Town Council opens 2026 session
Farmington’s Town Council opened the first meeting of 2026 on January 13, 2026, with a Pledge led by the Chair’s daughter, Caitlin, then moved briskly into procedure, public frustration, and a long list of votes—some small, some expensive, and at least one destined to live forever in the town’s internal folklore as “the letter.” The full session is captured in the Farmington Town Council meeting video (Jan. 13, 2026). 🏛️
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A New Year, a Quick Reset
Early votes were about governance: the council appointed Patty Boy Williams as Acting Town Council Chair for the meeting, then adopted the Rules of Procedure effective January 13, 2026, both by unanimous votes. The council also amended the agenda to add a late appointment item: the appointment of a Town Plan and Zoning Commission alternate, tied to a shift in membership as Josh Davidson moved to fill a vacancy as a full member.
There were no resignations, no presentations or recognitions, and no public hearings.
Public Comment: Roads and Taxes, Delivered Without Sugar
Wells Acres, Wells Drive, and the Demand for Reconstruction 🚧
Joanne White, of 19 Wells Drive, returned to public comment to press the council—again—for what she called a comprehensive road reconstruction project in Wells Acres.
Her timeline was specific:
- She said she first appeared in October, describing what she said happened to the neighborhood’s roads in 2018, and submitted a petition from 56 neighbors.
- She said Joe Capodifero emailed her on October 23 stating documents were being collected and the issue would appear on the November agenda.
- She said the item did not appear, and that on November 9 she was told it had been tabled because of the election changes and would return once new members were seated.
- On January 5, she said she emailed Brian Connolly to ensure the matter was on the agenda and did not receive a response; she said she was directed to Kathy Blonsky, who emailed her on January 7 repeating a prior position: patching as needed, and a review of driveway aprons and drainage.
Ms. White argued patching would not address what she described as structural problems—materials beneath the asphalt, lack of grinding, roadway settling, cracking and sinkholes at the pavement joints, pooling water that freezes, and the limits of a thin overlay under delivery trucks, oil trucks, construction vehicles, and plows.
She also described political outreach and correspondence: she said she approached the Democratic Town Committee in September, was directed to Dave Lidkowski and Bruce Polsky, and received an email on September 29 from Bruce Polsky stating he and Mr. Lidkowski had read the correspondence and driven the road, concluding residents did not receive the same level of repair as other streets, and that town letters did not clearly explain why a change from temporary to permanent status was decided.
Ms. White told the council she would pursue assessment appeals and seek property-tax reductions, and said she would look into a possible court action based on a September 2018 letter she said promised full reconstruction in 2020. She submitted new photos showing the same location over time: an original hole, a patch, standing water after rain, and the state of the patch after freezes and melts.
Taxes, in Plain Numbers 💸
Two other comments turned toward taxes.
Tim Kelly, of 62 Westview, welcomed the new council and said the central fiduciary challenge was low taxes. He cited the day’s CPI inflation rate report at 2.7%, and said the forward outlook was 2.5% for the coming fiscal year, urging the council to circulate those benchmarks internally as budget requests arrived.
Barry Aguado, speaking online and identifying himself as living at 36 Westview Terrace in Unionville, said he moved to Farmington in 2022 from Long Island and described his property taxes rising from $6,400 to $8,000, a change he said was over $1,500 in three years. He expressed worry about where the trajectory leads.
Public comment closed after the online queue cleared.
Minutes, Then a Chair’s First Report
The council approved the minutes of the December 9, 2025 regular meeting by unanimous vote.
In his first Council Chair report, Brian Connolly said the council had met collectively and individually to discuss member strengths, interests, and goals; he thanked Town Manager Kathy Blonsky for support and leadership, and referenced ongoing work on the town’s strategic plan and the upcoming budget cycle, including meetings with departments. He also described plans to meet with state representatives in the coming month.
Town Manager Report: Strategy, Schedule, and FOI
Kathy Blonsky highlighted the 2026 Town Council budget schedule and sought consensus to invite state legislators to attend the first February meeting, consistent with past practice. She outlined a strategic-plan workshop approach: reviewing the existing 2024–2026 strategic plan, identifying completed items and those that roll forward, and using a chart system—described in red/yellow/green terms—to weigh staff time, complexity, and cost.
She raised the 250th celebration as a near-term planning item, described coordination with Avon, and said the town’s event timing was expected in July. She also announced a Town Council photo shoot scheduled for January 27, asking members to arrive at 6:30 p.m..
She noted an upcoming Freedom of Information Act training workshop, described as voluntary and open to public officials, scheduled for January 22 at 6:00 p.m., in council chambers and available by Zoom, led by Russell Blair, with Q&A to follow.
Wells Drive: A Sewer Project, a Letter, and Eight Years of Fallout 🚧
At the request of the Chair, the Town Manager brought in Russ Arnold, the Director of Public Works, to speak directly to the Wells Drive issue raised in public comment.
Mr. Arnold described the origin as a sanitary sewer infiltration and inflow problem identified in a neighborhood-by-neighborhood video study around 2016–2017. He described a deep sewer—14 to 15 feet—with groundwater entering at volumes he likened to a broken water main. He said the town sent a letter anticipating a scope consistent with the depth and disruption associated with sewer replacement.
In execution, he said the contractor kept the trench tight, largely staying down the middle of the road, and that the town patched the trench and placed an overlay. He described Farmington’s typical paving practice as an overlay-based program—described as 80% to 85% of paving work—using milling where needed, adhesive tack, and repaving. He said full reconstruction is used for roads that are “blown apart,” and that drainage replacement is generally limited to cases where something fails or sizing must change, with catch basins often rebuilt from the sump upward.
Ms. Blonsky distilled the situation: it began as a sewer project; the neighborhood moved up the paving list because the town tries to avoid paving and then tearing up a road for utilities. She said the letter used “reconstruction,” and that residents often do not distinguish between reconstruction and paving. She stated there were never plans for curbs as part of the project. She said that after completion, the town determined reconstruction was not warranted, and she argued the town would not redo a road it did not believe required it—particularly roughly eight years after the paving.
Mr. Arnold spoke with visible irritation at the idea of intentional misdirection, said he would make the same decision again given the conditions, and described the work timeline: starting in late April and finishing in November, with the contractor working five to six days a week, eight to ten hours a day, while residents parked down the street and the town fielded frequent calls. He said the priority at the time was to finish a long, disruptive project and restore access.
Council members questioned Mr. Arnold and discussed the broader implications:
- Keith Vibbert asked whether there are roads scheduled for paving in worse condition than Wells Drive; Mr. Arnold answered yes. Vibbert also said he drove the road multiple times, including during a recent ice event, and argued the town should not set a precedent of jumping the line based on letter wording where the road does not meet reconstruction need.
- Bill Becker, describing himself as new to the issue, said he drove the road, recognized some pooling from past familiarity, and said the condition did not “jump out” to him. He also told Mr. Arnold he viewed him as a straight shooter, based on earlier town service.
- Patty Boy Williams asked what criteria move a road into the reconstruction category. Mr. Arnold said it is often obvious from ride quality, patching history, and visible failure, citing Highwood Road as an example of a road segment that needs reconstruction. He also explained that West District Road involved a mix—partial reconstruction where drainage failed, and mill-and-overlay elsewhere.
- Dave Lidkowski pressed on communication: he said residents had a right to contact district representatives, and while he was not challenging the engineering decision, he argued the town should tighten messaging when a project changes from what residents believe was promised.
- Megan asked about responding to visible issues in photos and what options exist short of reconstruction. Mr. Arnold said the town would cut and patch in warmer months—specifically not in winter conditions—and emphasized the need to balance attention across town roads.
The Council Chair thanked Mr. Arnold and framed the issue as one priority among many.
The council then voted to accept the Town Manager report, unanimously.
Appointments: Counsel, Liaisons, and Boards
The council moved into a long block of appointments. Two items, L1 and L2, were stated as postponed.
Approved by unanimous vote:
- PullmanAndComley as Bond Counsel (January 2026 through January 2028)
- MetzgerLazarusAndPlum as Labor Counsel (January 2026 through January 2028)
- UpdikeKellyAndSpellacyPC as Land Use and Environmental Counsel (January 2026 through January 2028)
- Joseph Swetke appointed Treasurer (January 2026 through January 2028), compensation $5,000 annually(after a correction to the dates)
- Julie Albert appointed Deputy Treasurer (January 2026 through January 2028)
- The banks and investment pools listed in the agenda packet designated as depositories for town funds
The council also approved a slate of liaison and committee assignments, with one practical note: Keith Vibbert flagged a scheduling conflict between the Housing Authority and Library meetings (both described as the third Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.), and the group agreed to adjust assignments outside the vote.
Additional appointments approved:
- Mary Jane Parlow to the Farmington Valley Health District for a three-year term beginning January 2, 2026and ending December 31, 2029
- Kimberly Hatinger to the Green Efforts Committee (remainder of an indefinite term)
- Kathleen Donnaroma to the Human Relations Commission, through June 30, 2027
- Retirement Board appointments through January 2028: Kyle Cunningham, Eric Giordano, Mike Bernabucci, Jeffrey Porter, and Kyle McIntyre
- Bruce Polsky recused himself and abstained on the Kyle McIntyre vote, stating Mr. McIntyre is his son-in-law; the appointment passed with one abstention.
For Town Plan and Zoning Commission leadership changes:
- Josh Davidson appointed as a full member to fill a vacancy, term ending January 2028
- Lisa Fagan appointed as an alternate, term ending January 2028
New Business: Blight List, Financial Policies, and Big-Dollar Work Orders
Blighted Building List
The council approved the blighted building list containing 23 Lakeview Drive, with Ms. Blonsky stating the matter remains in court and noting prior progress reducing the list.
Financial Policies (and the Moody’s Shadow) 📊
The council reviewed and approved:
- The Capital Improvement Policy, with an amendment to reflect it was last amended January 9, 2018
- The Debt Management Policy
- The Reserve (Fund Balance) Policy, after discussion that Moody’s prefers stronger targets. The council amended the language to target maintaining a fund balance between 15% and 20%. Joseph Swetke described current measurements as near 19%, depending on methodology, and warned against drawing the balance down—citing Wallingford losing its AAA after dropping below 20%, as an example raised during discussion.
- The Employee Health Self-Insurance Fund Reserve Policy, described as a joint policy with the Board of Education.
Contracts and Capital Moves: Tech, Lights, and a Generator 🖥️⚾🚨
The council awarded several contracts and related capital actions:
- $271,000 to ConsolidatedComputingInc (Easton, Connecticut) for computer servers, switches, network equipment, and software tied to the police network; the vote was required because the award exceeded $50,000. During discussion, Mr. Swetke cited a current balance of $399,000 in the relevant account, with $125,000remaining after the award.
- $405,000 to MuscoSportsLightingLLC to replace lighting systems at John Grocke Baseball Field and the Tunxis Mead Softball Field, subject to state approvals by the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Ms. Blonsky said the broader STEAPaward was $1 million for improvements at Tunxis Mead Park, and that lighting costs were described as $247,558(baseball) and $157,924 (softball). She said 66% would be funded by the grant, with the remaining $137,000funded through the town’s Recreation Fund.
- A capital budget amendment adding $140,000 in LOSIP funds to the police generator replacement project, described as necessary to demonstrate to the state that the funds are included in the capital plan. The generator discussion included a history: frequent breakdowns since summer 2022, a period in fall 2024 when it did not work, and a rental backup generator that cost over $25,000. Ms. Blonsky said parts are difficult to obtain due to age, and the generator is a public safety component. Mr. Swetke walked through LOSIP mechanics and balances, including an older “entitlement” program and a newer grant structure with annual reporting.
- $307,200 (base bid only) awarded to RNCElectricLLC (Bristol, Connecticut) for the replacement of the generator at the police facility. The council noted the project includes related upgrades, such as the transfer switch, and joked briefly about what to do with the old unit.
Calendar Decisions 📅
The council voted to schedule:
- A special Town Council meeting on January 20, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., in the Town Hall Pavilion, to discuss the draft strategic plan.
A second motion—scheduling a special meeting on February 3, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. for department head introductions—failed after members raised concerns about meeting load, conflicts, and requiring staff attendance outside standard hours. The council and Town Manager discussed shifting the concept into a February agenda instead.
The council then approved property tax refunds listed on the agenda item, noted there was no executive session, and adjourned.
About the Author
Jack Beckett writes for The Farmington Mercury with a notebook in one hand and coffee in the other—usually the kind of coffee that tastes like it was filtered through municipal ordinance and mild regret. ☕️ If you’re building a mental map of Farmington, start with the basics at About The Farmington Mercury and then wander your way through the rabbit holes: Editorial, For Sale, Law Enforcement, Farmington Ct Historic District Commission, Farmington Wetlands Committee, Farmington Ct High School, Zoning, Farmington Ct Board Of Education, and Positions Available Farmington Ct. Got a tip, a correction, or a grievance that requires punctuation? Use Contact Us—or message us on X.com, Twitter, or, as we call it, Twix: WeFarmington on X.
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© 2026 The Farmington Mercury / Mercury Local
This article, “Farmington Town Council Opens 2026 With Wells Drive Road Dispute, Fund-Balance Target Change, and Major Contract Votes,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Farmington Town Council Opens 2026 With Wells Drive Road Dispute, Fund-Balance Target Change, and Major Contract Votes”
by Jack Beckett, The Farmington Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)
