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- Emergency Services
7135b8b2-91db-4e20-a3a9-d0c9a549117b Emergency Services Windsor Police Department Kip Buoymaster (Police Chief) , term expires 2025 Jordan Koch (Officer) , term expires 2027 911 (Emergencies) 413-684-0037 (Office, leave a message) Police Dispatch: 413-684-0300 (Not for Emergencies) kbuoymaster@windsormass.com Police Hours Monday 6-8pm Town Offices To schedule an appointment, call the office and leave a message. Windsor Fire Department Jamie Hyatt (Chief) Emergencies: 911 (for fire reports) Fire Station: 413-684-3236 (not for fire reports) Fire Dispatch: 413-684-0300 (not for fire reports) Windsor Fire Department 2025 Route 9, Windsor, MA 01270 firechief@windsormass.com Emergency Manager Trinity Koch TKoch@windsormass.com Police and Fire Chief hired by Select Board. Other fire fighters are volunteers appointed by Fire Chief. Description During times of extreme weather, the Town Hall is an emergency shelter. It is open to the public functioning as a warming hut or cooling station. The emergency manager is responsible for planning and coordinating emergency management preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation and works collaboratively with the Fire Chief, Police Chief, Public Health Director and Public Works Director to ensure effective implementation of goals, training and coordination of townwide emergency management planning. Information Sign up for the Code Red emergency alert messages . Related Services Code Red Emergency Services
- Tax Abatement & Exemption Applications
bf39d63c-5997-4a7a-9d85-74ec41eabab5 Tax Abatement & Exemption Applications You must pay 100% of all assessed taxes for which you have not received an abatement or exemption. However, there are a number of ways you can apply to reduce some of those required taxes - which are described here. Windsor Summary for Elderly, Surviving Spouse & Blind Exemption Clauses in Effect for FY 2025 Tax Bill Elderly Exempt Info FY 2025 [pdf] Guides to Real Estate Tax Exemptions General Massachusetts site with forms and guides Application Forms Real and Personal Property Tax Abatement Application (Form 128) Motor Vehicle Excise Form (Form 126-MVE) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) What's the difference between an abatement and an exemption? An exemption is a discharge from the obligation to pay all or part of a real estate tax based on certain age, income, military, or disability status as set forth by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. An abatement happens as a result of an adjustment that lowers a property’s valuation after the actual (not preliminary) tax bill has been issued. Exemptions are available for seniors, low income seniors, surviving spouse or surviving minor child, veterans with disabilities, and blind persons. Are there other ways to reduce my taxes? There is also a tax deferral program available for older citizens. Please contact the Assessors’ office for further information. Does the property record card reflect any exemptions to which I may be entitled? Property tax exemptions are available to qualifying taxpayers according the eligibility requirements determined by state law. Exemption information is not displayed on the property record card. Information on exemptions is available on the town’s web site or in the Assessors’ office. What if I feel the value of my property value is overstated? This is when an owner would file for an abatement. There are three basic reasons for granting an abatement: data error(s), overvaluation, or inequitable assessment. An abatement application is not a complaint about taxes or how much your assessment has increased. It is an attempt to prove that your property’s estimated market value is inaccurate or unfair based on recent sales of comparable properties. Do I have to apply for an abatement every year if I received one in the past? Not necessarily. If a data correction or adjustment has been made that should be permanent, it will carry forward to the next and following years until such time as there is a change in the property and/or a change in the valuation methodology that affects that property. Therefore, it would not be necessary to reapply the following year(s). If, however, a one-time adjustment were granted just for the current year, the assumption is that the adjustment does not carry forward into the next year. If the property owner then feels that the valuation is overstated in the following year, he/she must submit a new application. What if I am not satisfied with the result of the abatement hearing? A property owner may submit an appeal to the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board (ATB). Information for the Appellate Tax Board is available online by searching on www.mass.gov . Related Services Property Taxes Related Boards & Departments Assessor
- Cemetery Commission
4bba3c2b-5d53-4703-bb97-a6e6b0064754 Cemetery Commission Members Gary Boody (Sexton) , term expires 2027 Ben Bederson (Chair) , term expires 2028 John Jones , term expires 2026 For all information regarding plots and burial, please contact Ben Bederson bederson+windsorcemetery@gmail.com Cemetery Commission members are elected at the annual town election for a term of three years. Description The Cemetery Commission manages the town cemeteries, primarily including: Selling plots Overseeing interments Maintaining the cemeteries Maintaining cemetery records Information Cemetery Commission Agendas Cemetery Commission Minutes Related Services Cemetery plots and interments
- Inspections
7864b7de-99fe-4cb1-a4d7-b31b0b3db196 Inspections Inspectors William Girard (Building Inspector) 1890 Route 9, Suite 2, Windsor, MA 01270 Hours: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 5:30-7pm Office: 413-684-3811 ext. 5 Cell: 413-464-4281 buildinginspector@windsormass.com Trevor Clement (Electrical Inspector) 413-822-7098 Rick Degiorgis (Gas/Plumbing Inspector) 413-329-1180 degiorgisrick@gmail.com James Rando (Assistant inspector) Ed Fahey (Health Inspector) inspectors@berkshireplanning.org Fire Inspections You need a certificate of compliance from the local fire department that shows your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms meet the requirements for a sale or transfer. Read here to learn how to prepare your home for a smoke and CO alarm inspection. And here is a complete guide to Massachusetts smoke and carbon monoxide requirements for selling a property. There are also inspections available for boiler, propane tank and oil tank removal compliance. To schedule an inspection, please provide 2 weeks notice. Please email fireinspections@windsormass.com (or alternatively, leave voicemail at 413-684-3236.) The inspection fee is $25. Conservation Commission Wendy Volk (Conservation Agent) Windsor Conservation Commission 1890 Route 9, Suite 2, Windsor, MA 01270 413-664-3811 ext. 8 conservation@windsormass.com Hired by Select Board Description Building, Electrical, and Gas/Plumbing inspector all enforce code and building regulations. Information Related Services Apply for Permits Forms & Documents for Town Activities How & What to Get Inspected
- Windsor Finances FY23-27
bda14f6d-427c-4181-b16c-2f59d80d6734 Windsor Finances FY23-27 Windsor Finance Committee Statement on the FY23 Budget and the FY23-27 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework For comparison, here is the Finance Committee's Statement on the FY22 Budget and FY22-26 Framework The proposed budget for next fiscal year (FY23) represents a departure from the medium-term framework we issued this time last year. We hope to be back on track in FY24. The main challenge we are facing is how to respond to inflation, especially as it affects employees’ wages and salaries, but also as it affects other expenses, notably energy. At the same time, the proposed budget for FY23 contains important new positions that will help ensure the continued provision of basic services. We are in a good financial position going into the new year, with about $812,000 in reserves (free cash plus stabilization balances) and we will draw on these assets during FY23 at least. Even if the money we are expecting from the Federal Connect America Fund and the broadband MLP operating surplus do not materialize for some unforeseen reasons, we would still be in a good financial position over the next five years with assets falling to just under $700,000 before beginning to rise again. Such an outcome would however require a fairly bare-bones capital program. Should these funds arrive in FY23, which we fully expect them to do (though too late to include in this budget), then our financial position will be much stronger, offering us a favorable set of opportunities. Taxes and State Aid and Total Expenditure and How to Pay For it All As in the past, the Finance Committee has targeted the total tax levy to increase no more than 3 percent (see attached charts and tables). If the number of households increases, as it has in the past, this would mean that the average single-family tax bill would rise by less. Local receipts in FY23 are projected to be notably higher than what we budgeted in FY22 while state aid (net of charges and other expenses such as overlay) is expected to fall. All told, we are projecting total revenue to increase by 2.8 percent to roughly $2.283 million. Total expenditure (including transfers to funds) is projected to increase 12.1 percent to $2.500 million, with much of the increase arising from the across-the-board salary increase, new positions, and capital spending. The gap between revenue and expenditure would be closed through $140,000 in new borrowing (for the fire department truck and the new school bus) and a $81,437 drawdown in financial reserves, which which are projected to remain above above $700,000 for the year. Inflation: wages and salaries We are recommending a 7.1 percent across-the-board wage/salary increase. When we compiled the FY22 budget, inflation had been averaging about 1.5 percent a year. The 2 percent across-the-board salary increase approved last year was meant to provide town employees with a positive, if modest, increase in the purchasing power of their paychecks. Actual inflation turned out to be much higher (how much higher depends on which price index you look at and over what period of time – more on this below) and the inflation-adjusted value of salaries in FY22 actually declined. The Finance Committee voted to recommend compensating employees for the loss of purchasing power of their FY22 salaries and add 2 percent on top of that for FY23. Our methodology was similar to that used by the Social Security Administration to adjust SS payments each year except we used the CPI for New England published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and used a more recent 3-month period to calculate actual inflation. On this basis, we calculated actual inflation at 6.6 percent compared to the expected 1.5 percent. To this difference (5.1 percent) we added the usual 2 percent to arrive at the recommended 7.1 percent across-the-board increase. This adjustment (excluding the new positions discussed below) costs about $13,000 a year (compared to a 2 percent increase). New positions The Select Board and Finance Committee are recommending the addition of four new paid positions in FY23: a town administrator, a new full-time highway department worker, a fifth part-time police officer, and a library director. The first two positions come with full benefits. These four positions would cost $105,000 in the first year (including benefits). Other wage compensation adjustments Some town employees are paid by the hour (highway workers, police officers, bus driver, and others). In the past, the hourly rates and the annual appropriation were not directly linked. The annual appropriation acted as a “maximum” total compensation for each employee paid hourly. This is still the case, but in line with recommendations from the Department of Local Services, we are now constructing the annual appropriations from the bottom up; multiplying the hourly rate times the number of hours per year. Consequently, some budgeted amounts for hourly employees rise by more or less than 7.1 percent because we adjusted the number of hours up or down relative to FY22. Energy costs Fuel price are up sharply this year, as many are painfully aware. The average retail price of gasoline in Massachusetts was up 54 percent last March compared with a year earlier, the price of diesel was up 67 percent and the wholesale price of propane was up 46 percent. [ Massachusetts fuel prices from Energy Information Agency ]. The price of heating oil has also increased sharply, but the only building that will be consuming this fuel in FY23 will be the fire station as the town offices and town hall will be using electric air-source heat pumps. This means that our electricity consumption will rise and while we don’t yet know what will happen to electricity rates, we expect that the increase cost will not exceed the savings we realize from lower consumption of heating oil. The energy component of the FY23 budget is based on recent prices and we hope they come down soon but we have no way of knowing. Most of our fuel prices will get locked in by July through the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission bulk supply contracts, but we won’t know at what price until after the FY23 budget is approved. Capital spending Capital spending in FY23 incudes the historical building, a command vehicle and turnout equipment for the fire department, a new school bus, and a leaf blower for the highway department. The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework The medium-term forecast is premised on an annual 3 percent increase in the overall tax levy and a substantial increase in revenue arising from Windsor’s share of the Connect America Fund (CAF) and the annual operating surplus of the broadband MLP. We expect a total of about $850,000 from the CAF over the next five years, with a first disbursement of about $390,000 coming in FY23, though not in time for next year’s budget. We are also expecting about $85,000 a year from broadband operations. This would allow us to pursue a strategy of enhanced public services, a more ambitious capital improvement program, and/or lower taxes. The Master Plan process that is currently underway will help inform this decision-making. In addition to the capital expenditures in FY23 the medium-term framework includes spending for a new fire truck and a new police cruiser. The updated medium-term expenditure framework is reflected in the charts and table below. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Finance Committee
- Highway Department
18645a5e-3a49-4daf-9ed2-75dfd767c390 Highway Department Staff John Denno (Superintendent) highway@windsormass.com 413-684-3780 John Poplaski James Hyatt Luke Dodge Windsor Highway Department 2024 Route 9, Windsor, MA 01270 Route 9 Live Cam ! Or visit our weather station (external link) Hired by Select Board Description The highway department is responsible for maintenance of town roads - about 30 miles of paved roads, 25 miles of unpaved roads, and 5 miles of unmaintained roads. Maintenance includes plowing snow, tree removal, grading dirt roads, mud mitigation, mowing, drainage and culverts. Notably, this does not include Route 9. Information With a small crew and dozens of miles of rural roads, we all know how reliant Windsor is on having passable roads. The highway crew often works late nights, early mornings, and weekends to keep the roads open. But they prioritize the biggest roads with the most traffic and residents. While they aim to plow snow and respond to problems within 24 hours, the reality is that sometimes it takes longer. If you have a special need or there is an unusual circumstance, feel free to contact the Highway department, but please be patient. Mud in the spring can be particularly challenging. They are aware of wet areas, and are working on improving drainage, adding stone, etc. But the reality is that there is only so much that can be done for some roads. In 2021, the Select Board approved a new set of Snow Policies [pdf]. Permits Some kinds of work may require road related permits Driveway permit [pdf]: Required for installing driveway "aprons". $20 fee. Trench permit [pdf]: Required for digging trenches. $50 fee. Checks payable to "Town of Windsor" Road Closures and Construction These are the sections of roads are not plowed in the winter months. Signs will be placed at points of closure to alert drivers beyond that point. Back Dalton Rd. – From 120 Back Dalton to Dalton line (Wahconah Falls) Cemetery Rd. – From Windsor Jambs Rd. to Windigo Rd. High Street Hill (Between the 9’s) – From 661 High Street Hill to 522 High Street Hill High Street Hill - 1060 High Street Hill to Laflash Rd. Hill Cemetery Rd. – From Cemetery to Savoy Rd / 8A Humes Rd. - From 126 Humes Rd. to Nobody’s Rd. Nobody’s Rd. – From East Windsor Rd. to Crane Rd. Patterson Rd. - From 65 Patterson Rd. to Back Dalton Rd. Peru Rd. – From 1410 Peru Rd. to Peru Town line Shaw Rd. – From savoy Hollow Rd. to 1149 Shaw Rd. Schoolhouse Rd. – From 203 Schoolhouse Rd. to Windsor Bush Rd. Windigo Rd. – From Lower Jambs Rd. to Windsor Bush Rd. Windsor Road Map Related Services Road Maintenance
- Marriage Licenses
faa451ac-bcd6-4f51-88d2-fe6a1cafc475 Marriage Licenses How do we apply for a marriage license? You both must apply in person for a marriage license. This requirement is applicable to both residents and non-residents of the Commonwealth. According to Massachusetts Law, you must jointly file intentions to marry, and may do so with the city or town clerk in any community in the state. If either Party A or Party B is in the military and unable to appear and either Party A or Party B is a resident of Massachusetts, the intention may be taken by one party to the marriage and the parent or guardian of the absent principal or solely by the other principal of the intended marriage. The member of the military does not have to be a Massachusetts resident. If either Party is incarcerated in a county or state house of correction, either party may file. A marriage license, once obtained is valid for 60 days from the date intentions are filed and may be used in any Massachusetts city or town. It is not valid outside the state. Marriage Intention Form [pdf] (Updated June 2024) Is there a waiting period from the date of application to the date the license is issued? Yes, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period. While Sundays and holidays are included in the three days, the day the application is made is not. For example, if you apply on Friday, your license will be issued on or after Monday. May we marry before the three days for a good reason? Yes, you should file your intentions first with any city or town clerk. Then an application for a waiver must be filed by both of you at probate or district court. After a hearing, the court may issue a certificate allowing the marriage license to be issued, and the marriage performed without delay. You must bring the certificate to the city or town clerks office where you filed your intentions and they will issue the marriage license, and the marriage may be performed without delay. What is the cost of a marriage license? The cost of filing for a license in Windsor is $15.00 At what age may a person marry? Massachusetts residents may marry if they are 18 years of age or older. A birth certificate may be required to show proof of age. What if one or both of us is under 18? If either is under 18, a court order from a probate or district court where the minor resides must be obtained before the marriage intentions can be filed. Is a medical certificate required before a license can be issued? As of January 28, 2005, a medical certificate is no longer required in Massachusetts. What if one or both of us has been divorced? You are not required to present a divorce certificate when filing intentions to marry. However, it is extrememly important that an individual who has been divorced be certain that his or her divorce is absolute. If you are uncertain as to the absolute date of your divorce, you should contact the court where the divorce was granted. Is there any special requirement for a widow or widower who is remarrying? No. Do we need any witnesses present at the ceremony? Massachusetts statute does not require that witnesses be present at your ceremony. However, if a member of the clergy performs the ceremony, you should ensure that you are in conformity with the appropriate religious tenets. Do we need to bring a picture I.D. when applying for a marriage license? A picture I.D. is not required. Do we need proof of residency? Proof of residency is not required. The marriage intention is being signed under the pains and penalties of perjury. What are the responsibilities of the clergy or justice of the peace? The member of the clergy or justice of the peace must complete and sign the original license and return it to the clerk of the city or town where the license was issued. What should be done if an out-of-state member of the clergy is to perform the marriage? If an out-of-state member of the clergy is to perform the marriage, the clergyperson must obtain a Certificate of Authorization for the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to the ceremony. This certificate, which is issued by the Public Records Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, is to be attached to the original license and returned to the clerk of the city or town where the license was issued. For further information, contact: Division of Public Records Secretary of the Commonwealth One Ashburton Place, Room 1719 Boston, MA 02108 Telephone # (617) 727-2836 Related Services Related Boards & Departments Town Clerk
- Town Song
bd53184a-7ff6-414a-b823-51fb14ff919f Town Song Windsor Now and Then A song written by the late Ed Kohn Two hundred years and more we’ve been A town gone through hard times and then We’ve raised our heads up high again Like a Phoenix on the rise. When the logging days had come and gone And the tanning mills had all moved on And the Ball Bridge Works closed down We turned to what we had. Chorus: From Windsor Jambs to Estes (Sangar’s) Store This little town is steeped in lore; If you don’t know what a community’s for Then Windsor’s not your style. Hiking trails and Christmas trees Maple sap and a summer breeze Baseball games, cross country skis Is what we have today. But a town’s not made of bricks and stones Not even trees nor roads nor homes It’s made of muscle, skin, and bones And the love of folks like you. Chorus Related Services Related Boards & Departments
- Dog Licenses
a45512a6-6fd7-47a1-a576-41765057b441 Dog Licenses Town of Windsor Dog Licensing Information State Law and Town Bylaws require all dogs six (6) months or older to be licensed. ****The licensing period is from April 1 – March 31 each year**** A dog license and dog tags go together but are two different things. The dog license is the piece of paper you need to keep in your records. It contains pertinent information about your dog. Each license has a number. Dog tags are the metal tags that you attach to your dog's collar. These also have a number on them. The dog tag number is written on the dog license. These numbers are not usually the same. Dog licenses are issued for 3 years. $15 for a spayed/neutered dog $30 for an intact dog $10 late fee (applied after May 1) $5 Replacement tag fee Due to changes in state law, Ollie's Law, all homes with 4 or more dogs are now considered a Kennel and require a Kennel license. The cost of the license will be based per dog and be the same as above, $15 for each spayed/neutered and $30 for each intact. Good for 3 years. Rabies vaccination records are sent by local vets monthly. Records will be updated and reviewed monthly. Complete one form for each dog owned. If this is your first time registering your dog, you need to include the rabies certificate. If you have registered your dog before, either include the rabies certificate or the name of the vet that gave the rabies vaccine. Mail to: Town Clerk, 1890 Route 9 Suite 2, Windsor, MA 01270 with check made out to "Town of Windsor". Include stamped self-addressed envelope. Or, Visit the Town Clerk Office . Dog License Form [pdf] All outstanding fees must be paid before a new license is issued. If your dog is not registered by the due date, further fines may be imposed. Any questions, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 413-684-3811 #1 Related Services Related Boards & Departments Town Clerk
- Veterans Services
62ce4131-c834-4ebb-b703-16db08e05309 Veterans Services While the Town of Windsor does not itself provide any specific services for Veterans, nearby Pittsfield does, and they have agreed to provide help to Windsor residents, coordinating health care and connecting veterans to local services. This is our agreement [pdf] with the city of Pittsfield regarding Veterans' Services. Jim Clark , US Army Retired Lt. Col. Director of Veterans’ Services City of Pittsfield 330 North Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 499-9433 jclark@cityofpittsfield.org www.cityofpittsfield.org Related Services Related Boards & Departments
- Hours of Operation
55e4e6b6-e0e1-4372-9ac9-70dc54f6ee60 Hours of Operation This is when some common services in Windsor are open: Assessor: Wednesdays 10am-4pm at Town Offices Town Clerk: Mondays and Thursdays 5-7pm or by appointment – windsortownclerk@gmail.com or 413-684-3811 ext 1. Transfer Station: Wednesdays 6-7:45pm, Saturdays 8am-12:45pm Library: Mondays 5 - 7:30pm, Wednesdays 2 - 7pm, Saturdays 10am - 1pm Related Services Related Boards & Departments
- How & What to Get Inspected
b61ce40a-21de-4b21-bef2-753acd0ff2c4 How & What to Get Inspected Windsor requires inspections for many aspects of construction including electric, gas & plumbing, and various health related activities such as septic and water. Many of these inspections are described in the town Zoning Bylaws. Click here for contact Information for building, electric, gas & plumbing, and conservation inspectors.. Septic System Requirements Essentially all homes in Windsor have septic systems. Massachusetts Title 5 rules [site] specify how to install, use, and maintain these systems. It is the policy of the Windsor Board of Health that all Title 5 septic system inspections must be witnessed by an agent of the Board of Health. Contact the Berkshire Public Health Alliance to schedule a witness by emailing inspectors@berkshireplanning.org or or 413-684-3811 ext 7. Perc Requirements There are two components of septic system design: soil evaluation and actual design. Soil evaluation consists of noting where your property lines may be so that test holes can be dug. These holes will locate your soil absorption system, which handles the fluid part of septic wastes. This step also includes actually digging the test holes with a backhoe and performing a soil examination and percolation test ("perc"). More info at the Massachusetts Title 5 description for homeowners [site]. Perc Witness requests, T5 witness requests and installation inspection requests should all go through inspectors@berkshireplanning.org or 413-684-3811 ext 7. Related Services Apply for Permits Related Boards & Departments Board of Health Inspections










