Farmington Council Honors First Female Eagle Scout, Backs School Repairs and Golf Cart Upgrade

Farmington’s Town Council closed out 2025 business on December 9 with a meeting that managed to be both low-key and dense: honoring the town’s first female Eagle Scout, recognizing work for neurodivergent children, advancing school construction reimbursement, expanding the Westwoods golf cart fleet, and setting dates for holidays, graduations, and a new council. Watch the whole meeting on YouTube.

This slow, civic-minded coverage is fueled by square footage and sarcasm. The Farmington Mercury is brought to you by Farmington Storage at 155 Scott Swamp Road, where your boxes, canoes, and regretted impulse purchases enjoy “museum air” and you enjoy not tripping over them at home. Call 860.777.4001 and tell them Town Hall sent you. They may not give you a discount, but they’ll at least pretend to be impressed. 📦

Eagle Scout Proclamation For Madeline Rivard

The evening opened at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and a proclamation for Eagle Scout Madeline Rivard of Scouts BSA Troop 1163 in West Hartford.

The council noted that Scouts BSA trains youth in skills that serve them in the future and that the rank of Eagle Scout is a crowning achievement. Rivard, a Farmington resident and member of West Hartford BSA Troop 1163, earned the rank on February 25, 2025, and is recognized as the first female Eagle Scout in both Farmington and West Hartford.

Her Eagle project supported the West Hartford Continuing Education English as a Second Language program. She designed and constructed 17 individual bookcases, then organized a community-wide book drive to create miniature take-home libraries for ESL students, with the explicit goal of supporting and improving literacy skills. The project culminated in a presentation and reception on December 11, 2024, where the program unveiled the new libraries, discussed the project’s literacy focus, and welcomed students and families, many of whom contributed culturally meaningful food and beverages. 📚

Council members highlighted Rivard’s broader involvement as a senior at Farmington High School, where she serves as captain of the girls varsity crew team, manager of the varsity wrestling team, and member of the National Honor Society. The council formally proclaimed December 9, 2025 as “Madeline Rivera Day” in Farmington, Connecticut, using that wording in the resolution.

A separate citation from the Connecticut General Assembly was read on behalf of state legislators, including Representative Mike D’Mico, Representative Rebecca Martinez, Senator Derek Slapp, and Senator Rick Lopes, with signatures noted for Speaker of the House Matt Ritter and Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, and a presentation reference to “Martin Learring.” The citation recognized “Melanie Rivard” as the first female Eagle Scout from Farmington and West Hartford, echoing the achievement but with spelling variations that went uncorrected on the floor.

Human Rights Award For Work With Neurodivergent Children

From there the council shifted to International Human Rights Day, observed annually on or near December 10. A representative from the Human Relations Commission explained the history: the United Nations formed a committee in the late 1940s to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a process that took about two and a half years, with the first Human Rights Day marked on December 10, 1948.

The declaration contains 30 articles, and has been translated into more than 500 languages, making it one of the most translated documents in the world. The theme for this year’s observance was “Our Everyday Essentials.”

The commission uses the day to highlight individuals or organizations that advance human rights in practice. This year’s Farmington Annual Human Rights Award went to Sally Smelski, a member of the Human Relations Commission described in the public remarks as a long-time advocate for children with high support needs and their caregivers.

Smelski’s hair salon, Cuts for Peanuts, has served hundreds of children, particularly children on the autism spectrum, including nonverbal children and those with severe sensory sensitivities. After decades of that work, she launched “kindly listed”, an online clearinghouse that aggregates businesses, agencies, activities, and resources for parents and guardians of neurodivergent children.

Since its launch a few months ago, the site has seen over 60,000 visits, a figure cited as evidence of unmet demand. The commission praised her for reaching out to neurodivergent children and their caregivers and called her a worthy recipient of the Human Rights Award.

Smelski used her remarks to shift the focus to caregivers. She described Kindly Listed as a place where caretakers can learn what facilities are prepared for their children’s needs and “navigate their life for the ones that they love and themselves.” She emphasized that inclusion begins with businesses “opening up your heart” and learning about the community instead of fearing it, and invited local restaurants and businesses to reach out to Kindly Listed to learn how to participate. 💙

A Quiet Night For Public Comment, A Busy Night For Committees

When the meeting moved to public comment, the council opened the floor for five-minute remarks. No one in the council chamber came forward, and staff reported no raised hands online, so the council moved on.

Minutes from the November 10, 2025 regular Town Council meeting were approved without corrections. There were no communications or written appeals reported.

Committee updates then formed the backbone of the evening:

1928 Building Committee – The chair noted that the project on the hill is “almost complete.” Crews are working from top to bottom to finish painting and colors, and furniture is arriving soon. A sample brick was shown to illustrate what the engraved bricks will look like in the front entrance walkway. Those who purchased bricks will see them installed along that path; those who did not were told, plainly, they “missed out.”
Ad Hoc Fire Station Committee – The committee is still waiting for updated material from SPNA, the architectural firm. Members reported that earlier estimates of about $11 million per station have moved; when the program was reviewed comprehensively, the estimate was roughly $8 million higher, around $19 million. They stressed this remains a moving target and that some costs may be “value engineered” in the next round. A colleague also used the moment to thank Amy Palumbo for her detailed work, saying he would miss her ambition and focus on doing right by the fire service.
Sidewalk Committee – The committee met Monday, November 17 to continue reviewing the current sidewalk policy. Members reported they reached a working consensus as a small group and are now preparing for an informational meeting with the town. The next committee meeting is scheduled for January 5.
High School Building Committee – The report here was brief: the committee is continuing to process invoices, with a next meeting scheduled for December 17 at 5 p.m. The chair noted there was nothing of “substance” to add beyond that.

Council chair remarks then added a few community dates to the calendar:

On Friday, December 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Farmington Police and Farmington Community Services will hold a toy drive at the Avon Walmart on Route 44. Farmington, the chair noted, does not have a toy store, so the town has long gone out of town for this effort. Donated toys will support local families at Christmas. 🎁
The chair also referenced earlier proclamations for Maureen, Sarah, Amy and himself, which had been presented in a separate ceremony before the public meeting.
Finally, he thanked council members Sarah, Amy, Maureen, and himself as outgoing members who “won’t be here next year,” praising their “unwavering service” and noting that each brought something distinct to the town.

Board of Education, Air Quality, and School Reimbursement

The Board of Education liaison reported that the Board met the previous night. Key points:

The graduation date for Farmington High School was set for June 10, 2026. 🎓
The Board reviewed an updated enrollment report.
HVAC designs for the four elementary schools are in progress.

New state law allows HVAC systems to be reimbursed through state School Construction Grants, but only after air quality assessments are completed. Those assessments have now been completed for all four elementary schools, satisfying that requirement. The next Board of Education meeting will be January 12 at Irving A. Robbins (IAR), and the liaison flagged a Saturday, January 31 budget meeting at 9 a.m.

Two related items on the council agenda—N1 and N2—dealt with Irving A. Robbins Middle School:

Item N1 – The council approved resolutions required for submission of a state reimbursement grant for the IAR flooring and abatement project. The total project cost is $785,000, of which $567,000 is projected to be eligible for reimbursement at a rate of 31.79%, yielding a projected reimbursement of about $180,250. The Town Council formally established the Farmington Board of Education as the building committee, authorized preparation of schematic drawings, and authorized the Board to apply for the grant.
Item N2 – The council approved the transfer of unobligated Capital Improvement Program (CIP) balances from the District-Wide Structural/Architectural account and the School Code/Safety Upgrade account into a new IAR Flooring and Abatement Project CIP account, as required by state regulations for stand-alone, reimbursable projects.

Council questions focused on whether the added abatement costs—about $50,000 more than the original project estimate even after reimbursement—would take resources away from other projects. School administrators responded that the added funds came mostly from older district-wide structural budgets and would not permanently cancel other project work.

Wetlands, Development, And Economic Activity

The liaison to Conservation and Inland Wetlands reported that the commission’s December 3 meeting overlapped with the Town Council holiday party and had not yet been reviewed in detail, but the agenda suggested several backyard shed applications.

More notably, three larger items are before the commission:

An application from Big Y for a new grocery store at Westfarms.
An application from Winding Trails for a new pavilion at the camp waterfront of Dunning Lake.
An application from Metro Realty for parking and infrastructure tied to three multi-story buildings at 20 Scott Swamp Road.

The next Conservation and Inland Wetlands meeting is scheduled for January 7 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

On the Economic Development Commission, the council liaison said she would miss the role, calling the commission a group that “always” finds something new to do. She reported that the recent business breakfast was sold out, with not a seat left. The keynote speaker was Dr. Aguanabi, president of Yukon Health, and the event also recognized the 30th business anniversary of WMGNA, a Farmington-based wealth management firm.

The report from Town Planning and Zoning (TPZ) noted that the commission has spent several months revising off-street parking standards, including parking on residential properties and commercial vehicle parking. A draft was discussed at the November 12 meeting, followed by 30 days of “strategic revisions.” The updated article passed the previous night. The liaison said the new regulations include clearer parameters and predicted that the document will “stand the test of time” for the town.

Menorah Lighting and Swearing-In Reception

The town manager pointed council members to her written report, then highlighted two events:

A Menorah lighting on the Farmington Village Green on Wednesday, December 17 at 5:30 p.m. Residents are invited to celebrate the Festival of Lights with the lighting of a seven-foot LED Menorah, festive music, warm drinks, Hanukkah donuts, and a special appearance by a Dreidel mascot. 🕎
A reception for incoming Town Council members on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall council chambers, at which the new council members will be sworn in.

The council voted to accept the town manager’s report by motion and second.

Golf Carts, Revenue, and a Self-Supporting Course

Under Item N3, the council turned to something that reliably moves both residents and revenue: golf carts at Westwoods Golf Course.

Since 2011, the town has used carts supplied by ClubCar LLC via five-year lease-financing contracts, paid from cart rental proceeds. The latest arrangement ended with the close of the 2025 golf season in November.

Golf course staff recommended replacing and expanding the fleet via a proposal from Forza Golf Carts, LLC. Under this plan, the town will acquire:

10 used 2024 Easy Go (EZGO) RXV Elite golf carts at $9,668 each.
30 used 2025 Easy Go (EZGO) RXV Elite golf carts at $10,148 each.

Payments will be made over 54 months, starting in May 2026, funded by cart rental revenues rather than general taxation. The town will either trade in or auction the current carts, now owned outright after the last lease expired. ⛳️

Finance staff and the golf course representative explained that:

Westwoods operates with its own revenue and expense stream, and the Town Council does not line-item appropriate its budget in the same way as general fund departments.
About $300,000 in revenue flows from Westwoods to the general fund, which staff said represents roughly 72% of projected course expenses, including grounds, payroll, grass cutting, and other costs.
The new financing will be higher than the last three-year period, but staff expect sufficient cart rental revenue to cover payments, plus additional revenue from the expanded fleet of 40 carts (up from 28).

Council members asked whether the change in vendor—moving from ClubCar to Forza/Easy Go—was driven by price or performance. Staff described it as a qualitative decision as well as a financial one, noting that the club had offers to take the current carts as trade-ins and that Forza’s proposal, including service arrangements, was more attractive overall.

Another line of questioning asked whether the increased cart obligations would reduce the $300,000 transfer to the general fund. Staff said no: the transfer reflects the course’s long-standing role in reimbursing the town for its share of operating costs, and the new carts are expected to help sustain, not reduce, that contribution.

There was also some light banter about carts speeding up play—more carts, more throughput—which, for anyone who has ever waited on the 9th tee, is a form of policy.

The motion to proceed with the lease-financing arrangement and empower the town manager and town treasurer to execute the deal passed.

Appointments, Subregistrars, and Routine Business

Under the appointments section, the council approved a series of motions:

Frank Roth was appointed to the Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission as an alternate member for a four-year term beginning immediately and ending September 30, 2029.
Tommy Hyde was reappointed to the Economic Development Commission for a two-year term beginning immediately and ending September 30, 2027.
Peter Mas Matista was appointed to the Farmington Historic District Commission for the balance of a five-year term, beginning immediately and ending September 30, 2028.
Nancy Parent was appointed to the Farmington Valley Health District for a three-year term beginning January 2, 2026 and ending December 31, 2029.
Jessica Mercury was appointed as subregistrar for the Town of Farmington for a four-year term running from January 5, 2026 to January 7, 2030.
Zachary Zimmerman was appointed as subregistrar for the same four-year term, January 5, 2026 through January 7, 2030.
Richard Coza was also appointed as subregistrar for that same period.

The council also approved property tax refunds listed on the agenda as Item N4, without discussion on specific amounts or taxpayers.

Executive Session and Close

At the end of the public agenda, the council voted to enter executive session under Item O1 to discuss personnel matters concerning the Director of Public Works/Town Engineer. The motion specified that Town Council members, the Town Manager, and the Assistant Town Manager would attend.

The chair explained to those remaining in the audience—students included—that the executive session would be closed to the public and that while the council might return to open session, no action was expected. In practical terms, the meeting was effectively over for observers.

Before adjourning to the closed session, the chair invited any final questions from students (there were none) and wished everyone a safe, enjoyable holiday season and a happy New Year. 🎄

About the Author

Jack Beckett is the senior writer for The Farmington Mercury, which means he spends his evenings listening to committee reports so you don’t have to—and his mornings negotiating with his coffee maker about deadlines. If there is a meeting, a motion, or a mildly confusing reimbursement formula anywhere in Farmington, Jack is probably there with a notebook, a pen, and a cup of coffee strong enough to qualify as infrastructure. ☕

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This article, “Farmington Council Honors First Female Eagle Scout, Backs School Repairs and Golf Cart Upgrade,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0. “Farmington Council Honors First Female Eagle Scout, Backs School Repairs and Golf Cart Upgrade” by Jack Beckett, The Farmington Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)