Ellington Leaders Back Referendum, Weigh Finance Shakeup

ELLINGTON, CT — Ellington leaders are sending the town budget to referendum and weighing a possible finance shakeup that could affect both Town Hall and schools.

Those were among the biggest takeaways from Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, which also included a public push to restore the Pinney House and several routine votes on town business.

Budget To Go To Referendum

The board agreed to use the referendum option as the proposed 2026-27 budget moves ahead.

“I’m in favor of a referendum vote,” First Selectman Laurie Burstein said. “I think it’s no question. It has to go to referendum.”

Town Administrator Matthew Reed said the move will let the legal notice go out before the final budget amount is inserted following the public hearing and Board of Finance deliberations.

Finance Transition Takes Shape

Reed also told selectmen that the town’s finance officer will leave the full-time role May 1, but has agreed to stay on part-time during the transition.

“She has agreed to stay on in a consulting capacity and to commit to us at least 15 hours a week after the first of May,” Reed said.

At the same time, Reed said the town may have a rare opening to rethink how finance operations are structured because a finance leadership position tied to the Board of Education is also turning over.

“We have both finance officer positions are now open,” Reed said.

He said the town could explore a shared-services setup with one finance director overseeing both town and school finances, while daily school operations would remain with the school system.

“I don’t think we’ll see significant change in the day to day operations,” Reed said. “But I think from a financial and governance standpoint, we’ll see a significant change.”

Selectwoman Mary Cardin said she wants the idea brought back with more detail.

“I really like the shared service concept,” Cardin said. “Would you bring that back to this board next meeting with what your proposal is?”

Pinney House Supporters Make Their Case

Another major item was an update from supporters of the Pinney House, who said they are trying to save and restore the historic building through grants and outside support.

“We’re not coming to the town looking for money, just the endorsement in support of the town where possible,” Warren McGrath told the board.

Megan Johnson, speaking for the Friends of the Pinney House, said the group sees the home as a major part of Ellington’s history and wants it included in local America 250 efforts.

“The house symbolizes Ellington’s deep rooted connection to the American Revolution,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the group hopes the building can eventually serve the public again.

“There’s not a lot of meeting space here,” she said. “So it would act as that. You could have a book club there.”

Trails Committee Reestablished

The board also voted to reestablish the ad hoc Ellington Trails Committee through April 2027.

Before that vote, a resident warned that access problems are getting worse because some trail sections cross private property and written permission is lacking.

“The trails are getting harder and harder to deal with because parts of them are not owned by the town,” the Ellington resident said. He later added, “The situation’s getting worse than better.”

Burstein praised the group before the vote.

“It’s always been incredibly impressive, like the work you guys do with the trails,” Burstein said. “You’re a hard-working, highly motivated group.”

Other Votes

The board also approved Oakridge Dairy Farm Day, the Crystal Lake Sailing Club’s 2026 race series, a small opioid settlement-funded promotional purchase for the summer concert series, and the Webster Road culvert lining project.

Thomas Modzelewski, the town’s public works director, said the culvert project has been in the works for years.

“We’ve been saving annually through the capital budgeting process, and we have enough money to cover this expenditure,” Modzelewski said.

He said the low bid came in where the town expected.

“We’re very comfortable with the $188,000, which is right around what we were expecting to spend,” Modzelewski said.