Earth Day is Friday, April 22^nd and various town departments and organizations are coordinating a clean-up effort. Organizers are seeking partners such as businesses or organizations to participate.

The project involves a two-hour commitment picking up debris in designated areas throughout town. There are two shifts available: 10:00 AM to noon, or 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Volunteers will be provided with bags and gloves. The collected bags of debris will be picked up from each area.

If you are interested in participating, or would like more detailed information, call Cyd Groff at 285-1987.

A Guide to Tax Reductions and Benefits Available to Qualified Windsor Residents is available at various town facilities and on the town’s website. This pamphlet describes a variety of exemptions and benefits available for individuals meeting the income and/or age guidelines as determined by State regulations. Examples of those who may qualify are veterans, senior citizens, the disabled, including those who may be serving active duty in the Armed Forces, legally blind individuals, and individuals currently receiving a disability pension from the Social Security Administration.

The pamphlet is available at the Windsor Town Hall, Senior Center, Wilson Branch Library, and the Community Center at 330 Windsor Avenue or at the Main Library’s temporary location at 139 Broad Street. The publication in its entirety is also available on the town’s website at http://www.townofwindsorct.com/assessor/taxredben.htm Residents may also request to have a copy mailed to their home by calling the Assessor’s Office at 285-1816.

As a result of a past Department of Public Utility Control ruling, Connecticut Light and Power was required to review their billing records regarding municipal streetlights for a period dating back to 1986. The town has been working with CL&P representatives for a number of months on this topic and was recently informed by CL&P that we are entitled to a refund of approximately $58,500. I have requested CL&P to provide payment for the known over-billing amount. In addition, there are approximately 70 streetlight locations, which CL&P reports to have insufficient data at this time to make a final determination regarding billing amounts. We will continue to work on the 70 outstanding locations to recover any overpayments due the town.

The Windsor Police Department, led by the Detective Division, had a remarkable year for solving crime in 2004. The department solved 100% of all robberies, (15 total), 90% of all forcible rapes, (6 total), and over 30% of all burglaries, (68 burglaries). Additionally the department recovered almost 60% of the total value of all property stolen in 2004.

The department’s "clearance" numbers compare very favorably to the most recent national crime statistics released by the FBI, (Crime in the United States 2003). The overall national clearance rates are 26.3% for robberies, 44% for forcible rape, and 13.1% for burglaries. Nationally, police agencies recovered a value of 34.2% of all property stolen.

The Town of Windsor is fortunate to have such a dedicated and skilled police force. Their efforts have resulted in both these impressive clearance rates and a healthy, safe community.

Councilmember Simon requested at the last Town Council meeting some information regarding the impact of extending the ban on accepting gypsum at the landfill would have on closure date of December 2007, the approved landform, and potential revenue.

The ban on gypsum has and will continue to impact the amount of construction and demolition disposed at the landfill. The bulky waste cells would need to remain open until approximately December 2011 to fill to the approved landform.

If we stop accepting bulky and C&D materials in December 2007 at the same time we stop accepting municipal solid waste the approved landform would need to be altered in the southeast portion of the landfill, near the remaining tobacco barn. This area would be graded to a 4 % slope, which is the minimum grade per federal and state regulations.

If the ban on gypsum is maintained and bulky waste is not accepted past December 2007 it is estimated that $2.2M in C&D revenue will not be realized.