Farmington council approves appointments, updates reserve policy and awards capital contracts including police generator and IT upgrade

At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Town of Farmington Town Council completed organizational appointments, approved financial policies and moved several capital projects forward with contract awards.

Acting chair and routine appointments Patty Boy Williams was appointed acting town council chair during the organizational portion of the meeting. The council approved a slate of L-item appointments (bond counsel, labor counsel, land-use/environmental counsel) and designated banks and investment pools for town funds. Joseph Swentke (listed in the record as Joseph Swentke/Swetke/Slitke in different places) was appointed treasurer for the January 2026–January 2028 term with compensation set at $5,000 annually; Julie Albert was appointed deputy treasurer for the same term.

Reserve policy amended to 15–20% target Council revised the town's reserve (fund-balance) policy to state an explicit target range of 15–20%. Finance staff explained that measurement methods differ (auditors and staff use different bases) and reported an internal calculation near 19.5% unassigned/uncommitted fund balance. Council members said formalizing a 15–20% policy provides clarity for rating agencies and budget planning; the motion to amend and adopt the revised policy passed.

Contracts and capital funding The council approved multiple capital-related motions: - A $271,000 contract was awarded to Consolidated Computing Inc. (Easton, Conn.) for servers, switches, network equipment and software to upgrade police-department systems. Staff said funds are available in townwide technology capital funds (current balance cited at $399,000; the contract would reduce that to about $125,000). - The council moved to award a contract to Musco Sports Lighting LLC for lighting upgrades at John Grocki Baseball Field and Tunxis Mead Softball Field, a project tied to a $1,000,000 STEEP grant. Staff reported field-specific costs of $247,558 (baseball) and $157,924 (softball); the STEEP grant is expected to cover 66% of eligible costs. The contract is contingent on approvals from the State Department of Economic and Community Development and the State Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. - The council approved a capital amendment to add $140,000 to the police-generator replacement project to allow use of remaining LOSIP entitlement grant funds; earlier bids plus engineering costs created an estimated shortfall. Council then awarded the police-generator purchase and installation contract to RNC Electric LLC of Bristol, Conn., for the low bid of $307,200.

Other business Council approved maintaining 23 Lakeview Drive on the town's blighted building list while court proceedings continue and approved property tax refunds listed on the agenda. It also scheduled a special meeting for Jan. 20 to discuss the draft strategic plan and discussed (but did not adopt) a proposal to hold a department-head introduction meeting on Feb. 3.

Votes and recusals Most motions passed unanimously. One appointment to the retirement board (Kyle McIntyre) recorded a recusal and one abstention by the council member who stated a family relationship to the appointee. Several appointments and contract awards required follow-up approvals (state grant certifications or additional capital-plan steps).

What happens next: Finance and staff will document the reserve-policy language in the capital plan and apply the entitlement-grant accounting steps required by the state to spend LOSIP funds on the police-generator project. Contracts contingent on state approvals will proceed once those approvals are received.