A Forum on Community Inclusion for Windsor Citizens with Disabilities will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 7:00 PM at Sage Park Middle School. The public is invited to attend this forum, which is being sponsored by the Human Relations Commission and the Commission on Aging and Handicapped.

The program will begin with a discussion among the panelists who vary in age and types of disabilities, followed by group discussions. At the conclusion of the evening group members will consider an action plan to create a more inclusive community.

Dial-a-Ride is available by calling 285-1992 no later than Monday, May 23^rd, and a sign language interpreter will be present, if requested. For any other accommodations, please let us know by calling 285-0803.

The Town of Windsor Public Celebrations Committee has announced the following plans for ceremonies to be held on Monday, May 30, 2005. A ceremony will be held at the Elm Grove Cemetery located in on Poquonock Avenue beginning at 8:00 am followed by a ceremony at Veteran’s Cemetery at 9:00 am. At the completion of the ceremony at Veteran’s Cemetery, the Memorial Day Parade will proceed to Town Hall for the Parade Marshall’s address. The parade usually arrives in the center of town between 9:45 – 10:00am.

This year’s Parade Marshall is Officer Steven Vesco and his partner, K-9 Officer Jag. Vesco served as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps from 1990 – 1994. He completed three tours of duty in Southwest Asia, served in the Gulf War – Operation Desert Shield & Storm as well as in Somalia in Operation Restore Hope. His duties included Infantry Point Man and Fire Team Leader.

Any groups, including scout troops or youth sport teams wishing to march in the parade should meet at the corner of East and Pleasant Street between 8:30 – 8:45am to assemble.

In case of rain, there will be one single ceremony in the Town Hall Council Chambers at 10:00am. For more information, call 285-1835.

In Connecticut, the month of June is the time to license your dog. All dogs six months of age or older must be licensed each year. Registration can be done in person at the Town Clerk’s Office or through the mail. Fees for a dog license are $8.00 for a spayed or neutered dog, or $19.00 for a dog that has not been spayed or neutered. If you are registering by mail, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope with payment.

All those purchasing a license need to provide a valid rabies certificate and a certificate stating that your dog has been spayed or neutered.

The "Just for Fun Dog Show" will be held on Thursday, June 23^rd on the Town Green. Registration begins at 5:30 PM and the judging begins at 6:00 PM.

For more information, call the Town Clerk’s Office at 285-1902.

A rabies vaccination clinic sponsored by the Town of Windsor, Bloomfield and West Hartford will be held Saturday, June 4^th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Blue Hills Fire Department located at 1021 Blue Hills Avenue in Bloomfield. The fee is $15.00, cash only. Written proof of prior vaccination for rabies must be presented to qualify for a 3-year certificate. One-year certificates will be given to all others. For everyone’s safety, all dogs need to be leashed and all cats should be in carriers. For more information, call 285-1824.

I’d like to remind residents and motorists that a parking ban will be in effect in several areas of the center of town this Saturday, May 21^st for the annual Shad Derby Festival and parade. Activities on the town green are scheduled from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and the Shad Derby parade will leave the Windsor High School at 12:30 arriving in the center of town at approximately 1:00 PM.

During the last week the Town Assessor and I have been made aware of a proposed bill (Senate Bill 222) that would exempt golf courses from paying property tax on improvements to the course. If adopted and signed in to law, in effect privately owned golf courses open to the public would be assessed the same as raw land.

In Windsor we would stand to lose approximately $26,000 in annual property tax revenue and the tax burden on residential owners would increase if the proposed bill were to be adopted. Staff will continue to work with CCM and the State Assessor’s Association to lobby against this bill due to its negative impacts on the town’s revenue stream.

There are a number of landfill and solid waste issues that face the Council in the coming months as we continue to plan for the eventual closing of the landfill in December 2007. Topics range from reviewing the existing policy on accepting construction and demolition materials, closure planning, to long term trash collection and disposal options.

Based on Council comments during the last month or so might I suggest that the first topic to be discussed is review of the existing policy concerning acceptance of construction and demolition material containing gypsum. Perhaps an approach would be to have the topic assigned to committee for review and report to the Council. Alternatively a "Committee of the Whole" format could be used where the entire Council could review and discuss the issue prior to deciding a course of action at a regular Council meeting.