Newington Council Adopts New Veterans Tax Breaks

Town Council · Meeting of August 11, 2026

NEWINGTON — The Newington Town Council voted 8-0 to adopt five new property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their survivors, with Mayor Jon Trister absent. The resolution, enacted under Public Act 25-168, is projected to cut town revenue by $80,270 annually starting with the 2027-2028 tax year across roughly 75 affected properties, including a two-acre land exemption and a cap tied to median assessed value. Town Assessor Danielle Dippolino said she would promote the exemptions through the town website, a video and outreach to the VA and American Legion.

The council also voted unanimously to make Assistant Town Manager Lauren Rhines acting town manager for up to 90 days starting September 3, as Town Manager Jonathan Altshul departs. Council members spent over an hour weighing, without voting, a Newington Housing Authority plan for 13 to 14 units on an open-space parcel at 40 Mill Street Extension, with Majority Leader Matthew Plourd calling it "one of the few, very precious pieces of open space" in town.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,505 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of August 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.

The Full Article

40 Mill Street Extension Senior Housing Proposal

Background and stakes: The Newington Housing Authority has run three elderly and disabled housing complexes on town-owned land under long-term ground leases since the 1970s. A new Connecticut Department of Housing program, SHARE, announced this spring, offers full construction funding to small public housing authorities that can bring forward a site. The authority's two-year-plus waiting list, and the lack of any town land outside parks or open space, pushed it toward a 2-plus-acre parcel at 40 Mill Street Extension, directly across from its existing 1-26 Mill Street Extension complex. The parcel is currently zoned open space.

The question before the body: Whether to authorize the housing authority to move the project to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a zone change and direct the town manager to negotiate a 99-year ground lease, contingent on state funding.

Substantive content: Melinda Harvey, executive director of the Newington Housing Authority, told the council the state has given preliminary approval contingent on town council and zoning sign-off. Concept drawings show 13 or 14 single-story, one-bedroom, fully accessible "cottage style" units, using the parcel's existing overflow parking lot so no new pavement would be added. An earlier, denser concept — a two-story, 20-unit building with an elevator — was set aside after the state indicated it preferred the lower-density cottage design, which better fits the surrounding single-family neighborhood. The state covers 100 percent of construction costs; the housing authority covers pre-construction costs such as architectural drawings and environmental review. Rents would remain income-based, generally at roughly 30 percent of a resident's income, consistent with the authority's two other income-restricted complexes. Harvey said the authority's October 2025 application cycle produced a wait list of 60 households, drawn by random lottery, with no guarantee of priority for Newington residents under state rules.

The deliberation: Majority Leader Matthew Plourd opened council questioning by praising the proposal but raising "concerns about this particular parcel and its open space value," asking whether the project could be shifted onto the existing parking lot footprint, preserving the green space at the center of the site. Harvey responded that her architect had sited buildings on the green space specifically to retain the parking lot for its current use, and said she was open to asking the architect to study an alternative. Councilor Nancy Cappello, Councilor Kathy Gonzalez and Councilor Kelly deHaas pressed Harvey on timeline, cost and impact, with Gonzalez asking directly how many more units the project would add to the town's inventory and whether other sites had been considered; Harvey said the housing authority owns no land of its own and would need the town to identify any alternative parcel. Councilor Gail Budrejko, who said she had fought years earlier to establish the town's open space zoning designation, warned that erosion of protections on this parcel risked setting a precedent for other open-space parcels such as Indian Hill.

"We certainly, it's not our choice. It's the zoning commission's choice, but we're changing a zone that is one of the few, very precious pieces of open space that we have in this town." — Councilor Matthew Plourd

Eight members of the public spoke, nearly all identifying as Wells Drive or Wells Drive North residents or neighbors. Jeff Seldick, of 55 Wells Drive North, recounted a roughly 2007-2009 dispute over the adjacent 1-26 Mill Street Extension complex, saying then-Mayor Rod Mortensen worked with neighbors after they were not notified of the original proposal, and that the development was pushed to the northern corner of the parcel with an understanding — never formalized as a deed restriction — that the remaining green space would stay open in perpetuity. He asked the council to refer the matter to the town's Open Space Commission, which he said had not been consulted, and to consider town-owned brownfield or underused sites instead. Rose Lyons, of 46 Elton Drive, described a 20-year personal search for affordable senior housing and disputed characterizations of the parcel as unused.

"I challenge any one of you at this table here to go and try and find senior housing." — Rose Lyons, Elton Drive resident

Justin Beecreft, of 17 Wells Drive, and an unnamed Wells Drive-area speaker countered that the field is used daily by neighborhood families and dog walkers. Jacob Knowlton, of 10 Hillside Street, said he supported siting the project on the parking lot rather than the green space, calling placement near the town center ideal "because seniors have a loneliness epidemic."

Procedural steps and outcome: No motion was made and no vote was taken. Harvey agreed to return to her architect to study a design that would build on the parking lot rather than the central green space; Deputy Mayor Kim Radda and Councilor Plourd noted that even the parking lot portion of the parcel is currently zoned open space, so any approach would still require Planning and Zoning Commission action, potentially including a split of the parcel into separate zoning designations.

Implications and what is next: The project cannot proceed to Planning and Zoning without a town council vote authorizing referral, which did not happen at this meeting. The housing authority faces an informal state expectation of a decision "by the end of 2026" to retain its SHARE funding allocation; Harvey said the matter would likely return to the council after design revisions.

Facilities Naming Subcommittee Recommendations

Background and stakes: The council's Facilities Naming Subcommittee — chaired by Deputy Mayor Kim Radda, with Councilor Matthew Plourd and Councilor Nancy Cappello — had held a yearlong moratorium on naming requests. On July 27 the subcommittee voted to advance two pending requests while continuing work on a broader naming policy.

The question before the body: Whether to approve renaming the Information and Referral Center at the Senior and Disabled Center for Karen Halpert and the double gymnasium at the Mortensen Community Center for William A. DeMaio.

Substantive content: Halpert, the center's eligibility program coordinator for 22 years, died in June 2025 after retiring in 2024; she co-created the Information and Referral Center in 2012. DeMaio, retiring as superintendent of Parks and Recreation, is credited by former Parks and Recreation Board chairs Eileen Francolino and Don Woods with securing a double, rather than single, gymnasium during the Mortensen Community Center's design, over the objections of a building committee that initially proposed a smaller space.

The deliberation: Councilor Nancy Cappello read the resolution. Four residents spoke in support: Wayne Alexander and Gary Bowles, both of 28 Burden Lane, praised DeMaio's advocacy despite his blindness from retinitis pigmentosa; Bowles noted DeMaio "consistently pursued principal architect Tom Arcarey of Quisenberry" to secure the second gym. Don Woods, of 82 Ivy Lane, a former Parks and Recreation Board chair, said "we needed it and we wanted it" of the double gym. No public comment opposed either name.

Procedural steps and outcome: The resolution passed 8-0, with Mayor Jon Trister absent. Deputy Mayor Radda thanked Melissa, Bill DeMaio's staff, and current and former Parks and Recreation Board members in the room.

Implications and what is next: The Information and Referral Center and the Mortensen Community Center gymnasium will be formally redesignated under the new names; the naming subcommittee continues separately to draft a permanent policy following the lapsed moratorium.

Veterans Tax Exemptions

Background and stakes: Public Act No. 25-168 authorized Connecticut municipalities to add new local-option property tax exemptions for veterans. Councilor Kelly deHaas said the push began after constituent veterans reported being denied the existing TDIU exemption under the town's prior policy.

The question before the body: Whether to adopt a resolution enacting all five available local options, effective with the October 1, 2026 Grand List.

Substantive content: Per the August 5, 2026 memo from Town Manager Jonathan Altshul and Town Assessor Danielle Dippolino, the five options and their estimated tax impacts, based on the October 1, 2025 Grand List and 29.41 mill rate, are: extending the exemption to up to two acres of land (27 properties, $48,178); extending it to surviving spouses (2 properties, $10,751); capping the exemption at the town's median assessed value (33 properties, a $27,130 revenue gain to the town); extending it to veterans with total disability based on individual unemployability, TDIU (13 properties, $48,471); and extending it to Gold Star spouses (0 properties currently, no impact). The net effect is an estimated $80,270 annual revenue reduction. Town Attorney guidance favored a resolution over an ordinance because the underlying state statute is likely to be revised periodically.

The deliberation: Councilor Hilda Nieves read the full resolution text into the record. Councilor Kelly deHaas thanked Dippolino for broadening the conversation beyond TDIU to the full menu of options and asked how the town would publicize the new exemptions.

"I'm definitely going to get on the website as soon as possible. I got, I'm in the works of a little video on veterans exemptions and then I plan on reaching out to the VA, American Legion..." — Town Assessor Danielle Dippolino

DeHaas also suggested coordinating outreach with the town's municipal veterans representative; Dippolino agreed to contact that office. Councilor Gail Budrejko disclosed that her brother's family is a Gold Star family, having lost a son in action a decade earlier, and voiced full support while urging the council, in a future budget cycle, to offset any revenue loss through expense reductions rather than other tax increases.

Procedural steps and outcome: The resolution passed on a roll call, 8-0, with Mayor Jon Trister absent.

Implications and what is next: The exemptions apply beginning with bills based on the October 1, 2026 Grand List, meaning affected veterans and survivors will see the change reflected in the 2027-2028 tax year. The assessor's office plans an outreach campaign including a video, informational sessions, and coordination with veterans' service organizations.

Resignations and Appointments; Tax Refunds; Minutes

The council approved, without recorded objection, the reappointment of William McCarthy to the Central Connecticut Health District Board of Health for a three-year term. It then approved $8,549.93 in property tax refunds to 21 individuals and businesses, on a motion by Councilor Gail Budrejko, passing 8-0 with Mayor Trister absent. The council approved the minutes of the July 28, 2026 special and regular meetings as amended, after Deputy Mayor Kim Radda noted she had been absent from those meetings, and after a correction to the spelling of Councilor Nancy Cappello's name in the draft minutes.

Brownfield Grant for Redevelopment of 450 New Britain Avenue

Background and stakes: The former Esquire Cleaners site at 450 New Britain Avenue has sat contaminated and vacant for years. The state's Department of Economic and Community Development opened a new Municipal Brownfield Grant Program round (24RG) in July 2026, with a statewide funding pool up to $25 million and per-project awards between $200,000 and $6 million.

The question before the body: Whether the council supports partnering with developer Tony Margiotta on a grant application, with the town acting as pass-through applicant.

Substantive content: Margiotta, a licensed professional engineer who owns the adjacent property housing Giovanni's Bakery, proposed remediating the site and converting it to roughly 20 shared parking spaces, EV charging stations and secure bike parking, plus a permanent public easement connecting to a planned town gazebo and "parklet" behind Fire Station 5. He said contamination — vinyl chloride dating to 1970s dry-cleaning operations — extends roughly 14 feet deep and will be addressed through chemical injection and soil mixing rather than full excavation. The project is intended to dovetail with a state-funded New Britain Avenue/Elm Hill streetscape project slated for 2027, which will add sidewalks, lighting and safer crossings. DECD will require Margiotta to post a completion guarantee or mortgage lien and sign a 10-year negative pledge barring sale, lease or transfer of the property. Margiotta does not currently own 450 New Britain Avenue; he said he would acquire it contingent on grant approval, and emphasized he has "no connection with any of the contamination."

The deliberation: Councilor Matthew Plourd called the presentation "excellent" and asked whether parking would be open to all roughly 30 nearby businesses, not just Margiotta's. Margiotta confirmed, saying the goal is a "walkable zone" similar to downtown Newington. Councilor A.J. Tiniakos asked whether other business owners, including Elm Hill Pizza and Public Market, had been consulted; Margiotta said coordination was underway and "everyone's super excited." Councilor Gail Budrejko asked what financial risk the town would bear if Margiotta abandoned the project; Town Manager Jonathan Altshul said the completion guarantee, mortgage lien and negative pledge are designed to prevent exactly that outcome. Councilor Kathy Gonzalez pressed on the September 9 application deadline against the council's September 8 meeting date; Altshul said staff and grant writer Sonny Richmond are prepared to deliver a resolution in time.

Procedural steps and outcome: No formal vote was taken. The council indicated general support; Altshul's memo states a resolution authorizing the grant application will be brought to the September 8, 2026 meeting.

Implications and what is next: The DECD application is due by noon September 9, 2026. Margiotta estimated the grant request will be "north of seven figures." If awarded, construction is targeted for summer 2027 to align with the New Britain Avenue streetscape project.

BOE Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) Job Description

Background and stakes: The Board of Education reports rising behavioral intervention needs, including a recent influx of students with significant needs that required opening an additional self-contained classroom at John Paterson school. The district currently employs four Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), each covering multiple buildings.

The question before the body: Whether to approve a new Administrative Grade A-5 job classification for a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, enabling the district to post and fill the position.

Substantive content: Taliesha Foy, Director of Talent Management for Newington Public Schools, presented alongside CFO Lynn Boisvert and Alexandra Heslin, Assistant Director of Special Education. The district has 703 students identified with specialized or additional needs. A BCaBA requires a bachelor's degree, university ABA coursework and 1,000 to 1,300 supervised fieldwork hours, versus a 40-hour course for a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and a master's degree for a BCBA. The position would carry out functional behavior assessments, coach teachers and paraprofessionals, and supervise RBTs under a BCBA's overarching oversight, but could not practice fully independently. The posted salary range is $60,000 to $62,500, with total cost including benefits of roughly $88,720 — fully offset, Boisvert said, by savings from recent staff turnover at lower starting salaries. Out-of-district placement for a student who cannot be served in-house costs approximately $225,000 annually including transportation; Heslin said need has grown five to seven percent over five years, driven more by intensity of need than raw headcount.

The deliberation: Councilor Kelly deHaas questioned whether the new role risked duplicating BCBA duties at lower pay; Foy and Heslin responded that supervision requirements, flagged in red text on the job description, distinguish the roles. Councilor A.J. Tiniakos asked whether the position was a trial; Foy confirmed it is an initial pilot, likely to be assigned across two to three schools rather than district-wide. Councilor Matthew Plourd asked whether other districts were adopting similar roles and whether the position could help return outplaced students to in-district programs; Heslin said that is the goal. Councilor Gail Budrejko questioned how the position's supervisory structure would be organized and whether next year's budget would need to absorb the cost without the one-time realized savings; Boisvert said the district would need to find additional savings or grants.

"[We're] trying to be responsible." — Councilor Matthew Plourd, summarizing the district's approach

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken on the job description at this meeting; the discussion served as the formal presentation ahead of future council action on the classification.

Implications and what is next: Town Manager Jonathan Altshul confirmed that while the council must approve the administrative pay classification and job description, the Board of Education retains hiring authority. The district intends to post and fill the position for the current school year if the classification is approved.

Appointment of Acting Town Manager

Background and stakes: Town Manager Jonathan Altshul is departing; Tuesday's meeting was described repeatedly as likely his last with the council. Assistant Town Manager Lauren Rhines was proposed to serve as acting town manager under Charter Section C-504.B.

The question before the body: Whether to waive council rules to act same-night on the appointment, and then whether to approve the appointment itself.

Substantive content: The resolution sets Rhines' acting appointment effective September 3, 2026, for up to 90 days. It authorizes Rhines to sign documents as the town manager, continues her existing benefits adjusted to the acting manager's budgeted salary, provides unrestricted use of a town vehicle, and extends liability and errors-and-omissions insurance coverage. It also guarantees Rhines the right to return to the Assistant Town Manager position at the end of the term, except in a for-cause removal requiring six affirmative council votes.

The deliberation: Resident Rose Lyons, speaking during public comment on the rules waiver, told outgoing Town Manager Altshul, "I had higher hopes... but good luck to you," reflecting on his departure. No council member raised objections to either resolution.

Procedural steps and outcome: The council first voted 8-0 to waive its rules allowing same-night action, then voted 8-0 on a roll call to approve Rhines' appointment as acting town manager, both with Mayor Trister absent.

Implications and what is next: Rhines assumes the acting role September 3, 2026, for a term capped at 90 days. The council separately moved into executive session the same evening to discuss succession planning for the permanent Town Manager position under CGS § 1-200(6)(A).

Communications, Council Reports and Executive Session

Altshul used his final communications report to note progress on long-pending issues, including reduced illegal parking on Maple Hill Avenue, a planned early-September public meeting on Cedar Street sidewalk design options, and renewed contact with DECD on a $2 million town center study bond award. He also said the police union was expected to vote imminently on a new collective bargaining agreement, prompting a planned special council meeting the following Tuesday for ratification. Councilor Matthew Plourd reported on new business openings and blight remediation around town. The council then voted 7-0 to enter executive session under CGS § 1-200(6)(A) to discuss succession planning for the Town Manager position; the session concluded with a motion to adjourn.

WHO WAS THERE

Deputy Mayor Kim Radda — presided over the meeting in Mayor Trister's absence; chair, Facilities Naming Subcommittee. Majority Leader Matthew Plourd — present, voted; member, Facilities Naming Subcommittee. Minority Leader Gail Budrejko — present, voted. Member Nancy Cappello — present, voted; member, Facilities Naming Subcommittee. Member Kelly deHaas — present, voted. Member Kathy Gonzalez — present, voted. Member Hilda Nieves — present, voted. Member A.J. Tiniakos — present, voted. Mayor Jon Trister — absent for the full meeting. BOE Liaison Timothy Newton — not confirmed present in the roll calls reviewed. Town Manager Jonathan Altshul — present; delivered communications report, described as his final meeting. Assistant Town Manager Lauren Rhines — present; appointed acting town manager effective September 3. Town Assessor Danielle Dippolino — present for veterans' exemption item. Lynn Boisvert, CFO, Newington Board of Education — presented BCaBA item. Taliesha Foy, Director of Talent Management, Newington Public Schools — presented BCaBA item. Alexandra Heslin, Assistant Director of Special Education — presented BCaBA item. Melinda Harvey, Executive Director, Newington Housing Authority — presented 40 Mill Street Extension proposal. Tony (Antonio) Margiotta, PE — developer, presented 450 New Britain Avenue brownfield proposal; neighboring property owner. Public commenters: Rose Lyons (46 Elton Drive); Wayne Alexander (28 Burden Lane); Gary Bowles (28 Burden Lane); Jacob Knowlton (10 Hillside Street); Don Woods (82 Ivy Lane, former chair, Parks and Recreation Board); Jeff Seldick (55 Wells Drive North); Justin Beecreft (17 Wells Drive); one unidentified Wells Drive-area speaker opposed to the housing proposal.

ORGANIZATIONS AND DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Newington Housing Authority — proposed the 40 Mill Street Extension senior/disabled housing project. Connecticut Department of Housing (SHARE program) — state funding source offering full construction funding for the Mill Street project, contingent on town approvals. Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) — administers the Round 24RG Municipal Brownfield Grant Program invoked in the 450 New Britain Avenue item. Newington Parks and Recreation Board/Department — requested the DeMaio gymnasium naming. Newington Board of Education — requested the new BCaBA position. Central Connecticut Health District — body to which William McCarthy was reappointed. Public Act No. 25-168 — state law authorizing the local-option veterans' tax exemptions adopted Tuesday. C.G.S. §§ 12-81(20), 12-81(83), 12-81ii — statutes cited in the veterans' exemption resolution. Town Charter § C-504.B — cited as authority for the acting town manager appointment. CGS § 1-200(6)(A) — cited as authority for the personnel-related executive session. Town Council Rules of Procedure (adopted July 28, 2026), § 11 — cited in the motion waiving rules to act on the acting town manager item same night.