As you are aware the State Department of Transportation (DOT) has started the excavation for the new parking lot entryway at Rt 218 and Columbia Road. Progress has been stalled since all the utility wires have not been relocated onto the new poles; therefore, the old pole in the middle of the new entryway has not been removed. The potential delay of receiving the span poles holding the traffic signals has apparently resolved.

The signal subcontractor plans on diverting materials to this project from another job. Town Engineer, Tom Lenehan, continues to following up with the DOT regarding the project schedule. The DOT is very much aware of the high interest from the Town of Windsor in having this project come to fruition.

There’s certainly a lot to do in Windsor this coming weekend as our community plays host to a variety of activities and events.

The Annual Paul Cody Memorial Columbus Day Soccer Tournament will once again host over 100 youth soccer teams from throughout the state and region. You can catch exciting soccer action at a number of sites around town including Northwest Park, L.P. Wilson, and Windsor High School. Games will be on-going from Saturday morning, October 9^th until Monday afternoon, October 11^th.

Add a little "spice to your life" at the Windsor Chili Challenge, which will heat up the town green on Saturday October 9^th from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Plenty of chili, entertainment and fun are in store at this annual fall event. In addition to delicious chili the Windsor Lions Club Arts & Crafts Show will be featured on the green, providing more family fun.

Windsor’s Leaf Collection Program begins Monday, October 25^th and ends on December 24. Windsor Sanitation will pick up your leaves during this period on the same day as the trash pick-up on your street, whether or not you are a Windsor Sanitation customer. Just place them at your curb for collection in 30 to 40 gallon paper leaf bags, not plastic. If you choose to self-haul your leaves to the landfill, there is no charge during this period for clean loads of leaves (no plastic bags or other contaminates). The landfill is open Monday through Saturday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is located at 500 Huckleberry Road in Windsor. 285-1833.

You may have recently seen an article in the Hartford Courant concerning streetlight billing. Beginning in 2002, the Town has ordered audits of the CL&P owned streetlights in order to determine if the billing records and number of streetlights were correct. A review of the audits found that a small number of streetlights were not being billed, as well as a few that should not have been billed. This finding resulted in no change in the actual amount being billed to the Town by CL&P.

The State Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) was contacted recently to determine its progress on the continuing investigation of CL&P streetlight rates and asset values. We were told by the DPUC that a key but complex report from CL&P is now expected in about 2 weeks. That report had been expected to be already completed. The DPUC anticipates that hearings on this matter will begin in March 2005. The DPUC's decisions on future streetlight rates and the value of CL&P's streetlight assets are important to the Town in its consideration as to whether it should purchase the CL&P streetlights or not.

Late last week and again Sunday night into this morning the odors at the landfill were extremely bad. The cause of the intense methane odors was two separate breaks (faulty fitting) in the collection system. The break in the system negatively impacted the system's vacuum, which in turn significantly reduced the amount of area from which to draw or collect the methane.

Having a break in the collection system is not uncommon. Changes in air temperature along with landfill settling creates the potential that either a flange, fitting or section of pipe may come apart. Crews have fixed the faulty fitting and restarted the system.

Town staff members Brian Funk and Mark Goossens, along with Mr. Greg McCharen of SCS will provide a report on the system, actions we are currently taking and next steps. SCS is the firm that designed, installed and services the collection system.

Constructing a complete collection system at this time is not feasible since we are still an operating landfill, therefore the challenge exists to capture or collect the gas that is being produced. Gas that escapes the current system's collection area will find the path of least resistance and escape. We believe that is what caused a number of earlier odor complaints over the course the past few weeks. To address that issue the landfill crew completed the installation of a horizontal collector (approximately 200' long) within the wedge area containing bulky waste. Initial performance of this collector has produced a good amount of methane. Another horizontal collector is being installed this week in an area where methane is escaping the surface.

Staff is continuing to monitor the landfill seven days a week to make sure the flame is burning the collected gas and in an attempt to identify other areas that are producing methane or where methane is escaping. As those areas are discovered we will install additional horizontal collectors to capture the gas.

On a slightly different note. As you know the final closure plans anticipate the installation of a methane collection system for a large part if not the entire landfill. Such a system requires Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) review and approval prior to construction. At the request/recommendation of staff I have authorized the initiation of a Gas Collection Master Plan. This plan will set the stage for DEP review and permitting. We are expediting the original timeframe so that discussions with DEP may be initiated early this winter. Once DEP permits are approved (could be upwards to 6+ months) we would be in a position to begin building the final collection system in phases.