Cromwell Town Council approves $775,000 in drainage and school capital spending

Town Council · Meeting of April 8, 2026

Cromwell Town Council approves $775,716 in drainage and school capital spending at April 8 meeting. The council unanimously cleared a $155,185 Capital Needs Reserve draw and a $620,531 Low SIP state fund transfer — exhausting Cromwell's entire Low SIP balance — for the Cedar Drive-Coles Road drainage project, and separately approved $35,329 for LED gym lights at Woodside Intermediate School. Mayor James Demetriades disclosed that a new developer has applied to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority for 9 percent low-income housing tax credits at 186 Shunpike Road, with 48 of 65 units proposed as affordable at 80 percent of median rental value, though the town has not received the full application.

The council also advanced health code fee revisions to a public hearing after paring back proposed food establishment increases, setting class one restaurant fees at $125, class two at $175, and class three at $225. The Mattabassett District reported Cromwell's wastewater assessment will rise just 2 percent despite a 17 percent district-wide budget increase, but warned a state-mandated multi-year discharge permit study could eventually require plant expansion.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,364 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of April 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

CROMWELL — April 8, 2026 — The Cromwell Town Council approved a combined $775,716 in infrastructure and school capital spending Wednesday and advanced a set of municipal health code revisions, capping a meeting that also featured retirement honors, business recognitions, and a new update on a contentious affordable housing application.

The council cleared two drainage-related appropriations for the Cedar Drive-Coles Road project: $155,185 from the town's Capital Needs Reserve fund and $620,531 in Low SIP state funds, the latter representing the full balance of Low SIP money allocated to Cromwell. Separately, the council approved $35,329 for LED gym light replacement at Woodside Intermediate School, tabled a surplus capital fund reallocation policy at the request of the Board of Education, and advanced health code fee revisions that will move to a public hearing.

The Full Story

Mayor James Demetriades opened the meeting by presenting a proclamation honoring Mike Conant, a parks and grounds supervisor retiring after 35 years with the town. Council members praised Conant's institutional knowledge and his contributions to projects including Frisbee Park and the Cromwell Dog Park. Steve Fortenbach, chairman of the Economic Development Committee, and Stuart Popper, the economic development coordinator, then presented business milestone awards to Cromwell Concrete Products, marking 100 years in operation, and to Willowbrook Spirit Shop for 50 years.

Art Simonian, executive director of the Mattabassett District, and board chairman John Dunham presented the district's upcoming fiscal year budget, which carries a roughly 17 percent overall increase driven largely by a 93 percent jump in capital projects. Despite that increase, Cromwell's share of the annual assessment rises by only about $22,000, or 2 percent, because the district is drawing on $200,000 in operating reserves from fiscal year 2026 and $2.2 million in capital reserves to offset costs. The district's operating debt budget rose 5.6 percent. Simonian noted a $105 million plant upgrade completed in 2015, financed through a Clean Water Fund loan that runs through 2033, and said Cromwell currently pays about 6.8 percent of debt service while holding an 8.6 percent reserve capacity share.

Council member Al Waters pressed Simonian on two matters: the status of a quarterly odor-control reporting commitment the district allegedly made in January 2025, and whether the district was accepting out-of-state sludge. Simonian said the district takes only in-state sludge and offered to discuss the reporting format with council.

"It's just not good business or not good neighbors." [00:33:45] — Al Waters, Town Council member, on the district's failure to provide promised quarterly updates

The council also heard from Brad and Roxanne Huff of 1 Riverside Drive, who asked the town to formally address erosion caused by a municipal stormwater outfall on their property. Town Manager Tony — referred to by first name throughout the meeting, surname not stated — noted that town counsel Carrie Olsen had previously informed the Huffs' attorney, in a January letter, that the town does not consider itself liable, citing aerial maps dating to the 1930s. He advised both parties to continue through their respective attorneys.

On school matters, the council's Board of Education liaison, identified in the meeting only as Matt, reported that the school board has resolved a benefits dispute by switching from a Cigna HSA to the state's health partnership plan, reducing a projected 33-to-34 percent medical insurance increase to 23 percent, with approval from all seven unions. The Board of Finance approved the full school budget at a 4.46 percent increase the prior evening. The liaison also confirmed that the Board of Finance approved $180,000 for a district-wide phone system upgrade to address inter-school communication and safety concerns at the new middle school.

On the health code revisions, Health Director Maura — referred to by first name only — presented proposed updates to five chapters covering food establishments, health standards, landlord registration, housing standards, and sanitation. After council debate over the impact on restaurant operators, the council amended the proposed food establishment fee increases, capping the class one restaurant fee at $125, class two at $175, and class three at $225, while accepting the class four and other schedule increases as proposed. The revisions now advance to a public hearing.

"The 150 extra dollars for a permit may be the difference between them being able to do that." [00:42:54] — James Demetriades, mayor, on the concern about fee increases for restaurants that donate to town events

Demetriades also updated the council on a letter received April 2 from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority regarding 186 Shunpike Road, where a new ownership group is seeking 9 percent low-income housing tax credits from the state. He said state Rep. Matt Lesser and state Sen. Christy Carpino helped obtain public documents showing the site plan remains the same one approved for the prior developer, Carrier Group, through a 2025 planning and zoning modification. Of the 65 proposed units, 48 would qualify as affordable at 80 percent of median rental value. The town has not been provided the full application.

The town manager informed the council that Scott — referred to throughout by first name only — the town's economic development and recreation events coordinator, has accepted a position in his hometown after approximately eight years with Cromwell. A farewell event was announced for April 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the town building.

Why It Matters

The Cedar Drive-Coles Road drainage appropriations exhaust Cromwell's entire Low SIP state fund balance, signaling that future drainage capital needs will rely on other funding sources. The Mattabassett budget presentation flagged a looming multi-year cost risk: a state-mandated study of the district's Connecticut River discharge permit could lead to a plant expansion, though no timeline or cost estimate exists yet. The first study phase is expected to take one to one and a half years. On housing, the council's 30-day window to comment on the 186 Shunpike Road tax credit application runs from the April 2 letter date, and the town's ability to comment is constrained because it has not received the full application. The Board of Finance, not the council, holds final authority over the mill rate and will set it following completion of the town budget cycle.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Amendment to agenda — remove original K3 (100 Berlin Road tax abatement) and replace with discussion and possible action on WIS LED gym lights and ECS window AC replacements Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Amendment to agenda — correct R1A listing of Matt Planchette from regular member to alternate member Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approval of amended agenda Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Mid-meeting agenda reorder to move Citizens Commons before financial items Tally: Approved unanimously (required two-thirds vote)

- Vote: CNR appropriation of $155,185 for Cedar Drive-Coles Road drainage project Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Low SIP fund appropriation of $620,531 for Cedar Drive-Coles Road drainage project Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: CNR appropriation of $35,329.18 for WIS LED gym lights Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: ECS window AC replacement CNR appropriation — Tabled (vote not taken; item discussed but no formal motion recorded before moving on)
• Action: Surplus capital project fund reallocation policy — Tabled to May 2026 meeting

- Vote: Tax refunds (items 1 through 10) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Health code revisions (chapters 1 through 5 per March 13, 2026 memo, with amended food establishment class one fee of $125, class two fee of $175, class three fee of $225, and all other recommendations as proposed) — advance to public hearing Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: Building permit fee schedule revisions (Johnny Egan memo, March 31, 2026) — Tabled pending additional data

- Vote: Solicitation/vendor fee waiver for town-approved festival and special events Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Amendment to March 4, 2026 meeting minutes to remove erroneous "arrived at 4:40 PM" notation Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approval of minutes Q1 through Q5 as amended Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Acceptance of Victor Hartley resignation from Public Assets Committee, with regrets Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Adjournment Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Cromwell's community access TV: Town Council meeting, April 8, 2026