Stratford council refers $260 million budget to ordinance committee, approves grants and town contracts

The Town of Stratford Council on March 11 amended and referred the mayor’s proposed fiscal-year 2025 budget and approved several town contracts, grant acceptances and school-project submittals.

Mayor Loeira Hoydick presented a proposed town budget of $260,014,370, a 2.21% increase from the prior year, and said the proposal fully funds the Stratford Public Schools operating request. She noted a governor-proposed education cost-share grant of $3,060,000 that would pass through the town to the schools and said the administration will post budget documents online before scheduled workshops.

Council members moved to refer the ordinance adopting the FY25 budget (item 6.10.1) to the ordinance committee and amended the ordinance to reflect the $260,014,370 total; the amendment and referral passed by voice vote. The council also referred the tax-rate ordinance (item 6.10.2) to the ordinance committee to begin the workshop process.

The council approved a resolution accepting a $7,500 grant with a $905 town match for the town clerk to preserve historical documents after a motion by Councilor O'Connor; the motion passed by voice vote. Under new business the council approved a $10,400 increase for the Bunnell parking lot and a $36,800 drainage contract for Veterans Park, both referred from the Public Works Committee.

In building-needs business, the council approved an elevator-modernization contract at Town Hall for $283,848 and approved purchase of refurbished windows and services for Wilcoxon School from Window Service Inc. of Holliston, Mass., for $37,486.24. Council also approved submission of drawing project manuals and cost-estimate packages to the State Department of Administrative Services for alteration projects at Franklin Elementary (state project number 23DASY138113A0623) and Wilcoxon Elementary (23DASY138114A0623). Town staff told councilors those submittals are part of the grant/plan-review process and do not appropriate construction funds; councilors requested that future submittals note estimated costs (TBD) when available.

All motions and referrals recorded at the meeting were approved by voice votes and the council adjourned the formal meeting before reconvening the public forum to finish scheduled speakers.