school and that manufacturer

072had several difficulties that took place around the time that these were put together and some of that is what is reflected in those photographs. Um, it's certainly not uh my place necessarily to advise or suggest, but I would strongly recommend that uh at this time that system be uh renovated and updated. Um I think because of the um uh use of the system not only uh for school but also for your other programs and possibly emergency shelter is commonly used at buildings of this type. Uh you put something in actually somewhat similar to what you had uh and that an indirect system is uh the longest lasting. It's modular in that if you lose a tank or pump or even a boiler [clears throat] in this case, you've always got a backup. Unfortunately, where we

073are now, you're at the backup and that's the trouble that we're at. Um, so I've kind of got some ideas in my head uh for how to approach it, but obviously those can be tweaked and reviewed. Um I think that's about that's my summary. Um you have any questions in particular? I >> I just want to reiterate a a few things that Dr. Lubie said. So um if we don't move forward with this and we lose the boilers, um we will have to cancel um the parks and recck programs for the summer confirmed with the building department either today or last week or whenever this was put on the radar. it. Even if Dean were able to get the boiler installed um or we go with somebody else, you still have to wait 48 hours

074before you could reuse the building again. Um per state building code. Um I think with Dean and and I'll elaborate a little more. He has said that he can go in and do a temporary system as he uh fixes the system or installs the new system so we basically can continue with all of our programs all summer long. he gets rid of the temporary one and goes over there. Um, so we have obviously the day camps. I know a lot of parents um probably rely on the day camps during the summer months. Um, parents work. Um, they need to send their kids somewhere. So day camps are very important. But the other one that's important is Ed Advance comes over and cooks all of our food for our our most vulnerable families. Um, and we

075obviously do want to continue that because we obviously want families to be fed over the summer months as well. So those are two critical um areas that I think we need to take a [clears throat] serious look at that. Um section 912 of the charter is the emergency appropriation section which similar it's the exact same section we used when we replaced the uh the boiler for the for the heater uh at the school as well. Um so I I put that in the board. I'm I'm expecting a debate about this, a discussion about it, but I wanted from the town's perspective, there are two programs and from the school's perspective, I don't want to put words in the into Dr. Luby's mouth by any means, but I think we both agree that, you know, um

076the day camps are very important and feeding our our most vulnerable families um is also important and we obviously need hot water to to to operate both of those programs. >> Paul, I mean, I think this board just needs the number. I don't think there's a lot of push back from this board when there's emergency things that have to be done. So, we just need >> what's the cost? >> Well, um, a lot of that obviously depends on the general options. Um, I've sort of done some preliminary work already in sizing the system, which is the critical driver. Uh, I find that the existing system is largely oversized in some respects and in my research for doing your boiler project, I think that may have been in anticipation of the possible uh pool >> that

077was discussed there and assorted locker rooms that might have gone along with that. I think the domestic hot water system may have included some of that thinking. Um, but as a general uh >> a fullback. I'm sorry. I didn't know [laughter] there was a back there. >> I didn't know there was a pool out there right >> back in the 60s and 70s when they were doing a renovation. They thought about putting in an indoor pools, locker rooms with with showers and whatnot. >> That's how old the system >> There's actually plans. I think Dave, we found plans. >> Didn't we find plans that showed that back in >> Wasy supposed to be where a gym is? >> Right. Exactly. So that's >> have to move forward now. The estimates committ as a as a

078general rule of thumb uh in accordance with the ashray guide I've I've sort of come up with a basic uh figure and it it's around six figures. So um I've also included that along with that a a high efficiency outlook for doing it. So, you know, I I I think it's not to say anything out of turn in any way, but I think if you had two or three contractors here, they might all have different ideas on how to do this. Um, but you do need a large amount of hot water per student. Uh, and that of course it's always the peak demand that we're looking at, which is when the is really doing its thing and that for that 60 to 90 minutes that those sinks are really running and the cleanup is going

079on. That's the load that we have to target. >> So, in order for us to take action on this, we need a figure that it's not going to be more than X and then we can do a vote on it. >> I'd [clears throat] actually have a couple questions on on >> what his ideas are, >> right? But we still need a figure from Still asking for a figure. Can you give us what you I know you've had discussions with Dr. Ly. Can you give us a figure of what you think you can do this for? You know, considering all the possible issues that may occur, >> right? Well, um, and then I think we we as just another aside, including something to keep things going, even if it's >> the existing system and we

080keep that limping along while we build something in place, >> that sort of colors the project a little bit. >> Absolutely. I would like to see that dollar amount come in south of that six figure number because at that six figure number we then have to jump to prevailing wage and there's sort of a economy of scale that goes along with that. So I would like to not see it. >> So if we did n 900 sorry 99,000 you know 999 that would work for you >> based >> as a cap. Well, with what with what I have laid out right now, which I'm sure Bill will take me to task on, if I remember correctly from our boiler discussions, I I think um as a contractor who hasn't turned in a finished proposal or

081bid yet, I think if you were to say not to exceed >> that 100, I think that would I would be comfortable with that. >> Not to exceed 100,000 or should we keep it at 99,000 so you're not having that wage issue? >> Well, she was talking how how you choose to vote and how the uh budget works out. As long as my number is not 100, we're south of that prevailing wage. >> That's great. Thank you. [clears throat] >> Do we need to move this forward prior to getting firm numbers? >> So, I did because I I truly feel that we're under an emergency uh situation right now, right? >> You got school year ending. We obviously want the school year to end and then right after the school year ends, >> summer camp

082start and Ed advanc is in there. So the way I've worded the motion and I was passing it along, it's not to exceed a dollar amount. It's obviously, you know, giving the town manager the authorization. The other thing that we did different in talking with the finance director today is that we'd like to the appropriation shall be funded from the town's general fund fiscal year 2026 available budget. So before we go after the savings account, the fund balance, typically in the last two plus years that I've been here, we've turned in in excess of almost a million dollars each year. The first thing we want to do is is is use any balance of any accounts that haven't been expended fully. If we don't have enough money, then we'll dip into there's plenty of money

083in the savings account. We we talked about that during the budget process, but what I first wanted to do is take any available balance before we stick it back into the general fund. Use that balance to pay for it. I think what Dean is telling us is that, you know, not to exceed $100,000. You'd be comfortable with that number on our motion. >> I I think so. Yes. I mean I can come back but where I want to go with this is tomorrow you and I or Wednesday whatever we start sitting down because I do have the fear of ending the school year day or the summer camps and that advance getting in there where I want to I want to move this thing like water going. >> It's important that we move it. I

084get it. Does this have to go out to bid >> because of emergency appropriation? It does not. >> It does not because we're ticking the emergency appropriation uh button. It does not need to go out to bid. So I move that the board of selectment pursuant to selection uh sorry section 912 of the town charter determine that the failure of the hot water boiler at Pearson school constitutes a public emergency threatening the health, safety, and property of the town and the continued operation of an essential public facility. I further move that the board of selectment approve an emergency appropriation in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for the emergency replacement of the Pearson School hot water boiler, including all associated equipment, installation, engineering, permitting, and contingency costs. The board finds that immediate action is necessary

085to protect the town property and maintain essential public services. The appropriation shall be funded from the town's general fund fiscal year 2026 available budget. Any funds not covered by available budgeted funds shall be appropriated from general fund fund balance and expended under the direction of the town manager in accordance with applicable purchasing requirements. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion. We have second. Any further discussion? My only discussion is um so you're telling us that you can get this boiler fixed now temporarily and so the kids are okay for to the end of the year >> and then then you're going to finish it and in the meantime it's going to be able to all these pro programs are going to be able to >> go well I wish I could predict everything

086from from here. I I I wouldn't sit here and tell you I can guarantee your old system is going to keep running, but uh if it doesn't, I'll come up with something >> that I that I can tell you. >> All right, that's >> So, we just put in three brand new heating boilers, correct? >> So, if you had to put hot water in that school, >> like right now, if you had to heat that hot water, I know the indirects are shot. Obviously, those got to be replaced as well. Could you tap right into the heating system there, bring water over, heat these indirects, and pump hot water through the school? >> Do the current boilers that we just put in that could because we put three in for redundancy, correct? >> Yes. >>

087Do they have enough horsepower behind them to to heat these indirect heaters to supply water to >> We discussed that when we were with the school staff on site. Um, it's not really the best use of boilers that large in that that heating system when you go into the high efficiency stuff, it needs to have a certain amount of water flow through it at all times. >> Correct. which when you're heating the building, even at its minimum requirement, you automatically have. When you're trying to heat a load that's comparably much smaller, like on the domestic hot water side, and you're even with the turndown rate of these boilers and the high efficiency part, the flow is at times so less, so much less that that's it will work. And in an emergency, if we needed

088to to have a emergency plan B, yes, we can tap into that piping and and probably do something without bringing in a okay guys back it up type of of thing. >> Did we put taps? I thought you and I talked. Did we put taps off that main header when we put those boilers in just for >> There probably is something. >> I think there's a couple taps there. I'm saying if you needed to get them hot water tomorrow, you get a call tomorrow from Dave. >> I I think there's a couple taps you could come over and Right. >> Well, I I think the first thing I would do to to get into it a little bit is probably take the good burner. that's working. Swap it to the boiler that's not cracked and,

089you know, try to juggle something a little bit that way. I also have an emergency heater at my shop. It's a three-phase heater. I could get that down there and I can get a minimal amount of water going, hot water, >> but we come up with something. You have the right, >> you know. >> So, if we appropriate this, you can start right away. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Julie, how much time we have left for school? >> Did you leave here? >> 16 15 days. >> 19. >> And you have no hot water at all right now? >> No, we do. >> Dean came and he swapped out the broken circulator for a like new gently used one he happen to have laying around >> and did all the things we need to do

090to put us back in business. Um, but it's bubble gum band. >> So, we have You know, we end on the 19th, so 14 school days left. >> And as long as it keeps running, we're good. And if it doesn't, Dean has been wonderful. He shows up. >> 4 in the morning checking all the systems. And anytime something doesn't work, he gets the right people in. [snorts] >> He keeps calling. [clears throat] do have that. >> The only thing I want to make sure is that we're not going to damage those new boilers that we put in by tapping into them for any reason. >> No, I I think that's I think that's a good idea, but maybe a it's more of a plan C >> maybe or D. >> What it is, it's redundancy

091for the future. >> You know, if if there's taps there and he valved them, you put a new boiler in, great. It's brand new. doesn't mean that in six months something's not going to happen to it. Happens all the time. He could simply tap off those boilers and and run these indirect heaters off. Do you want to do it forever? Do we want to not put furnaces in to run these? No. We got we got to replace these boilers. >> Yeah. >> But I think if you have the redundancy, it's going to save you emergencies in the future. >> Dr. Libby, do you have any contingencies in case the wheels fall off of this and he can't get parts? Do you have can they move to Hinsdale? Can they move to Gilbert? Any of these

092programs? No. >> Um the park and w programs couldn't go to Hinsville because we have another program there. >> Okay. >> I haven't explored Gilbert because I've been assured that >> as long as we do this will be in business. >> Sounds like the new boilers are your will get it done if it >> but long term it's a lot of horsepower to wash your hands is what things like that. >> You don't want to fire up these massive start tonight. All that being said, it will take some time to get equipment here, >> right? >> And kind of what we tell everybody because so many municipal and and school budgets break on that fiscal year. A lot of folks, that's when they start July 1st. That's when the engineering goes out and they start

093to solicit bids. So in my business when you order something in April or May and then you try to [clears throat] order it in July or August, it's several couple of weeks here means several months there. >> So it's it is important >> timely, right? >> So we got it close. [cough] >> Be proud. We're a month early. We'll be all the other municipalities. >> I hope so. >> We have a motion. We have a second. All in favor? >> Unanimous. >> Thank you. Good luck. Time manager, I have a question. >> Sure, Nancy. >> So, um earlier this year when when I was uh working with our congressional representative, John Larson, um trying to aduca advocate for more funding for our town education, um it led to an application being put in for uh

094funding to fix capital expenses at Pearson School. Do we know when um we might hear about that? >> So, uh typically we start to hear something in October. the the federal uh budgets, they start debating them up around October and then if they agree then there's a budget and then if they don't agree then there's you know uh uh things that don't happen. So somewhere around probably midfall we'll start to hear um if our applications good, bad or indifferent. So, funny thing is is with that um we did put in um with Congressman Larson's office all of the capital items that the board of ed push forward. One of those items was the uh was the boiler. Um good news is is I I don't it is a public meeting. I don't know if I'm

095going to go back to Congressman Larson's office and say, "Oh, you can you know subtract 100 because we went in for for a a two or three million dollar ask for that application." But I'm sure there's something that we can find if they come through with the full 2 or3 million that were that that and and again and and I I say it during town manager report. Congressman Larson, Senator Blumenthal, and Senator Murphy have been very kind to Winstead with the amount of federal dollars that this town has received. Um you know, some that we're looking to unlock that we we've gotten commitment. $2 million for the public works facility, $15 million for the fire department. The list goes on and on and on. So, um, again, I say these $850,000 for the radios. You

096know, you hear me. There's a reason I continue to thank congressional de delegation because the money is hitting us down and it's it's the taxpayers aren't having to fund these projects. So, October Kevin, that was a long way to answer your question. >> Thank you. >> Item B, roads and sidewalks update, public works director Rollins, town manager Harrington. >> And just a note, um, because Mr. Rollins and I both uh like to talk a lot. Um I was not present at the last meeting. Ann Marie will be at the next meeting. Um this is all of what public works is going to accomplish this summer, this spring, this summer, this fall in terms of the road. The following meeting with the finance officer or finance director coming in doing the a finance office update. We'll

097also supply the dollar amount where the we wanted to do work this time, money next time. We wanted to break it up and we knew the meeting could get quite long. I didn't know where item G potentially could have led if we had a budget or not. So I I was balancing the agenda while it was published. So with that, Mr. Rollins, good to see you, buddy. >> All right. [clears throat] So I came to this with a little bit different understanding of what was being asked of me. I think because the time constraints are are a little tight. It's more about what's coming than what's been done is what uh I think you're asking for. Um so I might be a little clunky as I go through because I I [clears throat] went through

098everything the stuff that's done where we are on the stuff that's coming. Um but it's seven or eight pages and it's it gets too hard to follow and it gets long. So I will it might be clunky but I'll get through it. Um so just going alphabetically through the bond stuff um give you an update on what's happening. So the Grantville Road Bridge which is being done through the federal local bridge program um they are evaluating the public comment from the meetings that we held and putting that into the final design. Um we should have [clears throat] the 60% plans um sometime this July and but at this point in time they've postponed construction till spring of 2028. Um again bandwidth is an issue for them as much as it is as it is for

099uh the miss [clears throat] municipalities. Um the highland retrofit program that's part of the bond. Um, it's essentially a combination of asset management and MS4. And for those of you that don't know, uh, MS4 is the municipal separate storm sewer system. Um, [clears throat] it's basically how do you monitor the quality of water coming from your drainage system into your water [clears throat] courses. Um, and in the bond, we took a kind of proactive step to get started on this up around Highland Lake knowing that the [clears throat] MS4 requirements are going to hit us for the whole town. Excuse [clears throat] me. So, where we are on that is we've purchased a, you know, some technology, some GPS, GIS technology and equipment. And we started with a uh a report from Tyen Bond. It's

100an engineering firm. Um and they gave us their preliminary report which was less than it was underwhelming. So I went back and said we were kind of hoping that this part of the scope meant this. So can you revise it and update it to suit our needs? So that's where it is. So we should in the next couple of weeks get um you know kind of a summary of of what our next steps are. Basically where Highland Lake has done an amazing job at testing the lake water. They just don't have much data on the water right where it comes into the lake. So there's kind of a dispute amongst the you know the group that's involved in this project. Do we try to go after the high volume, low concentration water sources or the

101low volume, high concentration of pollutant water sources? So, we're hoping to get this answer or some combination of what we should do and a timeline that makes it the best bang for the buck. So, we should know more in a couple of weeks on that. Um dovetailing with the retrofit program is the Highland Lake uh drainage which is essentially a water quality implementation. Um we've done we've done a bunch of stuff but the most important thing is there's three projects on uh West Wakefield Boulevard that were delayed because of the death of the the surveying firm and the inavvailability of other surveyors to pick up the the slack. Well, we got a surveyor on. They've done the basic survey for three projects. Um, a drainage system in the area of 345 uh West Wakefield, a

102retaining wall and drainage mitigation uh problem at 608 West Wakefield and where Taylor where Mountain Road comes down towards West Wakefield. Um, part of the water goes south to the east, part of it goes to the west, and where it goes to the west, there's a covert that's had some searchcharging issues. So, those three projects are have been surveyed. Wetlands has gone out and flagged everything. Um, and that data is making its way back to the engineers. Um, so they'll start working on the basic design and some bid documents for that. um Hallebert Avenue. Those plans [clears throat] will go to the council of governments for their review this week. Um we do know we we've confirmed that the lot funding for the lower half of that has been allocated. Um I don't know what's

103involved in the COG review. That's that's a bit of an unknown. I haven't gone through this process before. Uh but as we do with every project, we reach out to all the utilities before we do it and have them get ahead of us. The water company put a water man in and we also reached out to Eversource. At the time they didn't have anything pending. Now all of a sudden they do. So they're they're replacing the regulator station. Is that what that is at the top? Um, anyway, they're replacing that and some mains that go with it. I don't know what that's going to do to the schedule, but I made the decision to bid it this winter for a spring start. We were hoping to do a fall start, but that one's going to

104go for a spring of 2027. Um, Newfield Road, the drainage and pavement design will start as soon as the engineers finished doing the drainage and pavement design on South Road and that's already been I'll get to that one later. Um, we will bid that this winter for a spring start. Um, we've also applied to the state and local bridge program and the federal local bridge program, one for one culvert and one bridge on Newfield Road. That'll be a separate project, but we're gonna have a great, you know, nice new road. We don't want it to narrow uh to a 18 foot bridge. Um and then the covert, that's just one that needs to be replaced. [snorts] Um Oakdale Avenue, uh the bottom of Oakdale where it crosses old New Hartford Road has a big pipe.

105I think it's a 48 inch. The bottom's rotted out and then it's rotted out all the way up to like Fair Avenue. This is one I really want to get get done this season. Uh we've had some sink holes there and it's become problematic. Um Old Cole Brook Road um should be mil by the end of milled and paved by the end of this week or early next week um depending on how long Spring Street takes. Um, as I alluded to earlier, uh, Newfield Road, South Road, the drainage and pavement design is underway. It's been flagged. It's been surveyed. Um, and we should get plans and bid documents for that uh for we'll install the the new drainage this summer and pave it this fall. And that's the section from uh, Newfield Road right in

106the center out to Hollow Road over by Herbert's Farm. Um that's the worst of the northern end of South Road. Uh Spring Street, that's the big steep hill right over here. Uh the drainage was completed earlier this spring. The milling started today and I would expect it to get paved by the end of the week or early next week. [snorts] Um Wani Road was just complete. We have tiny little bit of landscaping uh left to do. Um, we've got a curveball on sidewalks. Um, we had awarded the contract to a uh to a vendor out of Bristol, the same contractor that was doing the Holland Beach area. Um, we called him up, you know, in the spring and said, "Okay, we're ready to get going on this stuff." We had some, you know, they knew

107what we were expecting and we've had crickets ever since. Uh we waited as long as we could for them and then we finally used three different contractors to finish up uh the uh Holland Beach area uh right at the last second. So I I do have to give big thanks to um some local contractors that came in and rescued us there. Uh DM Hawk put in all the curbing for us. DMS Lawn and Property Services came in and hydro seated, you know, like last minute right before a holiday weekend and Northeast Crack Seeing stuck, you know, came in and did the the line painting uh for the crosswalks and the parking spots. Um, none of them were the ones that even bid the job. They just came and and rescued us because the contractor is

108MIA. So, how do I feel about that's the same contractor that won the sidewalk bid and was the only bidder. So, what do we do? Do we go back out to bid? Do we give them another chance? I don't think we can. They won't even return a call. So, we got to go somewhere else. So, we're we're starting over with that. [snorts] Um, >> so you're going to have to put out a new bid. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, >> did you ask you know spoke to the contractors the local contractors that helped you out? They don't do concrete sidewalks. >> That's not going to work. Okay. >> Um it's too bad. >> Yeah. Um but it's there's a lot of sidewalk money. It's more than we can just make an appropriation for. It's this is

109there's like $600,000 worth of work planned. It's got to go out to a formal bid. Again, um I don't know if it was the timing of when we put the bid out or the quality of the bid. We talked when we only got, you know, one bidder. We did ask some of the contractors who have done sidewalks for us in the past, you know, why they didn't bid and they were just busy. >> Maybe this is a better time to put it out. I don't know. Um, >> so probably the only thing we're going to do on that is revisit the concrete mix. Um, we weren't happy with the concrete mix that has been used. Um, we're getting surface spalling. It's happening all over the state. So, we've come up with our own concrete mix

110that we want to use. Um, but again, that that project we we were initially planning on starting on Park Place uh west um in an area where the town has a sidewalk that's belongs to us that we need to do. And then we were going to advertise the sidewalk revolving fund, which I think is going to be a very popular thing with the public. Um, I don't want to get into the details of it now, but I think it'll really help a lot of people get sidewalks going and stay true to uh what the charter has about the responsibility of sidewalks being uh the adjacent property owner. Um, so we'll get into that, you know, at some later date, but that we were hoping to be going on that, but we got a little bit

111uh sidetracked. Um, as far as annual road maintenance goes, you know, we got in this year's budget that just passed, there's $560,000 for annual road maintenance. Out of that, roughly 32,000 goes to Crack Seal. About 118 is going to go into Chip Seal, and that's roads that were paved within the last three years. Um, in this case it's going to be Gay Street, Wetmore, Perkins, Fruit, Old Corook Road, Indian Meadow, and Marshall Street. Um, line painting roughly $30,000. Uh, hazard trees about $150,000. Shimming and pothole patching roughly $50,000. That leaves us with about 180,000 to fill in all the gaps. You know what are those gaps? That's kind of our discretionary thing. What is causing the most problems to the public? What's causing the most problems to the plow trucks? Ra. We don't have that

112list finalized. Um Woodruff Avenue drainage I know will happen on that. Some of them that are leading contenders are finish up the Danbury Quarter Road. You were just mentioned mentioned that earlier. Finish up the Danbury Quarter Road cross pipes. Um there's like a dozen of them. Oh, I'm sorry. There's 30 of them. Uh, some of them are already done. Orchard Street, where we did some drainage last year. We'd really like to mill and pave that and get it done. Uh, Morningside, Brookside, the drainage has been done. Um, Sunny Ridge, the drainage has been done. Winchester Avenue, we'd love to get the drainage done on that. That's just a that's been a problem for way too long. We had put guide rail into our budget. It didn't make it through. So, we'd like to get some

113high priority guard rails in and then whatever else comes up. Um, uh, under our miscellaneous, we've got, uh, the pedestrian bridge at the spillway on the west side. There's money in the budget that just passed for that. Um, the Bridge Street intersection, uh, the bids are due the fourth. What's that? Thursday, I guess. Um and it will be completed by by wintertime. Um Rockwell, Superior, and Ridge Streets. Um catch basin repairs. Basically, the the bottoms, the pipes and the sumps are in good shape. It's the the tops from the from the mortar joints up to have to be replaced. And then we're using fee in lie of payment uh for from gas mains to do a 2-in mill and pave. We'll probably have to supplement that with some of our own money uh because I

114don't think a two-inch mill is going to smooth the road out, you know, as much as we need it to. Um the White Street Bridge is similar to Grantville Road Bridge. The uh public comments being evaluated by DOT. Um we should have their final design agreement in July and they have not sk yet yet scheduled the construction phase of that. Um, Skinner Road, we'd like to do a preliminary pavement design, mostly for budgeting purposes. We've got some drainage money uh from not last year, but the prior year, I believe, uh, in the capital budget, but we don't really know what the conditions are under that road, so we don't really know what the paving is going to cost. Um, those are really the highlights of what to expect. Um, if there's any questions, I'd be

115happy to. >> Jim, I do have one question that's actually not related to that. >> With the paving on Main Street, I know last time we paved Main Street, there were some complaints about the parking lines, >> which we ended up having to I think the town went out. >> It's a good question. >> And painted that. Do we have any plans for that once they finish? >> I hadn't. >> Okay. How about crosswalks? >> Well, crosswalks would be after >> I think crosswalks, >> we need a lot more crosswalks than we have there. >> The crosswalks are part of where Commissioner uh Ukalito came in with the temporary ballards. That all got delayed until after Eversource finishes the paving. Once that is done, mark my words, I will be ringing the commissioner's office repeatedly

116to get the plan that's still in my office, the blueprints of it, the temp the temporary ballards. And by temporary, I mean that they they can't be concrete, right? But they are going to be there for and the crosswalk. So that is heavily there was a commitment to the town from the DOT that whenever source is done they will come out because the only thing that was done last year after he promises to to all of the border selectment and to our residents was we got a little bit of the lane dieting way down there and that was it. And then Eversource came in and they started ripping up the road. Okay, those plans sit right across from me. I look at him every day because although it's not perfect, it's the start of slowing

117things down more pedestrian friendly Main Street Route 44. So that I'm taking that one fully because I love the plans. I want the plans. I want them executed and I like that there was no cost to our residents that the DOT was picking up the tab. That's on me. >> I'm sort of seeing that in Torington a little bit. They're doing a lot of sidewalk work and road work. They're they're squeezing everything in >> to slow things down, especially up on water street. >> It's the only thing that works. >> If you have a wide road, you have fast drivers. It's >> or a smooth road. >> Well, there in lies the other problem. The first call after we pave a road is people are speeding. >> Yep. >> It It's we we can't The

118pavers aren't even demobilized before those calls come in. Happens every time. Um but yeah, the parking lines on Main Street to give you a little heads up on that [clears throat] somehow DOT feels that that's the town's responsibility on a state road and >> I remember last time we had so >> so what we can do is really paint the lines that were there if we can even see them anymore. We can't really go changing them. Now, I don't I'm not real familiar with the with the plan that's up in your office. Um, they can't add crosswalks without putting handicap accessible curb stops in, >> right? >> So, I don't think that's part of this phase. >> I think they were adding one. Um, okay. I got to reit adding one with the handicap access

119because that was talked about in in that meeting that day. what we need because with that it gives the pedestrians a safer they can literally stand in the road because they're in this like little >> ballard uh and I don't know if I'm saying the name right >> correct yeah >> have we looked at lighting for that I was happen to be out of town last weekend and came upon a crosswalk where literally there was four bright yellow lights that were almost blinding that you had to slow down for and you knew somebody was in the crosswalk >> has those too soon as somebody gets in the crosswalk talk [clears throat] lights flash, >> but these were like ridiculously bright. >> That was that was included in the DOT uh proposal was was was the

120light up um yellow lights that >> only one additional crosswalk because there's so many areas on that street that are dangerous and people are crossing over by the Y down by where all the restaurants are, where one business is. There's so many places and it's just you're playing Frogger. It's dangerous, >> you know. So whatever we can do to advocate for more that's we really need to do that because people aren't going to slow down even if the speed cameras and when it gets dark there it's dark especially on the west end of town. >> Yeah. As soon as ever sources off this road which is supposed to be Sunday night >> taken over. I want I want that work done. [clears throat] >> And again keep in mind all these these beautiful things that

121we want for Main Street. As soon as we lobby for nice bright yellow lights at the crosswalks, they hand that maintenance responsibility to us. >> We already don't have the staff or the knowledge, >> you know, do we train somebody that we have up? Do we subcontract it out? >> We have the budget for these things that we want. Just keep that in mind when we're we're planning out, you know, what we do. I'm not saying I'm against it. I'm just saying I know what always happens. >> They find money to build it with a grant and then they go Keep it keep it going. And by the way, you don't have enough people. And you didn't have and now you won't. So not not trying to cry poverty here. Just telling you the reality

122of the situation. >> Have LED light training. >> We don't have >> what we should have. We should have an electrician in town that could handle sewer plant, water plant, lights. You know, fortunately, we don't have any traffic signals. We don't have any street lights. Thank thankfully Bob Guyger did not take those when they offered to um give them to us and make the LEDs you saw through that smoke screen >> and he says no why don't you put LEDs in and you keep them >> and you know but yeah so we don't we we don't maintain the the lights very well. We own six or eight lights at from Union Street heading west and we're constantly fixing those. We just hire electrician to fix them and then something else goes wrong with they just

123were never installed well. So, I'm just ler of every all these great things that we all want. I got to maintain them. So, just be gentle. [laughter] >> Any other questions on Jim's report? >> Uh for the board and for the residents, that report is fresh off the the press. Jim's going to email it to me. I will get it off to the board and also publish it under the public works part of the website. You always see our road reports go up there. So, I think the last one was the winter time when we had you come in. This will be the updated spring version. So, we just keep them all in a row. We don't delete any of them. So, we're gonna get it up on our website first thing tomorrow. Um, it'll

124be under public works and just click on their page and it's right on the first page of the latest date. We'll have the date on it. So, um, that I'll email it to all of you, but we'll get it up on the town's website as well. >> Wonderful. >> Speaking of technology, I couldn't pull this up on YouTube tonight. >> Yeah. >> Is it okay? >> It's on there. It did come on a little late, but >> Oh, maybe that's all it was. So Jim, I just want to thank you and the whole crew. I know you got an awful lot on your plate. It's not just the roads or the drainage. You still have the water plant, the sewer plant, everything else. I know you got an awful awful lot of stuff on your

125hands. Um so thank you guys u for everything that you're doing and uh try not to get too stressed out. >> We [clears throat] do what we can do and >> you know hope for the best. But thank you. >> Appreciate it. I will pass it along. >> Yeah, I had a I think it's it's more for town manager. Um we talked earlier about the safe streets for all thing that just finished and how that will unlock state and federal grants. Do you have any idea of what that looks like? What they would cover? What it would be for? Um when any >> Well, they they survey just closed. So now it's analyzing the data. The report is not done yet. The report is going to take, you know, several more months to get done.

126I can tell you that towns are picking up millions millions of dollars in state and federal uh grants to to pave roads, to make them more pedestrian friendly, to make them bike friendly. It there are millions of dollars available for both state and federal to go fix your roads. But >> you have to actually redesign roads. That's not just a paving project. >> Depending on the unsafeness of the roads, it you can pave them as well, but also lengthen the roads and putting a bike lane in. I don't think there's a resident out there that would complain that we have a little bit wider road and allowing for bike traffic. And you're literally um uh marking the the bike lane where it's safe for bikers and for walkers, too, where you're actually putting up these

127ballards that allow safe walking conditions for our bikers and for our walkers as well. Um, and if it's a way to get the road fixed, I don't think I I I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone's going to complain that, hey, we have safer passage for cars and for our bikers and for our walkers. So, >> yeah. And to answer your question, I think [clears throat] the way I look at the safe streets for all, not only that it's just it's going to help people just be safer using the the built environment, but if you if you don't go through the the the process, the grant money won't come. Not only does it help you get the money, but if you don't have it, the grants won't come. So, it's it's kind of

128like it's it's time well spent, money well spent. Um, right before I came here, I was watching a webinar on, you know, kind of what the state uh transportation plan is. And, you know, they're they're coming to realize that just moving vehicles fast long distances just isn't suiting anyone. It's it's making it too hard for, you know, pedestrian rollers is the new term. you know, whether it's skateboards, bikes, wheelchairs, walkers, you know, so you got walkers and rollers, um trying to make ramps, trying to make, you know, raised crosswalks so you can be seen by cars. It's just there it's all it's all about that because what more can you do with the roads, right? The only thing we do is make them better and people drive faster. So they they want to try to

129promote pedestrian activity so people don't have to be on the road. So it's I think it's probably a smart shift. Um it's a shift in thinking as much as anything else, but we got a lot of people that are doing it, you know, thinking about it, planning it. Um >> and I it it's got to be better than what we have. It's just, you know, the road network in this country is just terrible. Yes. >> Um so it all takes time, too. You know, just like you said, you have to do one step at a time. You cross your tees, dot your eyes. I've seen it >> plenty of times myself. So yeah, >> and a lot of it is geared around, you [snorts] know, having a having a point of public transportation that you

130can get to without too big a trip, either walking or cycling. You know, it it it makes a lot of sense. Driving is just it's who likes to drive anymore? Like nobody I know, you know? It's just gotten awful. But anyway, >> you you would >> I I Jim would be riding his I want I just want to put the cherry on top of this and and and and I think it's important for our residents to know that the town really is on the cusp of great things because you have the bar grant that's looking at these legacy buildings. You have safe sheets for all that's, you know, looking at unlocking the money for the roads. You know, the bar grant is going to help us unlock the remediation grant. You're going to see further

131on uh down in the agenda, you're going to hear about the rescue plan for a CIF grant, which is going to unlock potentially money to do a study to unlock money for our sewer plant. Um, Bill will know the gentleman's name from uh D who literally said, "Get the study done and I will unlock 80% of your sewer plant um rehabilitation." >> Carlos, >> that's his name. Thank you. I was trying to think his name for like the last hour. But these reports do unlock the money. We've tried it in prior to me getting it. >> Yeah. >> Looking at what other administrations done, looking at what other boards, they they they they asked repeatedly repeatedly and the doors were shut. We're looking at how other towns are unlocking this money and it always comes

132back to the report. So, we've changed our mentality. We're going out. We've got the reports in the work. A year from now, please, I'll take all criticism. If we're not unlocking that money, I think you can say, "Paul, we did the report and I own it." But I can tell you right now, I'm seeing what the other towns are doing. We're getting the reports done. We're on the cusp. Be patient. We're going to get it done. >> And you know, you guys were talking about the bar grant earlier. Um Jim's [clears throat] huge, >> you know, and one of the things I really liked about that was kind of went to some of the concerns that you guys have, you know, is it's offering opportunities to the people that own these properties. you know, what

133can [snorts] it be used for? What what is a good use of this property? Because you might own a building and not know its best use, which is why you never did anything with it. >> So, this I didn't realize that until we started meeting about it. That is like that's the town really helping an existing land owner make use of a piece of property to benefit them as well as a town. Like, that is I feel really good about this. I think it's going to really open up people's eyes to what their ass what assets they have and how to utilize it for the for the good of everybody. So that was the one part I I wanted to remember to throw in there. So >> and is it do you go with the

134building? Is it a commercial use which requires maybe a little less remediation or is a residential use which requires a little bit more there? We're going to have we're going to we're going to have it off. We're going to have it off. >> So it's exciting. >> And they can even steer you towards developers. they can, you know, give you fair market values for what it's worth, what it can be worth when it's it was really a comprehensive economic strategy. I couldn't believe it. I was really impressed that the personnel they brought in was really all the vendors, but the one we chose had a really awesome staff. So, I'm out of here. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Item C 26-26, proposed line item transfer by the director of finance, down manager Harrington. So about

135a month ago, you all approved roughly a $1,000 transfer to get some of the vehicles in the land use office uh up and running. Unfortunately, once the vehicle did get brought in, there was obviously more work that was found. Um roughly an additional I think it was $467 uh additional work needed to be found when the brakes were being replaced. We are asking for 667 because we're looking for an additional $200 because the two two of the other vehicles do need to get oil changes before the end of the year. $100 a piece for the oil change. So before you all money being covered within the actual department, $667 from the relocation cost to the maintenance of vehicles and our vehicles will be starting July 1st, ready to go. By recommendation of the town manager,

136I move the board of select and approve the above action step 26-26, budget transfer 2026-17 totaling [snorts] $667. We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Thank you, Bill. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor? Unanimous. Item D, 26-27, proposed line item transfer by the director of finance, town manager Harrington. So, as you know, we have a couple of new officers. Uh, last year, we took a a big uh commitment from this board uh that unlocked, I think, roughly $13,000 to get all of our uh police officers trained on on boat on boer safety and the boater course to allow more patrols up at the lake. We obviously have new officers. So, we wanting we we are looking at moving money within the police department budget from the physical fitness program for

137[clears throat] to training and education, postrecruit training, and voter instructor. uh certification um to get our newer officers up to speed uh on two of those trainings. >> By recommendation of the town manager, I move that the board of selectment approve the action step 26-27 budget transfer 2026-18 totaling $5,976. >> We have a motion. Do we have we have a second? Do we have any discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor? >> Unanimous. >> Thank you. Item 26-28, bid waver, soldiers monument flashing repair. Town manager Harrington. >> Uh, I had the pleasure of uh going back up to Soldiers Monument on Memorial Day weekend. It's we're talking about the arch just as you were approaching uh Soldiers Monument. We could do this in peacemail, right? We could do each particular section which would be below

138the bid threshold. But uh the Soldiers Monument Commission did approach me to say, Paul, we want to use this company. We do want to knock off the 20 thou $27,620 money that we have in our capital account for for for for uh for repairs of anything up at Soldiers Monument. Um they have worked with All State in the past. You can see some of the photos that they do. What we're looking to do is nothing out of the ordinary. We're looking for a bid waiver to just go with all state to do the repairs that are necessary for soldiers monument to keep that monument um as as pristine as as soldiers monument commission uh keeps that they do a wonderful job with there. We we are just looking for a bid waiver uh in the

139amount of $27,620 to go with all state um to get the work done. >> We have a motion. I move that the board of selectmen wave the town's standard bidding and procurement requirements in the best interest of the town and authorize the town manager to execute an agreements or agreements with Allstate Waterproofing Company Incorporated. >> We have a motion. Do we have We have a second. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor? Unanimous. >> Commission's very happy. Item F26-02, resolution of support for grant application for the community investment fund 2030 round 9 rescue plan and letter of support. Town manager Harrington. >> Thank you. So I mentioned it a little bit earlier. So CIF round 9 becomes available in the in the notsodistant future. What we're looking for is the ability to apply for

140$250,000. One of the things looking down at CIF grants. We have gone out and we've looked at SIF grants before um and we haven't been successful and we have looked at other towns and looked at why they've been successful. The first thing they started was with is with a study. Um so here's now another study $250,000. CIFT seems to like that. The fortunate news with this is I don't think we're going to have to go back to CIF in order to unlock money. As select Hester and I stated, the Department of Environment Protection literally said, "Get the study and we will fund the rehabilitation of your sewer plant." Um, this uh resolution is something that we need in order to apply the grant. It's authorizing the town to put in a a uh a request

141of $250,000. And there is a letter authorizing the mayor to sign that we can submit with our application as well. And because we thought long and hard. So the rescue plan is rehabilitation and engineering study of critical utility equipment. Came up with a clever title. >> Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> A second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none. All in favor? >> Unanimous. Item G uh blue item G potentially set fiscal year 27 mill rate or budget discussions. Thank you for everyone that voted on the budget. We have a budget. So let's talk about the mill rate. Town manager Harrington. Um, as you know, uh, the residents came out and approved an overall budget, uh, the appropriation and the expenditure. I'm passing down a motion right now. That appropriated

142budget, as we've discussed as a board, uh, equals 30 mills exactly. I would need a motion that's being passed out to you to set. And then also, um, the mayor has a, uh, a quote unquote warrant from the, uh, tax collector that then allows her to go out with the bill dates, uh, of, uh, you know, roughly July 1st and January 1st when bills are due, uh, at a mill rate of 30. I move that the town of Wedchester set the fiscal year 2026-2027 mill rate at 30.00 mills, effective for the assessment year. commencing October 1st, 2025 and for the collection of taxes during fiscal year 2026 and 2027 in accordance with the adopted municipal budget and applicable provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes. >> Second. >> We have a motion. We have a second.

143Do we have a discussion? >> Seeing no discussion, all in favor? Unanimous. And I can speak as this is going around to get signatures. The tax collector is very happy that the bills can go out on time because it does create a little bit of a of an issue in in the office when the bills can't go out on time. If you have any ideas, um we do put an insert in to tax bills. Um we do front and back. um if you can come back with any particular ideas. Um one of the areas that we're going to hit, we're going to obviously advertise Everbridge. Uh let residents know who haven't signed up to sign up for Everbridge. We'll remind them what we did last year is a QR code where they scan it, it

144actually puts the second payment on their calendar. Um we just started talking about it because obviously we got the budget uh approved on Saturday, but if you have any ideas of something that could go in the insert, it's very inexpensive way to hit every possible business owner and resident because you're hitting them with the bill anyway. So, you might as well add a little insert in there. So, if anybody has any creative ideas, feel free to email, call me, uh let us know what you're thinking and we can potentially add it to the insert that we have. >> Awesome. Excellent. Thank you. >> All right. Before we go to executive session, since she's standing here right now, I'd like to recognize and congratulate Officer Les. >> Good luck. >> Thank you. [laughter] And I thought

145mine was bad for being selected the [applause] first quarter 2026 Bolo program employee of the quarter. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> And with that, can we have a motion for executive session to discuss? >> Let me finish. >> To discuss uh regarding personnel contracts in discussion of 281 Walnut Street. taking with us town manager Harrington >> second. >> So moved >> at 853. All in favor? >> We will be no more than probably five minutes. I don't see it being that lengthy. It's just a good service. summer. >> He did that to us a couple weeks ago and then left again. We're back. We're back from executive session at 9:13 p.m. We have no action to take. Item 12, citizens comments. The board welcomes public comment. Speakers be limited to three minutes. May speak once.

146Please give your name and address. Who would like to speak? Anyone? [laughter] Uh Bla, just turn the uh mic on. >> Yep. >> All right, perfect. Let me do that. Definitely was a lovely day today. Perfect clear skies and hoping it stays like that. So, my name is Blaine Omera, 1187 Sawmill Hill Road. And what a year it has been. And I say this very much as I'm burnt out mentally with my autism. Um what went on this year in pattern wise was kind of like last year and we still are losing more special ed teachers and paras. And like I said, you know, especially now as many of the special ed kids have to go through life and try to do the best they can to help themselves to calm themselves in the case

147of over stimulation or burnout like I am, it's it becomes important that we have parents and special students. So, and I feel like there are many board of selectmen that don't truly understand what it means to be autistic, what our lives are like day after day. Cuz unfortunately, it's not a cure. There's no cure with autism. There it's our entire lives. 525,600 minutes of trying to get ourselves going through life the best we can while helping ourselves mental healthwise. So I feel like there definitely needs to be a lot more education with near divergence, not just with town citizens, but our elected officials and you know because we are becoming a great town with a possible future with many things coming to Winstead and we definitely need those who can speak on this subject and

148the best way that we can talk about autism and to spread that awareness to not just our students but to our citizens as well is to have speakers who have gone through and have autism like I do. So, I've been working well with our superintendent, Julie Lubby, trying to find ways of making our schools better, you know, being a place that is a sanctuary for many neurody divergent both in their prek to their senior because at the end of the day, they deserve an equal opportunity to be part of this school system. they shouldn't have to go out of district like Bristol or Torington. And at the end of the day, if that's what it comes down to, you'll find that the out of district cost is going to only increase by next year. So,

149I feel that more awareness of autism for our students and citizens needs to be, you know, spread aware of. And honestly, like I said before, if you want to understand more about autism, I I'm happy to do once a month doing like a PowerPoint and speak on this subject, talk about my journey with autism. And I'm sure if I'm able to step up and talk about my journey with autism, many more can step up too and share their stories about their journeys with autism. Because at the end of the day, if you only know one person with autism, you only know one person with autism because it is a spectrum. And so, like our town, it needs to expand and needs to grow for all people of Winstead. Thank you. >> Thank you. [clears throat]

150>> Anyone else wish to speak? Item 13, selectman's comments and reports. >> Anyone? >> I got a couple things. >> Um, first thing I was talking uh with someone about the uh econom economic development committee. They have signs that were made and they've been sitting at the town garage for businesses. Um, they've been done for a while. So, I want to know if you could get that going. What exactly are the signs? >> Were there the signs for the walking tour? Maybe >> was it the Wayfair? >> No, the way for it antique stores. They're supposed to go on end route eight or whatever. And they've been sitting there. So >> Oh, you mean the the road signs? >> Road signs. Yeah. >> They're supposed to go around town so to help our businesses. >>

151So EDC made the signs. >> They had they purchased them. They put in the town garage. No one's put them up. >> I'm surprised. >> Exactly often. Yeah. And I mean, everyone knows, but that's the first I'm hearing any of that, but you see road signs install. Um >> I will find that out. This is the first I'm hearing this. So, >> and then second, um I'd like to task the board with with maybe appointing a commission on studying cost-saving measures. um to the town for each department. Um like, you know, ways that we could uh maybe save money in the school system, maybe save money uh in the public works department. Um you know, people that are accountant, somebody that has, you know, it wouldn't be anybody from the board. It would be members

152of the public to have ideas that could help us with our budget and maybe, you know, come up with out of the box thinking on ways [clears throat] to save money to help the taxes. >> I don't know if anybody's interested in that, but >> isn't that my job? >> I'm just I'm just wondering. Are you looking to replace me? I I just have to ask. >> It's the job of every head of every division, your job, the superintendent's job. >> You can't You're not You're not involved in everything. So you're not the school, right? >> Finance directors apply to that, too. You know, it's we got people for that already. >> Well, I'm just thinking outside the box where, you know, there's cost savings out there that maybe somebody else will think of. >>

153I mean, and I may be stepping and I think I I did that during the the the presentation at Gilbert where we talked about, you know, the gas prices that we locked in the day after Thanksgiving. We we talk about even though a budget is approved, Dr. Lee, I'm going to speak for her. I'm going to speak definitely for myself. We don't necessarily say, "Oh, let's go spend all that money." We constantly look for cost-saving measures every single day. Um, so it um I hope you're not looking to replace me and bring in a commission because that's what it sounds like. So, I had to speak up because I don't know if my wife was watching or not, but you know, tough conversation when I got home. Your contract is up, right? Um, >> your

154contract is kind of what I do every day. >> Okay. And the third thing I wanted to say is Cheryl, how we make it out with the garbage thing. >> Well, I'm not in charge of it. I thought you were in charge of it. No, >> I proposed my job. >> We approved it. >> I proposed it. We We You know, we put on the agenda. It got approved. Now it's on the town manager's lab. I know. >> My job. >> I know. I signed up. >> Uh we do have we we do have one business and she mentioned it just now. So I I can tell you that that uh Second Home has graciously uh come up helped come up with the program. Um but also was the first um EDC uh again they're

155going to start pitching it as well. We have it advertised obviously on our social media pages and our website um as well. Currently we have one but it starts with one. >> Okay. >> So I see I think it's a great idea. I just like to see it get done. >> You can walk every business with a fire on the weekend. >> Being talked about around here and not getting done. So, >> well, walk every business and talk to them about what a great idea is. >> Well, I'm not going to be in charge of this. >> Well, hire a commission. That's great. [laughter] I'm sorry. I'm just >> I think everybody's starting to get a little tired. >> Any other >> Yes, I do. >> Is anybody going to fix the um walking sidewalk

156at the spillways this year? Is that getting >> It's in the budget. >> It was in Jimmy's report. >> Oh, I didn't hear that. >> So, um, >> I've heard it said that and it's so I'm sad that so many people have left because I was hoping we'd still have a lot of folks. The problem with our agenda is the selectman don't get to make any comments until everybody goes home or they shut off YouTube because of executive sessions. I don't know. I don't like our schedule, Paul. But anyway, they say government's a messy business, and we sure saw that in the last several months, right? >> We uh went through a very emotional and difficult budget season this year. For everybody sitting up here, because trust me, we all lost sleep about this budget.

157And for everybody that's at home, whether you are a parent or a person in town without kids, you went through a very emotional budget. and I watched and it was remarkably quiet up until about four days before the referendum. There were no signs around town to vote yes or no. That's a first that I've ever seen. >> Um there was very little chatter on social media until the few days before the referendum. And I I watched I watched all the comments and it kind of drove me crazy because people were still so upset about the perceived cuts to education without really taking a hard look at how it all worked out in the end. So when the increase got to us, yes, the board of selectmen reduced the increase by a million dollars. After that,

158however, Gilbert came to the table with a $300,000 reduction on their part, which enabled Winston public to have that $300,000. The state miraculously came in with $320,000. So, of the million we cut, 620 came back. And there's more than $400,000 in the rainy day fund that the board of ed has, which they can take $380,000 out of. So, they're back to the million dollars that they started with when it got to us. So all the doomsday and scary [clears throat] comments about all the cuts that were going to happen, frankly, what we managed to do, and the state was lucky. I'm not going to take credit for the 320,000. That was lucky. But we enabled a budget that stayed right about the rate of inflation for our taxpayers. So whether you were had kids in

159school or didn't have kids, you had a budget that hopefully you can afford. And at the end of the day, we essentially or the amount of money that came to us was restored. So, I'd love would love to have still had the crowd of folks here to have that discussion with because I think it's important that [snorts] they understand that that million dollars, well, most of it came back and the rest we have in the rainy day fund. So, all in all, a difficult budget. I hope the process goes much cleaner next year, clearly for everybody's sake, because it's no fun for all of you and it's clearly no fun for all of us. Um, I hope we have a much better time with the budget next year. But I wanted to get those numbers

160out because I think that math is important for everybody to understand that education really wasn't decimated. It didn't get everything it wanted, but it really wasn't decimated. Well, I think the people that lost their jobs, the students that aren't going to have, you know, certain resources would disagree with you and the fiscal cliff that was created by using funds in the manner that you just did the math for, but you also didn't indicate because $1.5 million was cut from that budget. I'm not told >> a million came to us. The 500,000 was the board of eds cut. So, let's be fair. And if you let me finish, if I let you talk, please let me finish my statement. Seems to be a habit. This board of talking on top of me. >> So the Yes,

161but it was 1.5 million. Yes, a million from us and a half a million from the board of ed. So there were significant cuts were made. The only position that has been saved through use of the rainy day fund as I understand is resource two the resource officers because those were very significant. They haven't been able to use the whole fund because that would be fiscally irresponsible. Something that this members of this board have accused the board of ed of being fiscally responsible over the years by creating fiscal cliffs. So for you now to argue that a fiscal cliff was responsible to restore losses is just that's just beyond. Look temper's got to get go down. It was very emotional. It's very upsetting. Our students deserve a lot. Everyone on this board knows how I

162feel about education. importance to the to this to the town. But, you know, I don't think what was just said was productive towards that end because we've had one parent sit up here and explain how much this budget has now already impacted her. Okay? And it's impacted other parents. So, it's not that everything's been restored. It's not. And that's that's that's disingenuous to make that argument. So, I think what we really want to do is try to make sure that people you people out there, please get involved early, not late. Help us, you know, get involved. Show up at board of ed meetings, show up at these meetings, join some commissions, do what you can to help because, you know, we're volunteers here. We get this small stipen um that I believe we're going to

163be ending but um through the commission, charter review commission, but other than that, you know, we're all volunteers. I volunteered for six years on the board of ed. You know, it's a lot of work. We're all trying to do the best we can, but we need help and you need to have a voice and not just a thousand people that show up to vote on budget. >> Thank you. >> So, speaking of budgets, the the town passed and the school has their money. Unhappy as everyone seems to be, there's still two more budgets that have to be passed, and that's the water and sewer departments, which is two separate budgets. They haven't even gotten theirs yet. That's coming and that is also in the town manager's wheelhouse, so to speak. So, there's still water and

164sewer budgets that have to be passed. So, that's also coming up, too. So, uh, and as you saw, we're going after some money with the sewer plant. The sewer plant is in rough shape. Really rough shape. There hasn't been any major work in over 30 years. Um, worse than Pearson School, worse than their boiler. They have more issues down there than you can shake a stick at. Um, they're on borrowed time and uh they're they're really hurting. Water's doing good. Um, sewer not so good. Uh, pun intended, it's sinking. So, just wanted to throw that out there. What do you think? >> Um, starting with something a little more fun. I just wanted to uh say that I had the opportunity on Sunday to go to the Little Red Schoolhouse, which I don't think most

165people in town um know is here. In fact, it was um I just happened to see that it was open. It's only open on very specific days. Um but it was really interesting to go and see this tiny little schoolhouse um in the woods in Winchester Center. And I was talking to the people there. They um were talking about funding and he and in the documents at this little schoolhouse, people were arguing in the 1840s about the funding for this one room. So this is something as old as time. [laughter] >> Post office wars all over again. >> And there was literally a room where like there was a desk with three sections and it got bigger. They were all attached like first grade, second grade, third grade. It literally was one thing that got

166bigger and people were arguing over like how much wood should be given to this stove in this little red schoolhouse. So, first point being go see the little red schoolhouse when it's open. Follow on Facebook. It's really really cool and important part of our history. Um and um second regarding regarding the budget um there is a lot of high emotions and there are it's very clear that our board interacts with you know different groups of people in town and that's you know that's a good thing that we represent you know different groups different interests in town but I do think a lot of people on this board not being involved in kids in the schools not having kids in schools don't actually get to interact often with the parents and you're seeing um parents and

167families and those with children on Facebook and stuff because they're trying to say something. They're trying to get a point across that, you know, kids aren't just a number. We don't just add them up. You know, people are losing their jobs. Preschool is now um there's not enough spaces for everybody and and some of those have to pay. This has real world um real world implications and we just have different points of view. I believe that we need to invest in the future. We want all the great things. We painted such a rosy picture. I think that we if you aren't if you are someone who is not connected to the world of the children and the schools, you just don't understand that it really is true. It's not just rhetoric when we say that

168you know the schools are the center of the community and that you know investing in them helps us invest and grow the whole town. It is real. Every study, every story that you hear, we heard some stories tonight. We heard lots of stories and you know emotions have been high. Things landed where they did and in fact it was the group of parents I know myself more than a hundred parents I can count that really wanted to vote no but they knew the right thing to do for our town was to vote yes and support this budget and it passed by a lot and you know I thank parents for and I thank the supportive of education for coming to that conclusion and you know just making it work. I thank Dr. Lubby for making

169it work with the way things landed. We got to move on. We got to do actually do all the great things we talked about here tonight. And as we do them, we always have to consider that our 1,000 plus children are the future of our town and we cannot forget them. >> I I I absolutely agree and I I think there's a disconnect between our two schools, the Winchester public school and the Gilbert School. I think there's a major disconnect because they are all part of the system and I think that's some of the biggest problem too is there has been a lack of communication between superintendent or board of education members and I know there's some that are on the board of education for the Winchester public schools and the same people are on

170the Gilbert school. Um, and I think there's a major major disconnect there because they should be working together hand in hand and I've saw saw nothing but throw each other throw under the bus and Gilbert this and and Winchester that and it's it's all one thing. It's it's it's the post office wars is arguing over what piece of wood to throw into the fire to keep everybody warm. It it it's really that that's that's one of the besides economic growth or grandless growth, it's the school systems. I've heard that time and time and time again. We need to be working together. So I I'm tasking both board of educations, the superintendent, let's start opening some doors and open some communication here because that's some of the biggest issue because it's we're all together. It's the

171same kids that are WPS are going to Gilbert unless they go to Oliver Wila. It's all the same. There should be a smooth transition for these kids. And I don't see it that they had to make cuts and and they lost some of these special ed people up there because they gave up money for the Winchester schools. So that that's that is something I've heard for years as long as the post office was ever since Gilbert created. And Gilbert's doing some fantastic things up there. I was just up there at their um their their ceremony that they they did >> scholarship. >> Thank you. The scholarships and they g they gave out over $100,000 worth of scholarships to kids. There was scholarship after scholarship after scholarship that didn't come out of any taxpayers money. That

172was the trust. They just got $4 million grant to fix their driveway. That didn't come out of the taxpayers money. So Gilbert's doing a lot of good things and we need to be working. They need to be working hand in hand. The board of selectment have nothing to do with the school systems. I said it. I got crucified. It's a line item. Yes. And I realize it's children. My daughter went through this school. Uh Troy went through the mayor went through. Uh Jay Case went through the school systems. But it seems like Winchester schools treating Gilbert like it's just a line item. And it's not. It's it's all the kids together. We have to work together. And that's what I saw besides all the Facebook rhetoric was the schools. The schools need to work together.

173I don't think it's I know there's a study being done. I don't think it's financially feasible or to to build another one. I don't think we should be sending them to other schools to regional or anywhere else. We need to work with what we have. That's that's what you just do. So that's there's my sermon, so to speak. But I really think that's what really needs to happen is I said it at the town meeting at Gilbert. I said it twice. The three of them, the superintendent, the town manager, the chairman of both boards, both chairmans even I I even have people in mind need to sit down and discuss and make this work for the people and especially the students of this town. And I would be nowhere without an education. Math and science

174were my worst subjects. worst. And I went to trade school worst. You know what I do for a living? Math and science. So, education super super important without a doubt. >> I'm done. Sorry. I know everybody wants to get out of here. >> All right. So, I just have a few more things. Um, one, just to make the statement factual that was made earlier in citizens comments, just to clarify, we have 11,000 residents. We have 6,500 voters, not 11,000 voters. A,000 pe over 1,078 people came out to vote. That's not a great percentage. We need more people to be involved in everything in elections and referendums, uh, boards and commissions. There is a lot of talk on social media and it's very easy to talk tough behind a screen. I give the people that make

175comments on Facebook but then they're in this room talking. They're speaking at the table giving their opinions. That's what we need more of. You know, we can sulk on what got cut or what didn't get cut, what moved forward. We're at the point now where we need to come together as one Winston and move forward so we can get the grand list growing. Um talking about social media and people making comments and then staying, you know, in the shadows. Come to the board meeting, sit there at the table and talk. I've had some shots taken at me the last two or three months. I'm not going to censor you. Come here and say it in this room. Don't post it on Facebook. Don't make your claims and your accusations and your quote unquote threats. Come

176in this room. Be respectful. Say it. Let everyone hear it. Uh Ann Murray touched on this a little bit last meeting, but can you put in your town management report next time our process for the credit cards, the credit card approvals, um just so everyone is aware what goes through when somebody uses a town credit card. And then lastly, Saturday the 13th, Laurel Ball, Crystal Peak. Tickets are still available in the town clerk's office, I believe. Correct. Um, it's good time, fun night and it goes to support some scholarships with that. >> Motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Good night. >> See you at the Laurest business. >> What?