001All right. Good evening. Today is Monday, January the 5th, 2026. It's 7 p.m. before we begin the regularly scheduled board of selectman's meeting. Uh the town of Winchester lost two volunteers uh this last month. Inland Wetlands uh commission member and former planning and zoning chairman Craig Sanden passed away on December the 31st as well as former mayor William McCabe passed away on December 15. Should be noted that Mayor McCabe uh was instrumental in Winston becoming the first city to use federal funding to place ramps to public public buildings uh for the disabled and that was under William McCabe's term in the town of Winchester. With that, >> Kevin Bishop, >> Paul Marino, >> Paul Harrington, >> Todd Archalashi, >> Glenn Alberius, >> William Hester, >> William Bo, >> Selectman Lamir, and Select Woman McGllin are
002excused. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge 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. [snorts] >> Moving on to item number three, agenda review. Does anyone have anything? Item four, the approval of the minutes of our regular meeting on December the 15, 2025. >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. >> Second. >> Thank you, Bill. Thank you, Bill. Any corrections or discussion? Seeing none, all in favor. 5. Motion passes. Moving on to item five, citizens comments. The board of select and welcomes public comments. Speakers will be limited to three minutes or less and may speak once. Please give your name and address and then we ask that you
003just turn on the microphone if you're going to speak. Who wishes to speak? I just hit one of the red blinking microphones. >> Um, thank you so much for having me. Carrie Taylor to Stadler Heights in Winstead. Um, I'm here because I want to make sure our community is fully informed of what is happening with the dogs Oakley, Eeyore, and Fluke, the victims of Sarah Smallac, accused of 42 counts of animal cruelty. These dogs remain in the care of Small's friends against court orders after many pleas to the town to move them to safe foster. The town insists on keeping the dogs in the care of this animal abuser's friends, even though there were approved fosters with no correlation to Smallac by the July 1st deadline as outlined in the town's civil court agreement. There
004is undeniable evidence coming forth now that the town not only allowed small associates to foster these dogs, but instructed the dogs to be placed with small people and under her control instead of available safe fosters with no link to small. This is completely unconscionable that the town would make choices to willfully put these dogs in danger. Why? Your continued silence strongly indicates that there is a high level of impropriy occurring between the town and Smolac outside of the courts to benefit a woman accused of 42 counts of animal cruelty, property damage, and larseny spanning years and two towns in Connecticut. I really want you guys to consider all of this as you make some decisions tonight that are on the agenda. Oakley, Eeyore, and Fluke are in danger every day that goes by in the
005care of Small Followers. These people's loyalty to her amidst overwhelming evidence of animal abuse speaks volumes about what they think the acceptable standard of care for dogs should be. Also, there is no way for the town to ensure that Smallak does not have personal access to these dogs. You can't even get these people to agree to a wellness check on them unless it's scheduled in advance at their convenience and by Small's attorney. Maybe none of you have been the victim of abuse, but I can assure you nothing strikes extreme psychological fear into the heart than when you are in their presence. I can guarantee you after working years in rescue, dogs just like us suffer psychological trauma the same way. These dogs have been through unspeakable pain. And rather than protect them, as you have
006the power to do, you choose instead to send Oakley, Eeyore, and Fluke right back into the cycle of abuse that you have a moral and ethical responsibility to free them from. Let's also not forget about Bricsby, another victim of smallac who was required by the court agreement to be fostered in a kennel environment. Instead of taking advantage of a highly reputable rescues offer to foster Brisby in a kennel free of charge with training and social socialization resources to to support him, Winstead and Harwinton acco decided instead to send Bricsby to a private kennel of Smolak's choice and at her cost. As noted in the police report, Bricsby is not getting any training or socialization in this kennel as it costs additional funds. So, the town has decided to let Bricsby, already severely harmed by Smallac,
007to decline further in a 6x9 cage for months with no social socialization or training. Why? Why is the town actively choosing to add more damage to these dogs already painful lives when there are safer, compassionate alternatives? And all this against court orders and your own civil agreement. I urge you again to please think on this heavily as you consider alternative town council this evening. I'm calling for accountability for these decisions and a complete reversal. These dogs deserve to be in environments where they can heal far away from small reach. It's time for the town to do what is right and move the dogs immediately to safe foster environments and adjust your moral compass. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else, Mr. Speaker? last chance. Anyone else? Moving on to item number six, town management report. >>
008Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Happy New Year to the board, our residents, and business owners. I hope everyone enjoyed a restful holiday season is feeling optimistic as we start 2026. Thank you for your continued commitment to making Winstead a welcoming and supportive community. To start off, Winstead Cares Coordinator, the pilot [clears throat] funded by the opioid settlement money, is off to a very strong start. Social media and outreach has helped get the word out. Over nine service days in December. The coordinator served 62 unique clients, 38 men and 24 women, ranging in the ages of 20 to 72 years of age and 74 encounters. mostly addressing housing, food, health needs. Referrals came from outreach, Facebook, family, and local partners. The coordinator is also connected with an ambulance service, police, local businesses, and organizations. After just one
009month, we've already seen a positive impact. And I'll add a little bit more. After this report was written, uh, this evening, I received an email from the mayor from a resident who, uh, was having some problems, uh, getting to his health appointments. I immediately uh responded to that let letting that individual know that we would uh have our uh care coordinators reach out to him. I reached out to our care coordinator. She's going to be on it if not this evening, first thing tomorrow morning. So, it is paying dividends immediately. So, I say that to not only the public here, but also for anybody watching at home. If you know of somebody that needs help, let us know. Let us know and we can put them in contact with our CARES coordinator and we'll see
010what kind of help that we can provide them. But again, you know, we can't see everything, but if you know something, let us know and and we'll get our CARES coordinator on it immediately and and and hopefully we can help. Moving on, uh the 27 budget, uh with the dawn of the new year, the town now pivots, more or less me, into full budget mode in preparation of the town manager's budget, which will be submitted to this board on or before March 15th. Uh while department heads and division division leaders are preparing their fiscical year 27 operating budget which are due uh in mid January, the budget office has begun co-current review of townwide commodities and utilities including electricity, telecommunications, software and other shared service costs to identify efficiencies and cost savings opportunities. As you
011know, we're always looking to turn over every rock and and we're doing that again this year, sending anything that we possibly can back out to bid and seeing if we can save additional monies that we were able to pick up in this year's budget. Additionally, the board of education recently held a special meeting to discuss its shared budget priorities. One thing we haven't talked about and I and I put this on the on on the report. I welcome input from the board of selecting regarding priority areas, capital projects and other considerations that could, you know, be injected into next year's budget. Obviously, I sprung this on you tonight, not expecting anybody to have, you know, full-blown dialogue, but at our next meeting, if the board so wishes, I'll put an agenda item of 27 budget
012priorities just to get a flavor of, you know, where this board is looking to go, what what some of the priorities, you know, they're looking at. We get it out there and then, you know, while I'm putting together the budget with my team, we can see if we can get some of those priorities done. Sound like a plan for the next item. Okay. We'll I I'll get budget priorities uh on our next agenda. Um on a night from front on January 3rd, I know some of our board was there. The town celebrated a triple ribbon cutting, I think the first in the town's history, welcoming Ka Kaiga Kaiwa and Company, Sacred Beauty Salon, and the Zen Dunan to our community. We're excited to continue supporting small business, small and local business, and thank these new
013ventures for placing their trust in our town. We also extend appreciation to the Economic Development Commission for serving as our biggest cheerleaders and supporting uh and promoting our local uh economic growth. Deep Recreation Trail Grant, real quick, I've been talking about it for a while. We did submit a few weeks ago. Um if we do end up getting uh that grant from Deep Recreational Trail Grant, we will be able to complete the final two uh phases of the Sue Grossman Trail. So fingers crossed, we should know spring of 26 um if the funding's coming through. That's the last hurdle and it's shovels in the ground. Um, two last things. Windows 11 upgrade. I may or may not uh know this for your own home computers or business computers, but we did bring in a new
014IT company a few months ago. Novice has substantially completed the Windows 11 upgrade and they did something that I just want to call attention to where a former IT provider wanted us to go out and buy all brand new laptops or desktops. They did the simplest thing and said, "Why don't we just buy them more space in their computer vault and then we can download Windows 11." Say, I was looking at tens of thousands of dollars in new hardware. We just came in and bought some new uh uh memory and we were able to upgrade basically every computer around here. So, it was absolutely great thinking on Novvice's part and we're off and running into uh into Windows 11. And last but not least, the uh speed camera public hearing was held on December 18th,
015including a healthy exchange of ideas. Questions and concerns from the residents and officials. The full hearing is available for viewing on the town's YouTube page, and the presentation materials and supporting documents are posted on the town's website. Following the public hearing, there was an interest in adding a fourth camera somewhere near the town hall area. Um, I do want to reach out that unfortunately the analysis machine um that is used for collecting data so I could bring this back to the board was damaged in Norfol. Somebody plowed into it. I don't know if it was done on purpose or not, but it was just a gathering back machine, but it was destroyed. Uh, the other ones are deployed around the country. Mr. Novo recommends moving forward if the ordinance does pass, moving forward with the
016three cameras to the DOT, getting the analysis done, and then coming back um and possibly submitting an additional camera down the road. So, I did want to update that. Um I know there was a little bit of interest in possibly adding that fourth camera. Can't do it if we want to submit within the next two, three weeks if the ordinance passes. Um because I will not have the data in order to, you know, prove to the DOT that a camera is warranted there. So, we're uh on a holding pattern with that one. And with that, I'll open it up for any questions or comments the board may have. >> Questions from board members? >> I don't have a question directly to the report, but I wanted to know, you know, we've all received tremendous outpouring
017on this small case. And to [clears throat] my understanding, we have no ability to make any changes. Um, I don't know if it's something that's warranted to perhaps invite our town attorney to our next meeting where we can at least maybe some questions could be answered because [clears throat] again, I don't think we have the ability to do anything that everybody's asking for. So, um, we don't know that if we do, and I know this is the the courts and the attorneys and Paul, I'll put it over to you, but perhaps an update at least for the public so they understand why there's nothing happening with all the emails and the the outpouring that we've heard on it. So I I I'll say this right now after several conversations with our our town attorney with
018your recommendation. What I'd advise is I would try and get the town attorney at our next board of selective meeting. We will have to do it in executive session and then we can come out of executive session and discuss because you know obviously there is court cases that are going on both civil and criminally that we are not commenting because of both civil and criminal cases. But I will see if our town attorney can come to the next meeting, give the an update to the board on the stance of the town, why the town has the particular stance that it it does. I will state since it's an a subject that you just opened up. I'm a dog lover first and foremost. Okay? I love dogs. I love all animals. All right? So, I want
019to make that perfectly clear right now that I do love animals. All right? And there are things that happen behind the scenes that can't be commented publicly, but I will tell you that I have a very watchful eye on those dogs. We talk about those dogs on a weekly basis. It's not something that we have forgotten about, but there are reasons why things are going the way they are. Trust the process. I've been involved in municipal government for 20 years. Sometimes the process doesn't make sense. I understand that. But I will tell you, trust the process. know that there is a dog lover that sits up in that office in the corner up there that think about those dogs and talk about those dogs on a weekly basis. With that, I'm going to stop. >>
020Yeah. And and many of us on the board are are dog owners and dog lovers. So, I get it. Um, and I know it's frustrating to come here and we don't say anything because the lawyers say there's nothing to really say, but if we could get Paul some kind of a public update that at least people could understand what's being done to protect the dogs and what our legal abilities are, I think it would go a long way to the frustration that we hear again and again and again. So, >> yeah, I think it'd be good for us to get the update as well as well as the public, >> right? For the record, I'm an animal lover, too. I have rescue ponies, rescued donkeys, rescue chickens, rescue goats, rescue dogs, rescue cats. So, I
021understand where you're coming from. So, I'm as frustrated as you are. >> Yeah. I mean, we're with you on this thing. We just have our hands really tight. But, let's get an update and we'll find out what's going on. >> I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Y. >> Any other comments from the board? >> Moving on to [clears throat] item number seven. Going back to item number six. >> No. No. You can go to item number seven. >> Item number seven, correspondence. Does anyone in the board have anything? I >> I do, Mr. Mayor. And I apologize because I I wanted to bring it down and and I actually it slipped my mind to bring it down. I got a a beautiful holiday card from one of our very large business owners here in town.
022And he was very complimentary of me. But this isn't an eagle thing because when he says Paul Harrington for town manager Paul, let me finish. Let me finish. >> When he says, [laughter] I'm going back to my office. I'm going to go get the the letter now. No, when he says Paul Harrington or town manager, I look at that as collectively the town in this particular uh business owner who's a very large business owner and a very large taxpayer in this town is complimenting the the town manager. I look at that as the collective effort of all of our boards and commissions, all of our board of selecting and I thought it was such a great letter or holiday card that he took the time handwritten a beautiful well-written letter and it was so complimentary
023of the town manager office. It's not it's not Paul, it's collectively all of us rowing in the same direction. And at the next meeting, if I remember, I'll bring it down. But his words were genuine and and it made me just feel really great and feel really great about the town because it's not me, it's everybody putting in the effort and the business owners in this community are recognizing it. So, congrats to all of you. Congrats to our residents. It was such a great letter. So, anyway, that's my correspondence. Should have brought it. It's not an eagle thing. >> Any other correspondence? Number eight, boards and commissions. So Kevin, do you have anything? >> I go, Kevin. >> So tonight we um have just one nomination. Um Kevin Burgio wetlands commission party Democrat for a
024term ending a member seat term ending April 2027. >> I would like to make a motion to appoint Kevin Bio. >> Thank you, Kevin. Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you, Bill. Any discussion? All in favor? 5 Z is appointed. >> Mr. Mayor, may I ask because it's just for a point of reference uh or no? Um either to uh SLO or SL Bishop. Um Mr. Burgio, how when did you receive his applica? His application came in on 1222. >> I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think he's a reappoint. >> He's already on the commission, so he's really a reappoint. in the wetlands. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yep. He was on uh >> No, he's on the >> conservation commission. [snorts] >> So, going back to my point, we received, you know, the few
025members received the application on 12 of 22 and here we are January 5th, just a short time later and and this particular uh individual resident is going on a commission. So, if you're interested, we'll get you on immediately. So, I love that we are doing it this way because boom, 1222 and here we are. All right, you can say a a whole a whole new year, but it's not. It's literally two weeks later and this gentleman's now on our Wellness Commission. So, great job by by this board by fasttracking that and getting them to serve. So, good job. >> We have lots of open membership seats, so we can get you on there quick. >> Anything else, Bill? Kevin, >> I just want to say I've had a opportunity to talk to the last few
026people on the phone who've applied for boards and it's it's really nice to see people stepping up and really interested in helping our town and they all of the people who've come forward are extremely qualified to to volunteer for something that they are passionate and love about. So, um definitely any anybody here, anybody at home um who is wants to step up and help the the town by being part of the board, let's keep it coming. Keep them coming. Thank you. Moving on to item nine, unfinished business, charter vision panel membership and the continued discussion. Town manager Harrington. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, in your uh selection packet, you will see potential committee members. It's an Excel file. There's one, two, three, four, five, six residents who have come forward with uh interest in
027serving on the Charter Revision Commission. Um I'll be honest with you, I think that's a a very small amount. Um, I would ask if the board is so willing, we each have our own little networks. Um, I know we posted on the, uh, the town's website, the town social media pages, if you all can share it. I think potentially, um, getting, you know, more people possibly interested would be better. Maybe it didn't have [clears throat] enough eyes on it. I know we just went through a holiday season which had a lot of people, you know, distracted. Um, I'll make a conscious effort if this board wants to, you know, obviously put it back out there again, but I think, you know, having six names, I think we were trying to form a commission of >>
028five people. Okay. Um, but I would say, you know, I want to leave it up for debate. So, really, um, the pending questions that I have is, do we want to push it back out there again and, you know, see how many more people come forward? Um, we talked about potentially uh when we would like uh the vote to happen on this and I I I don't know if we settle on it. We don't necessarily need to, but open for discussion. Were we going to have it ready for the mun excuse me the state election uh which will be in November 26. So roughly >> That was the goal. All right. I just want to you know again we're not necessarily formalizing that but that is the goal. Um, and keeping in mind that once
029we form this commission, uh, they have 30 days to meet and then they have to have, let me go back public hearing. [snorts] They have within 30 days to hold their first public hearing to hear from the public of what the public may want to see in charter revision. So, you know, you just got through the holidays, everything like that, but I'm going to leave it open to the board now to discuss. Is this something that, you know, you all are taking on and we're I'm going to help facilitate it at all means, but um again, date, uh do we want to advertise it some more? Uh there was a little talk of, you know, what select people may be going on it. So, >> so I think, um a couple things we should get
030hammered out here, um as it relates to the committee itself. So the first thing is and I I agree this is a small list. The holidays are a tough time to get people to focus on anything really. So I think it's it's really up to us. Let's get it advertised again. >> I agree. >> Let's get it out on social media. Let's get it out on the websites. Let's get it out on all the communication channels that we have. Secondly, I think that to your point, Paul, all of us who sit on this board should reach out to the network of people that we know in town that we think would be a good candidate um to serve. Um I think the other thing is we should establish really a couple of guidelines for this
031committee. Um members of the committee in my opinion and and if we need to motion this part of it I don't know exactly you can chime in Paul but members of this committee I think should not be on other boards and commissions unless it's an ad hoc board for example. Um, I think we have situations where that could rise in a conflict, particularly since one of the agenda items on the revision is adjusting boards and commissions and how people serve. So, I think that anybody on this committee should not currently be serving on a board. Uh, I don't think anybody on this committee, we've had a lot of uh different board members on different boards that have been related to other board members. Uh I think we should eliminate the the potential scene conflict there
032so that at the very least anybody who serves on this committee should not be um related to a board of selectment member. Clearly, I don't know if we need to expand it to other boards, but at least I think we should make sure that this has the appearance and the the the the truthfulness of there's no insider uh networking going on here, that we bring a committee together that's not related to us, that's not currently serving on a board that can take a really clean uh look at this these changes that we're suggesting. >> I think it would make sense to do that. I also think that we reach out to those who [clears throat] aren't necessarily involved intimately in the political process away from town committees. Um just regular everyday citizens who have an
033interest in the town. Um they don't have to be Rs or D's um but just want to get involved and help the town uh update its charter which was last done in the 19 uh 80 something there. It's changed a few times, but it was originally passed in ' 66. >> Yeah, I got to agree with Paul there a little bit. I think we need to uh we need to have a broader pool here. Um, and Paul, if you could, if we push this out on social media and in the public, maybe a short paragraph, brief description of of what the duties of this, you know, there's a lot of people out there like, I want to volunteer for something, but they they got to understand a commitment and and what's involved in in in
034a charter committee. And maybe a little description of the difference between ordinances and and charter revisions. So, um, as it relates to some of the things that we've talked about, is there should we motion the what we're looking for in terms of the committee? Is that something we need to iron out, hammer up? >> I I want to I'm going to answer it all right now. Um, a lot of lot of things we're throwing at it. So, uh, the other, uh, item that popped into my head about advertising is, and it worked well during the budget season is WZB, WZBG. Let me reach out to them, um, and see if I can get like a little bit of a 15-second. Hey, interest, you know, uh, I forgot the gentleman's name. Got a great radio voice.
035Let me see if I can get him to put it out there. That's it. Um, let me see if I can I can get that. >> I want to go back to what Selectman Marino said about boards and commissions. something just had popped into my head, ad hoc committees, but I I look at um you know, a name on on one of the list. You look at um potentially on uh a board that really doesn't set policy. Um are we going to exclude that? And and this is just talking points just because, you know, I look at another name on the list. Um, I'm trying not to tip my hat too much, you know, but there's a transit district, you know. Um, does that [clears throat] exclude the individual that may serve on on transit?
036And it just popped into my head when I'm looking at this list. So, >> is transit considered a a board or an ad hoc? >> It's considered a board. I mean it does have a quote unquote uh financial impact on the town um because you know they pass a budget and that budget then you know the expense hits obviously our budget our town budget so you know I want to be careful >> but I think that's more of an outside agency that I'm not >> it's an outside agency I mean if we look at the charter the charter names the boards very specifically and we could probably >> well >> never leave home without my copy of charter. >> Got one here, too. >> Amended 2019. >> Yes, that was >> So, while you guys
037are looking up, I I I think we should throw it out there, too. But we might be limited on the pool because we can't even fill our boards and commissions here in town. So, we might be a little limited. >> This is kind of a special thing, though, Bill. I think people might come out for this differently than serving for years on one of the boards. One thing that concerns me about um eliminating anybody who's serving on a board currently um you know I certainly want it to be a [clears throat] fair and open and you know nonpartisan non-political sort of thing but also people who serve on the boards currently um understand you know the charter and the process and I'm I'm opening it up entirely to you know a small pool of only
038five people who have not been involved at all. Um, I mean, we could be eliminating a lot of of, you know, institutional knowledge of like how the charter works and stuff. So, I certainly want wouldn't want anything that conflicts with, you know, anything that we're trying to revise. But, you know, on the flip side, like these people who serve on the EDC or any of these commissions um, bring a lot of knowledge about, you know, what's the charter, what's working, what's not. So, I wouldn't want to eliminate that knowledge. I mean I think if if the boards for example that are particularly potentially a conflict so um zoning board of appeals planning and zoning inland wetlands um >> economic development >> well I was going to the u the uh tax appeal board Um, >>
039assessment appeals. >> Board of assessment appeals. >> Yeah. Board of it says board of tax review. Is that what it officially called? >> So, board of tax review. >> I mean, economic development. >> I don't know. You guys tell me. What do you think? >> They don't set policy. >> No, that's what I brought up. That's where I I wanted to, you know, if you if you say, oh, you know, it's all boards and commissions, that rules out. Well, going down the list then, so board of tax review, would we all agree that should be excluded? I would. I mean, I believe we should, but any anybody that would object to board of tax review. Um, economic development, leave that one available. Park and wreck set policy. >> Yeah. Uh, when it comes to, you
040know, the playgrounds and, you know, Okay. So that should be so that should be included in the exclusion list. >> GBA clear. >> How about water and sewer bill? >> Oh yeah. >> Yep. They set policies. They're they're a vendor of the town actually. >> There. It's that when the state set up these authorities, they are their own unique Yes. >> authority. >> So then water and sewer, >> Winchester housing. So that doesn't necessarily have a direct impact on you know it's a it's that's a federal agency right we do get to appoint members to it but it doesn't have any financial implication in terms of how we operate our daytoday they set policy but just for their properties >> so they could be excluded >> I wouldn't necessarily say they should be excluded because
041again they don't have any far reach in terms of >> No, I'm saying should they be on should they be able to be on this or not? >> When I say excluded, I mean not on the list of boards that that would make them ineligible. >> Like a double negative. >> I don't know. >> From what I I think I understand what you're saying, I would say they should be excluded, which then means they're on the list, but >> a they're able to serve. >> They're able to >> Okay. Um, planning and zoning is obvious. Fire department, I mean, I don't know what the fire department board does there. >> There is no fire department >> according to section 608. There is. >> Well, it's it's their own internal volunteers, >> right? So, >> and
042then inland wetlands would be the other one that would be excluded or would not be excluded. They would not be eligible to serve on the committee. So, what's the final list, Paul? So I have ZBA, planning and zoning, inland wetlands, BAA, parks and wreck, water and sewer. >> So members on those boards would not be able to serve on the committee. >> That's up to the board. But >> what's your thoughts there, Kevin? >> I agree with that. Yeah, I think I think that allows, you know, people with experience on those other boards and the other ones here that are, you know, ad hoc and such to be a part of the process if they wish to be, but prevents conflicts of >> ultimately we're choosing the members of the committee. >> Yeah, >> we
043are. But I I I think that to >> I'm not comfortable with list of six people. I'd like to see that list rise to at least at least double if not triple that. Yeah, we want to try to expand the list and some of the list would be excluded by this change because some of those people do serve on boards, >> right? >> So, um, to lock that down, is that something we can do in a form of a motion now that doesn't start the 30-day clock >> or is that something we have to do now? You >> you you don't necessarily have to do it now. I think now that you've you've put the groundwork out there, I don't think, you know, it gets it's up to you. I mean, this board we seem
044to have an agreement that's the that's the direction we want to go in. So, if that's the direction we want to go in, should we lock that down now with a motion and a vote? >> And is there any reason we can't do that now? There's uh I would for if you're going to do that, I would form the motion to say that um when the uh charter revision commission is called, the following board uh members of the following boards are excluded from being a part of it. Now, if the board changes its mind, of course, the board does always have the option to remotion, but if you wanted to move forward with that, >> well, this is really for the selection process. >> Correct. Yep. >> So, it's it's really, you know, uh a
045motion for the selection process, not the not the actual forming of the board. And I think we can do that without 30 days. Start. >> Correct. >> That is correct. >> All right. So, um then let me check off the list that you had again. Board assess of assessment appeals. Um >> just cheat up my >> I could if I could read it. >> I think I can. All right. Then I move that as we go through the selection process for the committee of five. Well, let's back that up again. So let's talk about the committee itself. five members and then two members from the board of selectmen that'll have non voting roles pardon >> consultant >> to be facilitators uh on the board right so it's a member of five and two non- voting
046members is that >> make sense >> five members to liaison >> it's more than a liaison though because the the way I see it is is it'll be a a facilitator to help the meetings to help them in the directions and and what have you. So, it's not just a liaison simply report back to this board. This will have a it's a member that's non- voting is really the best way to describe it. We wouldn't vote. So, it's seven then it's really a seven member board or committee with five voting members and two non- voting members. Okay. >> Two exeicio members with non- voting uh power. All right. So, I move that we begin the selection process for a charter revision committee of five voting members, two non- voting members to be made up the
047two non- voting members to be made up of uh two board of selectmen to act as facilitators. The members, the five members should not be members of the following town boards. Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning and Zoning, the Inland Wetlands Commission, Board of Assessment Appeals, the Park and Recreation Board, and Water and Sewer. The five members should also not be family members of any of the board of selectmen. That's the motion. >> We probably need more, right? >> Probably need what? >> Probably need more in the motion such as they must be residents >> elector, you know, kind of like our other commissions. >> Well, I think You could you you could polish it up. Excellent point. And say that, you know, all uh uh all residency requirements are required. >> Well, I think there's
048but we ran into this at one of the other boards, electors versus property owners. >> In keeping in mind, you you this board ultimately is going to decide on the five. If you have somebody who's just a homeowner but isn't truly a a Winchester resident, I don't know if the board may or may not, you know, put that individual, you know, on the board. >> What do you think about that, Todd? Do you want to have it be residents only or can property owners? We're we're a unique town that has a lot of property owners that aren't necessarily residents. Yeah, I mean that's the one thing that we could get ourselves into trouble with is if we said property owners, you know, and you've got some landlords who live out of town, but they have
049property in here in theory. >> So, we should keep it to residents. >> Yeah, probably residents. >> So, is that an elector, Glenn? Is that the definition that we go by? >> Included in that. Yep. Okay. So, in addition to that, the five members will be uh full-time residents of the town of Winchester, city of Winstead and electors. Could I could I suggest that we add to the list of people who can't serve? Just looking at at the list here, um people who are leader in the leadership positions of either town committee, Democrat or Republican town committee. >> I I agree with you as well. Democrat, Republican, or or independent town committee chair is on the list currently and I'm saying that to avoid any partisan issues down the line. So, I'd like to add
050that. I wouldn't say I wouldn't say any members of town committees but any any officer position >> officer thank you >> of any of the town committees >> I only bring this to your attention your board of or or your potential committee members of six have just whittleled down to three >> which is why I want a larger >> yeah but we we listen we we know that we need to reach out and do a better job of getting this list together and frankly none of it nobody's focused on it in the last three weeks. No business of any sorts really gets conducted in the last >> this kind of this kind of was at the last meeting and everybody was kind of busy in the last three weeks with something. I don't think anybody
051focused on this. >> I don't know how I'm I hear what you're saying, Kevin. I'm a little concerned about um I mean we're eliminating boards that that there's a real deep reason for that. We're eliminating anybody related to us. There's a deep reason for that. I don't know, and I'm just throwing it out there, asking it his question more than anything else, if one of the volunteers happens to be on the um is an officer of either one of the either the uh DTC, the RTC. I I guess I'm just trying to understand what your concern is. >> Well, I'm talking mostly just yeah, the top like top few oppositions. I'm just concerned about, you know, all partisan politics. want this to pass as a nonpartisan. Everybody agrees. >> We would like this to be
052a non-political that's >> and and his concern is is my concern on the other side. >> So the wording for that then would be we would also exclude the officers of the two major town political parties or committees, >> right? Is that >> Yeah, being clear officers obviously not committee members obviously. You're talking the four seats. There's usually a chairman, a vice chairman, a treasurer, and a secretary. Those four positions of either uh uh towns parties would be excluded. >> I mean, I think you need you need to throw the >> I don't know how they word it, the unaffiliated or the independents as well because right now we don't have an independent town committee, I don't think, but sometimes we do. So, we can change it from the two town committees to any political
053political >> town established town committee. >> There you go. >> Got that, Glenn? >> It's about a four-page motion. Anything else? >> Uh, so we want to >> open it for >> sorry, >> two weeks, come back. >> So, >> get responses back by the first meeting. >> Well, we have a motion first. Can we just >> just to add to you, >> how does this apply to town employees? You have a public works resident that wants to be on this committee or a police officer or firefighter. Do you allow town? Again, I I I think your motion is is going well, but remember, whoever does put their name in the hat, the seven of you are going to decide. >> And I'm not sure that I would rule out town employees. >> That's why
054I was asking. We should just We should just clarify it now, though. >> We're clarifying everything else. We might as well. >> It's the only only group I can think of that we have. >> Can we get a second? Thank you. Thank you. Robert's leaving me hanging out there. advanced copy but >> right I'm gonna give it to Kevin for the second Kevin's got the second um again this is you know your forming of it but again ultimately whoever does come forward with their name I'm sure you're going to probably talk about each individual person you're going to have to if the list grows to 20 you're going to have to talk about each individual uh person and decide you know strengths weaknesses and five of them are going to move forward. >> I think
055one of the reasons for getting this uh motion together here with kind of setting the uh what we're looking for on this committee is to avoid, you know, um we get nominations and we rule them out for a particular reason and now there's the there's always the appearance and there's always the arguing and there's the accusations and all the things that go along with why didn't you pick that person? Well, if we at least establish some guidelines, which is all we're really doing here, then we eliminate hopefully a lot of the um potential problems that will come from people who would raise their hand and we all would think is a bad idea. So, I think but I'm just trying to get guidelines out there so that we have something that we're going by and
056then we get a chance to look at the individual applicants. Agreed. >> And once we have applicants, let's say that people, you know, we're talking about we want to reach out and have a large application pool of people. Um, we may get names that none of us know at all. How do we know who they are? Like what is that process? Do we >> I think when they send their name in, they should give a little bit of their background and why they want to be on the committee >> similar to a board application. >> Well, so do we that that's a good point he brings up. So, do we as the seven selectmen, we have their contact info. We can each reach out to them and and vet them like we kind of do
057boards and commission. >> Can we start with putting together maybe an application form that just says, "Here's who I am. Here's why I want to do this. Here's how long I've lived there. Um, my experience with volunteering, you can we put together a similar application that we do for the boards and commissions." >> We can do whatever you want. Sure. >> I like that idea. Paul That'll give us a starting point, >> right? I I in little leap of faith. Um I have no problem putting the application together. It seems pretty straightforward application. If you want to review it, you're kicking this two weeks further out or I can prepare an application and get it live sometime. You know, this >> I think you're capable of getting that live myself. Okay. >> It's we I
058know what you're looking for. >> Interesting. >> It's very similar to the board's application that we already have. >> But but to Kevin's point, I mean, I know Winchester residents up there that are in their 80s that were born there that none of you have ever heard of >> that potentially may come down off the mountain and be like, I want to be on this, >> you know. >> Okay. >> All right. So, we have a motion. We have a second. All in favor? 5. Motion passes. >> I'll get on what I got to get on tomorrow. Item 10, discussion regarding the addition of automatic traffic enforcement safety devices ordinance. This is the third of three meetings to be held. Town manager Harrington. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As you uh all know, this is
059our third meeting. I am suggesting uh zero changes and let me just I'm trying to catch up myself to the uh to the ordinance because it is by state statute. Um I did put uh in the table in front of you if the board is looking to so move this beyond a third meeting. There's a motion on the table. Um it talks about dates for you know charter and everything. If this motion does pass tonight, the ordinance shall take effect 15 days after I get it up online tomorrow. Um so we will get it up online first thing tomorrow morning. It's uh uh 15 days after that it it it takes effect. So is there any questions? any comments about where we're at and and what this means and if you do take a look
060at the motion um is that you are authorizing the town manager um to take all necessary actions to implement the ordinance including submission to the Connecticut Department of Transportation in coordination with all applicable state agencies. Meaning this passes that then allows me to take the sight stream information and prepare it and get it off to the DOT. We have the 60-day window where they have to respond that yes, those three cameras are approved or no, those three cameras are not approved or one is or two is. Um, all of this is tied into that motion because this is our final meeting. This would become an ordinance um on January 20th and then it allows us to actually start um applying and potentially getting the speed cameras up on those three particular areas we spoke about.
061I'll make a motion to adopt the ASD ordinance and then the following uh newly noticed uh public meetings held by the board of selectman December 1st 2025 15th and January 5th and the public hearing on December 18th in pro pursuant to the Connecticut general status 14-212 as amended and authority granted under the Winchester Town Charter to approve and adopt the ordinance entitled an ordinance or authorizing the use of automatic traffic enforcement safety devices with Should I finish the rest too? the ordinance take effect on January 20th, 2026. And the town manager is hereby authorized to take all action necessary to implement the ordinance, including submission to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and coordination with all applicable state agencies. >> Second. >> Thank you, Bill. Thank you, Paul. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor?
062>> 5 nothing is passed. working on it. >> Item B, the appointment of the town attorney, town manager Harington. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As you know, it was requested that we go out to an RFP. As of 5:00 tonight, uh we have only one uh uh proposal. So, pursuant to the town charter, I'm requesting that the board of selectment appoint Kevin Nelligan as the town attorney for the town of Winchester. Mr. Delegate has 32 years experience in municipal law and in the town and is familiar with operational needs, priorities of the town. This appointment will ensure continuity of legal services to the town manager, town departments, boards and commissions and the board of selectment. I recommend that we appoint the appointment be made. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Bill. Any other
063discussion? >> All in favor ordinance. Uh appointment passes. I'll get a letter out to him first thing tomorrow morning. >> Item C, police revolving fund police cruiser acquisition. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Included in your packet for this evening uh was a cruiser, an additional cruiser. You can see in the amount of uh $66,6210. Um you'll see it's two different prices. you have 14 $1,450 in decals and then obviously the cruiser looking to fund it through our police revolving account. Currently the police revolving account uh has a balance as of 11:30 2025 of 161,636 $135,669 which is receivable 25,967 which is due to the general fund for net amounts advanced for the payrolls. Um, so roughly about 135,669 in that account. Um, we have more than enough money. Again, this goes back to the wonderful
064job that our men and women are doing with all the road jobs that are out there. Um, we know there was a lot over the summer and also uh some in the fall. So again, this um is a cruiser that we would put immediately on the line. Just so happens that we blew an engine in one of our older cruisers, so it's much needed down there. I move that we authorize the town manager to um purchase the um police cruiser. Oh, thank you. I move to approve the expenditure of $66,6210 from the police revolving account with sufficient funds available for the purchase of one 2026 Ford police interceptor in accordance with the state purchasing requirements. >> Second. >> Thank you, Paul. >> Thank you, Bill. Discussion. >> Yes. Nope. >> The lettering. Yes, vinyl lettering.
065And I I mentioned this to selective select has it before. Um the bright white [clears throat] with the police Winchester on the side of it. Do we not have >> one darkked out cruiser right now? You know what I mean by dark out the Chargers? >> The Chargers. Yes. >> Um all the other large SUVs are the blatant white >> black and whites. Yes. Um, would it not be beneficial to have a dark out SUV? And and the reason I say this is, and again, depending on the the use that the chief sees for this, right? If I park this at the ambulance bar, I can see this as soon as I come down 44. When they're darkked out, it's still a cruiser, but you don't notice that dark out till you're right on it.
066It's just I I don't know if this was just chosen or if this was a preference by the police department >> on that. One of the things that came out after September 11th, 2001 was visibility. You wanted to be able to see the police cars easier to see them, see that they're out, see that they're around. Uh they kind of did away with a lot of you a lot of state police cars were were all unmarked. Um, and that was one of the reasons why after September 11th, there was a a movement to make the cruisers black and white again to stand out so they're visible to be seen. Um, I I guess that's a a good point, but isn't it nice to have a handful that aren't as visible? >> I think [laughter] and
067I hear what you're saying, Bill, and I appreciate it. I think that our role is not that, you know, the chief's got to decide which ones he wants blacked out, which ones he doesn't. That's why >> that's an internal decision that Paul and the chief make. We just give him the money to buy the car. >> Right. >> So >> that's was the question though is did you guys have the internal discussion or this was just >> we did it. So funny you bring that up. We we we did have internal discussions. So one of the things that you you you'll know is that we do have a mishmash of vehicles right now. Right. >> Once we get the general fleet um replaced um then we will look at doing unique vehicles. But right now
068what we want to do is police uh replace the aging fleet um get all of the high visible vehicles out there and then later down the road if the police revolving continues we'll look at adding you know mixture of cars. But um well said by everybody and valid points on it all. Right now, we're in such desperate need to get the the line fleet replaced. We're going to do that and then eventually down the road come back and and visit those those vehicles that you don't want to have seen most of the time. U but right now we're in desperate need to to replace our high visible fleet. >> And I think to your point, Bill, those charges are going to age out. >> Yeah. >> In the not too distant future. And that'll be
069an opportunity if they want to do a blacked out unit then. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. Good answer. >> The charges are old. All in favor? >> Unanimous. [clears throat] >> And I'll note um currently right now in the uh Sally Court downstairs um that cruiser that was purchased with the police revolving account uh about two months ago uh has landed. Um it's going off to Torington uh next week to be lettered and that'll be added to the fleet. So bing bang and uh we're moving right along. So that is here. I just want to let you know everybody know that um that motion that was made maybe two months ago that that cruiser has uh hit the ground it is a 25. This particular cruiser as you see is a 26. Is
070that great? >> Is it about a two-month turnaround after you give them the PO to get it back? And >> yeah. Um again these and I >> these are not built units that they have already. They're not built to and and I and I I guess ask if you have time, stop in and and and maybe now is the time because it's in the garage. Look to see what's in the back rack of where all the brains of this thing go. Each department is different. All of them, you know, there's there 2026 uh Explorers sitting uh up at MHQ in Middletown. >> The cars are built. This is just this is how we need it up. >> How we need it upfitted. Each town upfits [snorts] it a little bit different. You know, we put
071the push bar on it, we put the lights on it, and some towns just want, as you know, Simpos said, they may want a low profile vehicle. Doesn't come equipped with as much stuff. So, that's what takes the time is roughly two months. Get all the equipment that we're looking to put into it uh and and and installed in the vehicle. So, it's about >> How old is the one that blew its engine? [clears throat] >> Uh I knew you were going to ask me that, too. >> Was it one of the Taho? It was one of the Taho. Yeah. >> I think those were 17 16 >> 16 17s. Yeah. Yeah. 30 40,000 miles on >> and 7 million hours. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But uh the Explorer that we purchased uh
072in the budget this year that that's hit the ground um very little issues. Um and the officers love it. Yeah. So, uh it's been good. It's been they've been good to us. >> Item 11, citizens comments. The board of selectman welcomes public comments. Anyone wish to speak? >> I knew you didn't sit there all night just to listen to us talk. >> No, no, they just [laughter] things that came up. I just came down to watch. Better than watching it on YouTube. Willard Plat, West Wakefield Boulevard. When you were excluding members from the charter revision committee, you left it open for people that were town employees, but the charter does exclude town employees from being on commissions. So maybe you should think about >> we will review that. >> Thank you. Very good point. Item
07312, selectments, comments, and reports. Anyone? >> Happy New Year everyone. >> Off and running. >> I just wanted to say that uh just before the holidays, I had the opportunity um the uh superintendent of schools had uh invited the board of selectmen and the board of education to attend a special holiday lunch and I had the opportunity to attend. Um and I just wanted to to note something that I saw there that you know it's one of those things that you only see if you're there in the school of doing it and I you know we we uh went to um lunch at Pearson first and then we went basically over for dessert at Hinsdale got to talk with staff at um both places and one thing that really struck me that I had no
074idea even though I have a daughter going to Pearson is how much our teachers do double duty like in the lunchroom they we have teachers and reading specialists and counselors um wiping tables clearing things doing, you know, coring kids during during lunchtime. So, you know, I just wanted to give a shout out to all of the the teachers for, you know, just doing whatever needs to be done. And it's one of those little things that like you just don't know and unless you're there. So, it was really nice to see that. So, I just wanted to say thank you to all the teachers for what they do. Uh this morning I several members of the board of selectman were happy to swear in or be in attendance at the swearing in of our newest police
075officer Peter Teeman. Welcome to town. With that we don't have choice. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor. Good night. Good night everybody.