Keith Yagaloff - East Windsor Selectman

Keith Yagaloff - East Windsor Selectman Dedicated to transparency. Your opinion matters.

10/27/2025

BUILDING A BETTER EAST WINDSOR TOGETHER
Check out my latest video where I share how we’re bringing civility and inclusivity to our town government. It’s not about parties - it’s about people. Watch now and let’s make a difference together!

10/24/2025

𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘, 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘. The sale of surplus town property should be open to all - no favorites, no shortcuts. Here’s my take on the recent Board of Selectmen vote and the public‑facing process we need.

10/17/2025

East Windsor is being overrun by hedge-fund-backed industrial solar - sold as green energy, but delivering massive profits at our expense.

In this short video, I share what we’ve learned firsthand: how projects like Gravel Pit Solar and Saltbox Solar damage farmland, drain local power, and sideline our residents from decisions that reshape our town.

The Siting Council approves these projects with little transparency, while towns are left without tools—or plans—to protect themselves. If your community doesn’t act early, these companies will take root, spread, and never leave.

Watch to understand what’s really going on with “clean energy” in Connecticut, and what your town needs to do before it’s too late.

05/30/2025

Fix the Budget. The Board of Finance Must Act Now. There Is Still Time.

Many voters have asked for a $500,000 cut to the debt service line item, money that is not needed for that purpose. Over the last two years, the Board of Finance has transferred over $650,000 out of the debt service account. This is money that was never used for debt payments.

Here's the proof (see table below). These funds were quietly moved for other purposes without any public vote. That means: The Board of Finance has been using the debt service line item as a slush fund.

Let’s be clear: this is not money set aside for employee retirement or post-separation benefits. According to the Town’s own financial documents, including those provided by the Treasurer, these funds were not used for that purpose.

The Accounting Truth
Under GASB accounting standards (GASB 16 and GASB 75), towns are not required to budget for long-term liabilities like compensated absences in the current year unless the payment is due. That’s why most Connecticut towns do not budget for compensated absences expenses in advance. It is disclosed in audits as long term debt and paid from fund balance when needed.

But here in East Windsor, the Board of Selectman and the Board of Finance padded the budget by more than $500,000, called it “debt service,” and then moved the money at will.

Legal Fees Are Also Out of Control
At the same time, East Windsor is paying double the going rate for town attorneys. Members of the public have urged the Board to seek legal counsel at market rates, like every other fiscally responsible town does. This one change alone could cut the legal line item in half.

What Could Be Cut Right Now:
1. The remaining $405,000 from debt service.
2. $145,000 from overpriced legal fees
This reduction of $550,000 would bring the budget increase down from 4.77% to 3.56% and would have ZERO impact on the schools or on town services.

If They Don’t…
If this third referendum fails on June 10, the budget automatically defaults to last year’s spending plus 2%, under Section 8-5(B)(4) of the Town Charter.

That means:
No fiscal reform.
The Town side keeps its bloated allocations.
The Board of Education could be forced to cut staff.

It would be irresponsible for the Board of Finance to send voters a flawed budget and then blame the voters for rejecting it.

Yes, They Can Still Fix This – Here’s How:

According to the Town Charter (Section 8-5), the Board of Finance can reopen their vote and adopt a new budget version—but only if they act immediately.

Pathway to Action:
1. Call a special meeting immediately (must be noticed 24 hours in advance per FOIA).
2. Reopen the previous motion and adopt a revised budget with cuts to debt service and legal.
3. Submit the revised budget to the Town Clerk before ballots are printed.
4. Proceed with the June 10 vote as scheduled—with an honest and defensible budget.

This is not about partisanship. It’s about math.
It’s about telling the truth to taxpayers, showing fiscal restraint, and protecting our schools.

There is time. There is a path.
Now we need courage from the Board of Finance.

Transfer # Date From To Amount
28 2023-03-15 Debt Service Social Services $40,000.00
33 2023-04-19 Debt Service Radio System $15,000.00
34 2023-04-19 Debt Service Collection (Trash) $65,000.00
35 2023-04-19 Debt Service Single Stream Recycling $20,000.00
39 2023-05-17 Debt Service General Assistance $10,000.00
40 2023-05-17 Debt Service CIP Playground $165,000.00
23 2024-03-20 Debt Service Legal Town Council $150,000.00
24 2024-03-20 Debt Service Single Stream Recycling $20,000.00
25 2024-03-20 Debt Service Collection $20,000.00
26 2024-03-20 Debt Service Disposal $10,000.00
27 2024-03-20 Debt Service Probate $2,000.00
28 2024-03-20 Debt Service Full-Time Salary $2,000.00
29 2024-03-20 Debt Service Full-Time Salary $1,500.00
30 2024-03-20 Debt Service Renegotiation $1,150.00
31 2024-03-20 Debt Service Food (Community Resource Team) $5,000.00
38 2024-06-18 Debt Service Site Improvements $8,000.00
27 2025-03-19 Debt Service Town Attorney $75,000.00
28 2025-03-19 Debt Service Labor Law (Labor Attorney) $25,000.00
Total $634,650.00

05/28/2025

Referendum results from the Town Clerk.

490 YES
601 No

Next referendum vote is on June 10th.

Board of Finance Public Hearing tonight, May 28th, at 7pm.

05/17/2025

My impression of the Siting Council's decision on the Gravel Pit Solar motion to reopen.

05/14/2025

Recommendations to the Board of Finance Following Failed Budget Referendum

Earlier this month, I posted a public video reviewing the proposed town budget. In that video, I deliberately refrained from recommending a “yes” or “no” vote on the referendum.

As a Selectman, I felt it was important not to unfairly put my
foot on the scale during an active public process. While I did participate fully in the Board of Selectmen’s budget deliberations, and voiced concerns during those meetings, I intentionally chose not to participate in the Board of Finance’s discussions, out of respect for their independent role and to preserve the integrity of the process.

Now that the budget referendum has failed, it is appropriate to share my position and offer specific recommendations for how the Board of Finance should revise the town budget before it is presented to voters again.

My Recommendations:

1. Immediately Remove the $500,000 Padding in the Debt Service Line Item
The current budget includes a $500,000 overstatement in the debt service line item, money that is not required for any current debt obligations. This excess was included as a placeholder for potential future borrowing, but in practice, it serves only one purpose: to allow future transfers for unapproved projects during the year for without public approval.

This is a clear circumvention of the Town Charter’s intent that large expenditures be subject to voter oversight. The first and most obvious change the Board of Finance should make is to remove this $500,000 from the town operating budget.

2. Address Dependence on Non-Recurring Revenues
The current town budget relies heavily on non-recurring or speculative revenue projections, including:
$1 million in Pequot grant revenue, and
Aggressive adjustments to revenue from interest on investments and other sources.
While these sources may materialize this year, they are not reliable or sustainable funding streams for future years. The budget should be revised to reduce its dependence on these volatile sources and avoid creating a deficit next year.

3. Apply Pressure for Efficiency in Town Department Spending
The town budget, as currently drafted, reflects minimal effort to identify efficiencies or cost-saving measures. There is very little internal pressure being applied in certain town departments to reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, or seek alternative methods of delivering services.

As such, I recommend a 1% across-the-board reduction to the town-side budget, in addition to the $500,000 reduction in the debt service line item. This would send a message that efficiency matters and that town departments must play a role in meeting our community’s fiscal realities.

4. Do Not Cut the Board of Education Budget
In contrast, the Board of Education has submitted a responsible and necessary budget. They are navigating significant challenges, including the expiration of federal pandemic-era funding, while continuing to fulfill their core mission: to provide a high-quality education to all students in East Windsor.

They have worked closely with the Superintendent and school staff to adjust to these changes, and they have done so with transparency and accountability. I urge the Board of Finance to make no further reductions to the Board of Education budget.

These recommendations are the result of my full participation in the town’s budget process—both at the Selectmen’s table and through a detailed review of the town and school budgets. They reflect my best judgment on how we can move forward responsibly, with transparency, and in alignment with the values of good fiscal governance.

The failed referendum provides an opportunity, not just to trim numbers, but to rebuild public trust in how we plan, budget, and spend.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the budget process so far. I remain committed to helping us move forward in a way that respects both the taxpayers and the needs of the community.

Keith Yagaloff
Selectman, Town of East Windsor

I've filed a supplemental objection with the Siting Council. The expansion in Docket 492 involves distinct parcels with...
05/06/2025

I've filed a supplemental objection with the Siting Council. The expansion in Docket 492 involves distinct parcels with new environmental, residential, and zoning implications. These are not minor changes. They materially alter the scale, location, and impact of the project.

The public has not had notice or opportunity to weigh in on the new parcels. Nor have the environmental impacts been properly scoped under the Council’s standards. The Siting Council has a duty to ensure fairness and process integrity.

What does love for East Windsor look like?It looks like Nicole Paradise.It looks like Mystica Flint and Donnie Rabida—Br...
05/05/2025

What does love for East Windsor look like?
It looks like Nicole Paradise.
It looks like Mystica Flint and Donnie Rabida—Broad Brook farmers sacrificing their time and energy to protect our town from the relentless spread of industrial solar.

This solar infestation has already devoured 700 acres on Plantation Road. Now it’s coming for Windsorville. With over 1,500 acres already approved, we’re looking at more than 150 megawatts—that’s 500,000 solar panels.

And it’s not stopping there.

The next project, Saltbox Solar, would consume even more of Windsorville and Broad Brook—another 150 megawatts of destruction under the guise of clean energy.

Stand with Nicole, Mystica and Donnie. Sign this petition to the Siting Council opposing this industrial solar plague.
Let’s show them the same love and dedication they’ve shown to all of us.

https://www.change.org/p/east-windsor-petition-against-the-reopening-and-expansion-of-gravel-pit-solar-docket-492?recruiter=1341996454&recruited_by_id=717663e0-3288-11ef-bf39-5182c4429488&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=fht-490556366-en-us%3A0&sfnsn=mo

Update - Gravel Pit Solar Expansion
05/04/2025

Update - Gravel Pit Solar Expansion

Community Call to Action – Let’s Stand Together on Industrial Solar Expansion At last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting...
05/02/2025

Community Call to Action – Let’s Stand Together on Industrial Solar Expansion

At last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, following a gathering of more than 100 residents in front of the Town Hall, we discussed a critical issue facing our town: the aggressive push for massive industrial solar developments, including the recent Gravel Pit Solar expansion application to the Siting Council, and the soon-to-be-filed Saltbox Solar Project, which could bring over 150 megawatts of industrial solar to Windsorville and the Broad Brook area.

We’re talking about several hundred thousand solar panels covering several hundred acres of farmland and woodland - right in the heart of our community. The total industrial solar footprint in East Windsor could soon exceed 1500 acres.

These developments will have real and lasting impacts on land use, wildlife, scenic roads, local agriculture, and quality of life.

To respond, I’ve proposed an Ordinance to Establish a Solar Development Advisory Commission. This Commission would:

- Recommend local ordinances, zoning changes, and scenic/historic protections
- Serve as a central hub to gather and distribute information on industrial solar projects
- Act as a bridge between residents and local government to amplify your concerns

I want your input before we move forward.

This goal is to give East Windsor a stronger voice and new tools to protect our community from unchecked industrial sprawl where there are now farms and woods.

I’m posting the full draft ordinance below for your review.

Please comment, message me, or email with your feedback and ideas.

Let’s build something local, lawful, and loud enough to be heard in Hartford and by the solar developers.

Together, we can push for smart, sustainable planning that puts our town’s values and vision first.

Address

East Windsor, CT
06016

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