WINDSOR-—Although the Windsor Town Council had voted to have an outside consultant present a salary and benefit study for town employees, council members turned down the proposal at their meeting last week.

Town Manager Kurt Falkenstein, said several members thought the $7,500 needed to conduct the survey was to expensive.

The cost, however, was comparable with other companies providing the same services, he added.

Falkenstein was asked, however, to continue looking for a firm, but at a lesser cost, to do a survey.

In the meantime, council will conduct its own study with the aid of the Institute of Government, an agency the town had joined previously.

Falkenstein said the IOG would provide a software program with salary information from similar small towns.

Some council members felt this comparison should be looked at before engaging an outside consulting firm.

The decision came after a lengthy discussion.

Some members felt money the town would pay a consultant could be better spent on employees’ salaries.

In the end, the study, which was to have been done by the consulting firm, Springsted, was voted down.

Council had held a closed session following last month’s meeting to discuss personnel issues, including a three percent cost-of-living raise for employees, said Falkenstein.

The vote at this meeting was to have a study done of personnel salaries and benefits in surrounding towns in order for Windsor to offer comparable salaries.

Springsted presented the proposal to do the study at a called meeting of council prior to last week’s regular meeting.

In another matter,

Falkenstein proposed meeting with Frank Spadea of Napalatona Homes to discuss workforce affordable housing and how it could be incorporated into new developments in the town, including ways to develop the White property adjacent to Twin Ponds Mobile Home Park. The meeting will be held July 28.