06ed3e79-95bd-4c0b-875b-7373bae8045c Planning Board Members Planning Board Ben Bederson , term through 2028 Barbara Connors , term through 2029 Mike Kintner , term through 2025 Doug McNally (Chair) , term through 2027 413-822-9337 frosthollowdouglas@me.com Peter Sternerup , term through 2029 Meetings Meetings posted at the Windsor Town Office and on the Website Calendar Planning Board elected for 5 year terms Description The Planning Board is granted power under State Law to influence the town's development, both physical and economic. Information Documents Form A Application [pdf] - For Approval Not Required (ANR) Division of Land Wild & Scenic Westfield River Stewardship Plan [pdf] Town Bylaws Available here Planning Board Agendas Planning Board Minutes Master Plan Steering Committee (now disbanded) The Planning Board appointed the Master Plan Steering Committee in November 2021 to develop a Master Plan for the Town. After an extensive process—including a survey distributed throughout the Town and answered by nearly 20% of adult residents—the Plan is now available. Read the Windsor Master Plan (November 2022) [pdf] Related Services Master Plan for Windsor

785f1339-9d0f-4a76-bdf3-1429aadd4793 Town Hall Rental The Town of Windsor has a historic Town Hall building that is available for rental. Monetary Guidelines - Mar 2023 [pdf] - Some usage of the Town Hall is free, and the fees for other uses are described here. Town Hall Rental Contract - Mar 2023 [pdf] Please submit rental information to the Windsor Town Administrator at WindsormassTA@gmail.com . Related Services Related Boards & Departments

1e925112-0063-4a24-89d9-691d5f17be49 Property Taxes Property Tax Forms See General Massachusetts site with forms and guides [external site] THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS What is mass appraisal? Assessors must value all real and personal property in the community to their full and fair cash value. Mass appraisal is the process used by every Massachusetts City and town to create the property assessments. Assessments are based on an analysis of Windsor’s entire real estate market for a specified period of time. This study guides the setting of valuation parameters that are used to calculate the property values town-wide. It differs from the more well-known “bank” or fee appraisal. Although the appraisal concepts are the same and the results similar, the process is different. No particular sale or group of sales is used to determine the value of your property, but all of a certain calendar year’s sales are included in the analysis that set the parameters for the next fiscal year. What is market value? Market value, or full and fair cash value, is the most probable price for which a property will sell in an open, competitive market that a willing buyer will pay for a property to a willing seller, both acting knowledgeably and prudently and neither being under any obligation to buy or sell. Sales such as foreclosures and family sales are not considered to be “arms-length” or fair market transactions. When my neighbor's house sells, will their price determine my assessment? Not necessarily. As explained in the previous question, sales are analyzed town-wide. An example of what could be relevant is if there were several sales in an area indicating that the assessments were too low compared to the sales prices. How often does the valuation of properties change? Every year the Assessors subject the arms-length sales that occurred in the prior calendar year to a statistical examination based on market area, style of house, age of house, effective area, size of lot and sale price to see what changes the market has shown. The tables used in the Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system are adjusted so that the median assessment of the sales sample is within 10% of 100% of market value, and the dispersion of the assessments to sales ratios in the sample are within state guidelines. These new factors are then applied to all properties for the new Fiscal Year. Every third year the Department of Revenue (DOR) requires each city or town to conduct a revaluation. This is a year-long process during which the DOR examines every phase of the assessing operation before certifying the values. During the two years in between revaluations the Assessors may change the values if sales activity so indicates. These yearly updates are called Interim Year Adjustments. The last Re-certification was completed in fiscal year 2016. How is the calendar year different from the fiscal year? Massachusetts cities and towns operate on a “Fiscal Year” basis. The calendar year runs from January 1st through December 31st. The fiscal year goes from July 1st through June 30th. The assessment date is January 1st preceding the fiscal year. That is, for Fiscal Year 2016 the assessment date is January 1, 2015. ASPECTS OF PROPERTY VALUATION Where can I find the detail on my property? Property record cards, which contain ownership information, visit history, land and building details, and other notes, and which display a property’s valuation, are available in the Assessors’ office, 1890 Route 9. You can also view your record card and many of these details on-line using the link available on this web site. What do the assessors look at when determining an assessment? The assessor collects many data elements about a property in order to develop the total valuation. The most significant factors in determining the value are location and land area and style, quality, size, condition and age of the building(s). Other factors include amenities or detriments as well as features in the building such as number of bathrooms, type of heating/cooling, interior/exterior finishes, and special features including fireplaces, saunas and Jacuzzis. Also considered are detached structures. How do I know if my valuation is fair and equitable? The best comparisons are to properties that have sold that are the most similar in the most aspects to your property. You can also compare your property’s assessment to the assessments of the most similar properties. Although properties will most likely never be a perfect match, assessments for similar properties should fall in a close range of valuations. How can my assessed value increase (decrease) when I did not do anything to the property in 5 years and I am not selling the property? The assessed value represents the estimate of market value of the property. The real estate market changes constantly. The assessment for FY2016 represents the estimate of market value as of January 1, 2015. This estimate of market value is determined by examining sales of properties from calendar year 2013 and 2014 (we use two years due to lack of sales data in Windsor). Although there may not have been any physical changes to the property, buyers may be paying more or less for properties than they were in previous years. The assessment changes reflect the changes in the purchase prices of similar homes in the neighborhood. The assessments do not predict market value. The assessments reflect (or report) market value. The real estate market can change dramatically from year to year. Buyers and sellers determine the market value of properties. The assessments reflect what the buyers and sellers are doing as of the assessment date. What will happen if I put an addition on my property? Are the actual construction costs of a new home used to determine the new assessment? Historical sales have indicated that larger properties sell for more than smaller properties with all other factors being equal. If an addition is put on a home, the house becomes larger. The assessors would then have to see what similarly sized properties were selling for in the neighborhood. It is highly likely that the assessed value of your property will increase once the addition is put on the property. Generally speaking, improvements that increase the market value of a property will increase the assessment. Why did my valuation change from the prior year's valuation more (less) than my neighbor's? Market value changes occur in many forms. From year to year economic conditions and local factors change and influence the values of different classes of property in different ways. Buyers have different requirements and these requirements sometimes change from year to year. Renovations may have been performed on a property that would cause a change in assessed value different from a similar property that did not undergo renovations. A recent inspection by the Assessor’s office also may have contributed to a change in assessed value, perhaps adding something that had been missed or reducing something that was overstated. Your style or size or land area or other factor(s) may differ from your neighbor’s and that caused the valuation changes to differ. I think my assessment is out of line with my neighbor's property, whose property is assessed lower. I want my assessment to be as low as theirs. The first step in comparing properties is to examine the factual components of each property. Many times properties that appear larger are in fact much smaller than people think. Quality characteristics should also be examined when making comparisons. Ultimately, the assessors have to determine if the assessment represents market value on the subject property and also if the assessed value on the neighbor’s property represents market value. If a neighboring property is too low in relation to surrounding properties, the assessors cannot compound their low assessment by also lowering surrounding properties. The resolution may be that the assessors have to raise the neighboring property’s assessed value to make it more in line with the surrounding properties. The most important criterion the assessors examine in an abatement request is the market value of the property of the person filing the abatement and the market value of any property that the person filing the abatement mentions on the application. I recently purchased my home for a price which is different than the valuation for this year. How is this possible? The real estate market is not a “perfect market” and price is not always equal to value. Similar properties usually do not sell for exactly the same price because the motivations of buyers and sellers are not always similar. Similar properties usually tend to sell within a “value range” rather than for one specific price. According to the definition of fair market value, your value represents “the most probable selling price” and tends to be the middle of the range of what similar properties have recently sold for. Therefore, your appraised value could be higher or lower than what you actually paid for your property. In addition, state laws (statutes) require that real estate be assessed at 100% of market value as of January 1st immediately preceding the current fiscal year. This is the assessment date. The sales considered in order to determine the market value are those that took place during the calendar year prior to the assessment date. If your sale took place subsequent to the assessment date, it will be in the group of sales analyzed in the preparation of the following year’s valuations, and is not relevant to the current year’s valuation. Why does the Assessor need to enter my house? A total inspection of all factors that influence the value results in the most accurate assessment of a property. We request the inspection in order to be as fair and accurate as possible. Items such as condition of the rooms, quality of the finish, areas of finished versus unfinished, can only be confirmed with an interior inspection. Without actual information, estimates of the interior information have to be made. Will an inspection change the value of my house? Depending on the accuracy of the current data about the property, it may or may not. However, the valuation for the current fiscal year will not be changed mid-year unless your property meets the strict qualifications for a supplemental tax bill (usually only major new construction), which Windsor does not currently have the authority to do. What happens if I refuse to allow the property lister to enter my home? You do not have to allow the assessors into your home. However, if an assessor is denied entrance, property owners give up their ability to challenge the assessed value. Will I be penalized if I allow the assessors in and my neighbor does not? In instances where the assessors do not get into a property, estimates are made about the condition of the interior of the property. Accurate assessments are based on accurate information. By allowing the assessors to view the interior and exterior of your property, your assessed value is based on accurate information. If a person does not allow the assessors to view the interior and exterior of a property, estimates are made about the condition of the interior of the property, the kitchen and bath qualities, and where there is finished attic space and finished basement space. If the estimates are overstated, property owners may contact the assessor’s office to arrange an interior and exterior inspection of their property. TAX RATE/TAX BILL How is the tax rate calculated? The tax rate, in its simplest form, is the tax levy divided by the town’s taxable valuation. This is called the Uniform Tax Rate. At the May Annual Town Meeting residents vote appropriations for the upcoming Fiscal Year. This is called the tax levy. The Assessors’ primary responsibility is to find the “full and fair cash value” of your property so that the taxpayer may pay only his/her fair share of taxes. How will the new valuation affect my tax bill? If my assessment went down, how can my tax bill go up? Individual assessments may rise or fall depending on the characteristics of the property. The purpose of mass appraisal is to value all property by the same standards at the same time to create an equitable distribution of the tax levy. If the same amount of money is to be raised for the current year after a valuation update from the previous year, and each assessment has doubled, the tax rate would be cut in half; and vice versa, if each assessment decreased by 20%, and the same amount of money was to be raised, the tax rate may increase by 20%. Increases or decreases in assessed values to not cause a tax increase or decrease. How can my tax bill go up more than 2.5%? Doesn’t Proposition 2 ½ limit the tax increase? Proposition 2 ½ limits the amount of taxes Massachusetts communities can raise for the current year from the previous year’s levy limit. To this a town may add new growth (increased valuations caused by new construction, renovations or land use changes) and overrides voted by the town. I cannot afford this tax bill (on fixed income, lost my job, have financial issues). Can’t the Assessors lower this assessment to accommodate this situation? By law, the Assessors must value all property at 100% of full and fair cash value, using methodologies approved by the DOR applied consistently to every property. Properties need to be valued without regard to the owner’s ability to pay the taxes. (See exemption section below for some programs that are available for some tax relief.) EXEMPTIONS & ABATEMENTS See the page on exemptions & abatements Related Services Tax Abatement & Exemption Applications Related Boards & Departments Assessor

e942beca-c743-4151-a1b9-1f8bf052c4ce Marijuana: Policies & Procedures Policies & Procedures for growers, etc. are being finalized and will be posted here. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Select Board

f5cf7e16-6a15-4839-affb-dfe9be4c27bf ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act The ADA, or Americans with Disabilities Act, is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in various areas of public life. It ensures equal opportunity for people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. The ADA also mandates that state and local governments provide access to their programs and services. ADA Public Notice [pdf] ADA Grievance Procedures [pdf] Related Services Related Boards & Departments

What is MVP 2.0? Where We Are in the Process Updates and Press Climate Change in Windsor? Our Priority Population Preparedness Priorities MVP 2.0 Core Team Community Engagement Events What is MVP 2.0? Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness 2.0 (MVP 2.0) is the second round of a Massachusetts grant program to fund local projects that will benefit disadvantaged community groups expected to be more affected by climate change than the general population in the coming years. Factors such as income or social inequality play roles in why certain groups will be more affected than the general population. The finished project should build upon each town’s initial Municipal Vulnerability Plans [pdf] and build social resilience. As part of a pilot group, the Town of Windsor was awarded $95,000 in grant funds in Fall 2023 to identify a population in town that would be more affected by climate change than others. By mid-2025, The MVP 2.0 Core Team will select and complete a climate change focused project that will benefit that priority population. Our focus is to create climate change resilience in our community with an emphasis on social and environmental justice. The end goal is to help individuals cope with the impacts of climate change on their lives here in Windsor now and into the future. For the last year and in the coming months, the Windsor MVP 2.0 Core Team spoke with community members to identify issues in our town and region and, with their help, selected a project that will benefit those populations who have historically been inadequately engaged in the town-improvement process. Where We Are in the MVP 2.0 Process Windsor is one of 32 municipalities across the State participating in the MVP 2.0 pilot program. Beginning in Fall 2023, Town Administrator, Madeline Scully, identified key community members to manage this process. The MVP 2.0 Core Team underwent Environmental and Social Justice Training, reviewed the 2020 Windsor Hazard Mitigation Plan, identified priority issues and which populations will be most negatively impacted by climate change, and held several engagement events to develop a clear picture of vulnerabilities in our community. As of November 2024, the Core Team entered Phase 3 of the MVP 2.0 Process. Our community engagement events helped the team narrow down our priorities to address and select a seed project. With our remaining grant funds, we intend to turn the 100 acres of forested land encompassing the naturally-capped landfill into an educational forest for regional education institutes to conduct research. In addition, the proposed project hopes to develop an education center for local residents to learn valuable climate change mitigation skills to minimize the individual impact. With more severe storms and drought predicted to affect the Hilltowns region, residents can apply these mitigation skills both locally and in their own homes. Over the upcoming months, the Windsor MVP 2.0 Core Team will meet with vendors and regional partners to bring this project to fruition. It is our hope, training people to be good stewards of our environment and resources will change behavior and result in a more hospitable place to live. Updates and Press Press February 27, 2025: Windsor MVP 2.0 Seed Project Selection Tool - Initial Project Plan February 24, 2025: Resilient Windsor Educational Forest Project Community Q&A - Presentation December 7,2024: Town Administrator Newsletter - Resilient Windsor Educational Forest FAQs December 1, 2024: Berkshire Eagle - "Windsor is planning to revive its long-closed landfill as an educational forest " November 20, 2024: Windsor Educational Forest Partners Meeting - Presentation October 7, 2024: Community Dine and Discuss - Windsor Priorities Selection Presentation Climate Change in Windsor? Have you noticed that the seasons haven’t been the same since you were a kid? This “weather weirding” has become the new normal – more severe storms, longer heat waves, and multiple freeze-thaw cycles in the winter that damage our dirt roads. Hear long-time Windsor residents share their stories of how the climate in town has changed over the years. Madeline Scully Peter Reed Val Kohn Our Priority Population When Windsor participated in the original MVP grant, organizers placed emphasis on infrastructure upgrades to protect against climate change damages. The MVP 2.0 grant asked towns to focus on projects that will specifically help vulnerable populations, with special care taken to identify groups that have frequently been overlooked such as low-income or non-English speaking neighborhoods. The Windsor Core Team identified students and young adults (“Youngers”) as our project’s priority population. Youngers have grown up hearing of the devastating effects climate change will have on the world they will inherit. Through our TAKE CHARGE! Student Climate Challenges Forum on April 24th, we sought input from students and young adults from central Western Massachusetts. Why Youngers? We recognize students and young adults as valuable stakeholders for our MVP 2.0 project. While being the most affected by the long-term effects of climate change, they are also most up to the challenge of making changes to improve the world around them. Well-Educated on the Threats of Climate Change: In interviews with Wahconah students, the MVP 2.0 Core Team found them to be well-educated on the threats of climate change to their community and abroad. In the discussions, they spoke to both inland flooding due to severe storms and coastal flooding due to rising sea levels. They talked of “weather weirding” with hotter summers, more severe storms and changing patterns of weather. They articulated the dangers invasive species due to changing weather patterns as well as the increased threat of forest fires due to drought conditions and increased tree deaths as a result of pest infestation such as the Emerald Ash Borer. Students feared species extinctions as weather patterns impacted populations that could not adequately adapt to climate change. Collaborative: Students are adept at working in a collaborative environment. Current school models encourage collaborative learning which helps the students develop listening skills, brainstorming, project planning and achieving consensus. Creative and Forward-Thinking: Youngers tend to be more creative and forward-thinking and less set in their ways than many adults. They are often open to consider alternative ideas and concepts, and adept in imagining possible benefits of untested technologies that may counter climate change impacts. Activists: Throughout modern history, Youngers have proven to be effective activists for change. They will inhabit the world of the future and they must cope with the impacts of climate change the longest. Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (2020) Priorities and How Windsor has Addressed Them Between 2019 and 2020, Windsor received a grant through the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant program. As part of the grant process, the Windsor MVP group created the Windsor Hazard Mitigation Plan to identify specific challenges resulting from climate change. The identified top priorities to be addressed were inland flooding caused by undersized/obsolete culverts, summer heat waves, severe warm and cold weather storms, and power outages. Click on each identified priority below to see how the Town of Windsor addressed these issues in round one of MVP. Replace Culverts on River Road, Cheshire Road, and Flintstone Road: Led by Town Highway Superintendent John Denno, Windsor has replaced three failing culverts on River Road with new open bottom culverts that meet Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards. These new enlarged culverts prevent major blockages and allow more water to pass through during the increasing number of severe storms, where in-land flooding is more likely. In addition, the enlarged culverts allow wildlife to move freely through the culvert and minimizes ecological impacts on flora and fauna populations. The Town has completed preliminary work for the replacement of the Flintstone and Cheshire Road culverts. Through additional grants and the use of Chapter 90 funds, these projects have not had a significant impact on the tax levy. Funding is needed for further culvert replacement projects. By engaging in the MVP 2.0 process, Windsor gains access to apply for this new round of culvert replacement funding. Old River Road culvert: undersized, not wildlife friendly New River Road culvert: connects habitats, free-flowing Aggressively Pursue Tree Trimming in Conjunction with Eversource: Highway Superintendent John Denno continues to work with the Windsor tree warden, Mark Hauge, and Eversource to ensure proper preventive trimming is completed on a regular basis. These preventative measures minimize the impact of severe storms on the Town’s power grid. Denno and Hauge also work together to address the sections of Town where the fiber network is on Verizon-only poles. Windsor’s updated Town Hall including a new generator, heat pumps, new kitchen Upgrade Town Hall to Serve as an Emergency Center during Heat Spells, Severe Storms and Power Outages: Led by Chairman Stu Besnoff, the Green Committee successfully pursued grants to insulate and upgrade the Town Hall. The kitchen in the Town Hall now boasts a new high efficiency electric induction stove with a convection oven. In addition, a large generator was installed at Town Hall. As a result, the building can now serve as an emergency heating, cooling and triage center with clean water and food preparation space during power outages. Residents are able to charge electronic devices when their power is out and can shelter there temporarily. Due to the Town Hall’s age and size, it is unable to be used as a full emergency shelter, as the Town cannot install showers for residents to use during emergency situations. However, Windor’s Senior Outreach Coordinator Jessica Buoymaster created an extensive network of friendly residents willing to help their neighbors in times of need. The Green Committee’s project also extended to the Town Offices and Highway Department’s garage. These two buildings and the Town Hall have been insulated to decrease heat loss, the garage roof has recently been replaced to further decrease heat loss, and heat pumps were installed in the Town Hall and Town Offices. With yet another Green Committee grant, a solar array was installed at the Town Offices that now provides 83% of the electricity used in that building including running the heat pumps and the electronics for the town municipal fiber network. Ensure the Town Well is Able to Provide Clean, Plentiful Water: Town Animal Control Officer and general good-neighbor, Dave Melle and a group of energetic and dedicated volunteers rebuilt the spring house that provides clean well-water to the Town Hall. The new structure is monitored regularly. Monitor All Beaver Dams and Install Beaver Deceivers Where Appropriate: The Highway Department and Conservation Commission collaborated to identify and monitor beaver dam sites. Without proper preventative measures, in-land flooding and damage to roads and private property may occur. To mitigate beaver activity, a “beaver deceiver” helps drain water away from the dam and trick the beaver into thinking its structure is complete. This allows beaver populations to continue to thrive in Windsor’s waterways. Highway and the Conservation Commission jointly procured grants to install beaver deceivers where needed. Establish a Process for Wellness Checks and Identify High Risk Individuals and Families: In collaboration with the Council on Aging, Senior Outreach Coordinator Jessica Buoymaster established a wellness check protocol that ensures the safety and monitoring of residents in need of such services. In addition to these wellness checks, Buoymaster expanded her role to provide residents with access to: * Brown-bag food program for low-income elderly/disabled residents and farmers market coupons (age 60+) * Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) for fuel assistance and weatherization, if qualified * Grants to assist for past-due bills, mortgage payment, and septic tank maintenance * Alzheimer's Memory Café and day programs through The Ralph J. Froio Senior Center in Pittsfield * Individualized assistance for residents with payment plans with various utilities companies (electric, phone, etc) * CHP Mobile Health (Big Orange Bus) to include wellness checks and flu and covid boosters * Berkshire Harm Reduction Mobile RV Outreach through the Harm Reduction Bus program. Buoymaster continues to provide much-needed support to any Windsor resident living with difficult situations. If you are in need of social services support or know a Windsor resident who could use a hand, contact Jessica Buoymaster (413-329-4364 or buoymasjessica@gmail.com) Educate the Public on Proper Shelter-in-Place Procedures Senior Outreach Coordinator Jessica Buoymaster, in conjunction with the Windsor Board of Health, provides training on proper procedures for sheltering in place. This extends to both weather and illness-related events. Ensure the Availability of Affordable Internet Access to All Residents: With vast amounts of time and effort, Doug McNally led the Municipal Light Plant Board (MLPBoard) and Town through the completion of the Town-owned fiber optic network project. This high-speed internet service allows all connected Windsor residents to access extremely fast internet at a reasonable price. To date, nearly 80% of homes in Windsor are connected to the fiber optic network. Bond payments for this project are fully covered through a portion of Connect America Funds grant and residents’ subscription fees. To further support residents who have not yet subscribed to the town fiber optic network, several town buildings including the Town Hall, Town Offices, and the Town Park on Peru Road all offer visitors free access to this high-speed internet. This asset became crucial for many residents once the Pandemic hit and forced employees and students to work from home. The MLP Board oversees the operation of the network and continues to work on the next steps to enable all residents to effectively utilize the network. Under the federal Digital Equity Grant, the Board will continue to pursue ways to assist those who originally chose not to connect to the network and revisit their decision if they so choose. The Digital Equity Grant will soon allow Windsor to offer residents classes on how to effectively use the internet for accessing medical services, shopping via the internet, and many other life changing services available to more internet-savvy users. In addition, those in need may be able to acquire a free network device. Meet the MVP 2.0 Core Team Jessica Buoymaster Senior Outreach Coordinator My name is Jessica Buoymaster. I am the Senior Outreach Coordinator in Windsor, MA and help provide assistance and support to any Windsor resident in need. I conduct well being checks and home visits. I also make sure that the income eligible ones access fuel assistance (BCAC), food program discounts on utility bills, and farmers market coupons. I can also research and manage available grants to help with the past due bills and mortgage payment. I have a special interest in mental health and memory care through my involvement with the Alzheimer's Association. I provide access to residents for the memory cafe and day program through the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center in Pittsfield. To further provide care to town residents, I organize CHP bus visits for the town for wellbeing checks and flu and covid vaccines. I also organize the Harm Reduction bus visits through the Berkshire Harm Reduction Mobile RV Outreach Program. I joined the MVP 2.0 Core Team because of my work as the Senior Outreach Coordinator, as this role provides critical information regarding the particular needs of the older population in town. Knowing “Olders” specific needs, I identify the dangers of climate change for food access, transportation, heat and cooling issues, and other medical issues. My jobs are very important to me for the caring and well being of the elderly population and them knowing I'm always here. John Denno Windsor Highway Department Superintendent I have resided in the quaint town of Windsor for most of my life. I was raised on North Street, along with my three sisters. In 1992 I took a break from the Northeast and ventured south for several years. About 19 years ago I returned to Berkshire County, purchased land in Windsor, and built a log cabin where I reside with my wife Colleen, who is an LPN. I have made a longstanding career out of operating heavy trucks, and heavy machinery since 1986. I worked for a few years in the construction business, operated super heavy haul trucks, hauling superloads all over the United States, Mexico, and Canada. I was also the owner/operator of Denno Transportation. I started working for the Town of Windsor as a driver/operator/laborer in 2014, and in July of 2018 I became the Highway Superintendent. I have a three-man crew, a fleet of 4, soon to be 5 large trucks, a town pickup truck, a new grader, loader, backhoe, zero turn mower with trailer, and a lot of useful equipment to enable myself and my crew to keep the town's properties and roads in very good condition. Here's a behind the scenes look of what I do from day to day as the Superintendent. I am involved with a team in writing grants, replacing vulnerable culverts that are at risk of failing, coordinating with many engineers and construction companies to design and replace culverts, and repair bridges. Management of beavers and the many dams around town, cleaning up the destruction that they cause, and working to minimize more damage and flooding. I work to improve the town's infrastructure, as well as keeping the town roads safe and accessible throughout the four seasons. I also enjoy my volunteer work as a First Responder and Firefighter, serving for about nine years. Liz Lounsbury Windsor MVP 2.0 Core Team Coordinator; School Committee Representative My name is Liz Lounsbury and I am the Windsor MVP 2.0 Core Team Coordinator. In this role, I am responsible for the development of regional partnerships, community relationships and the direction of the Team’s activities. I am the point of contact for community members who wish to know more about our project progress. I am also responsible for promoting the MVP 2.0 process in town, in the region and across the State. I am proud that the Core Team’s hard work in the MVP 2.0 pilot has promoted Windsor as the premier example of this process across the state of Massachusetts. After moving to Windsor in 2019, I jumped in to serve the town as the School Committee Representative for the Central Berkshire Regional School District, a position that I never anticipated holding, but greatly enjoy today. I am honored to represent students’ best interests across the seven district towns and provide a strong voice for the smaller Hilltowns. On the school committee, I serve in the following roles: * Chair of the Safety & Wellness subcommittee * Policy subcommittee member * Superintendent Evaluation subcommittee member * Health and Wellness Advisory representative I have loved Windsor’s natural beauty and good-natured neighbors since the day my family moved in and hope to use opportunities like the MVP 2.0 program to help the community for many years to come. My goal is to create a vibrant and resilient rural town that my son will cherish when he has his own family some day. Doug McNally Municipal Light Manager; Planning Board member; MVP 1.0 Co-Chair I am Doug McNally and I served on the Select Board from 2015-2023. I am currently on the planning board, serving as chair. As Municipal Light Plant manager, I continue to oversee the operation of the town fiber optic internet network. I also represent the town’s interests on the following boards: * Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and Chair of Commission Development Committee * Berkshire Regional Transit Authority as Chair of Board and member of the Finance Committee * Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District as Vice Chair of Board. In addition, I also oversee the ongoing operation of the transfer station. * Wired West Board as Chair. Wired West is the cooperative of six towns that share services for the financial and operational aspects of a town-owned network. * Wild and Scenic Westfield Committee. I am the BRPC representative to this board, but along with town appointed rep Jim Caffrey, advocates for Windsor. Madeline Scully Town Administrator My name is Madeline Scully and I am the Windsor Town Administrator, a position I have held since its creation 2023. Prior to that, I served as the Town Clerk for several years, where I helped to modernize town operations. I am the person that residents call if they have any questions or issues for any topic related to living in Windsor. I spent a fabulous childhood in Windsor, so when the opportunity presented itself upon retirement, I moved back and bought back my childhood home. There is no other place like Windsor, Massachusetts and I am committed to helping Windsor remain a vibrant, rural community. Community Engagement Events The MVP 2.0 Core Team held several community engagement events in 2024 to gather community input to help identify issues affecting Windsor and Western Massachusetts in general. These events allowed us to hear concerns of local Youngers and the community as a whole. See what we've been up to and what's to come! Trunk or Treat October 26, 2024 – Windsor Town Park We joined in at the scary Trick-or-Treating event hosted by the Windsor Parks and Recreation Committee. The Windsor MVP 2.0 team partnered with the Highway Department to hand out treats next to the Department's big dump truck. Sadly, the weather was too windy to announce our project to the attendees, but lots of excited children had plenty of fun! Windsor Families Dine and Discuss October 7, 2024 – Windsor Town Hall Over a pizza dinner, the MVP 2.0 Core Team hosted local families and residents for a discussion of our team's identified MVP 2.0 priorities for Windsor and asked residents to help select seed project ideas. For our small town, the event was well-attended, with approximately 15 attendees beyond the Core Team. Many attendees were older community members and one younger family including a first grader. Liz Lounsbury provided a short presentation on the work we have done for the last year and explained each of the nine priorities. After explanations of our priorities and a round of discussion for each, attendees selected their top three priorities. The top four selected priorities selected by residents were * Fire and EMT shortages * Culverts and bridges to mitigate inland flooding and road damage * Uncapped/naturally-capped landfill * Dirt/gravel road maintenance With these top priorities identified, Liz discussed project ideas for the top four priorities and allowed for discussion of additional project ideas. To finish the evening, we invited attendees to select their preferred projects. Neighbor Day Potluck September 28, 2024 – Windsor Town Park In partnership with the Parks and Recreation Committee, the Windsor MVP 2.0 Core Team set up a table to advertise our Windsor Family Dine and Discuss. The team distributed flyers to attendees and allowed them to help narrow down our list of 9 priorities by adding a sticker to priorities they were interested in the MVP 2.0 grant possibly addressing. Core Team members also helped to tear down invasive plant species that had overgrown parts of the Windsor Town Park and helped to install a horseshoe pit near the playground. Native American Artifacts and Birds of Prey Sponsored by Windsor MVP 2.0 and Windsor Free Public Library August 25, 2024 – Windsor Town Hall Native Americans revered birds of prey for their majestic appearance as well as for their hunting prowess. To invoke the spirit of these powerful predators, Native peoples followed the ancient tradition of wearing or carrying bird of prey feathers. They also admired the subtle beauty of raptor feathers, from the black-and-white tail feathers of juvenile golden eagles to the wing feathers of hawks and falcons, patterned with arrowhead-shaped markings. The strong connection between raptors and Native Americans was reinforced throughout this program. It combined LIVE birds of prey with authentic artifacts, many of museum quality, and both explained and showed how different Native American cultures transformed natural materials into objects of beauty and drama. Crafts displayed at this program ranged from shields and headdresses to clothing and jewelry. The MVP 2.0 Core Team elected to sponsor this event due to our focus on preservation of native species and the identified importance of raptors to a healthy regional ecosystem. Julie Ann Collier introduced audience members to five predatory birds native to Massachusetts: the American kestrel, the peregrine falcon, the red-tailed hawk, the barred owl, and the great horned owl. Collier excitedly educated the audience on the peregrine falcon’s come-back since its near-extinction by the 1970s. However, she warned of the dangers of pesticides and loss of habitat due to climate change on American kestrel populations; Without intervention, the species will likely not be seen in Massachusetts in the next few generations. She emphasized the importance of invested communities who push for the protection of all these beautiful birds. Council on Aging Coffee Social June 12, 2024 – Windsor Town Hall Local Seniors shared tales of past weather events and responded to queries about perceived changes in weather patterns. This resulted in all members having an increased awareness of climate change and how it may impact their lives and life in Windsor in the future. Noted changes included: * Fewer really big snowstorms and a significantly smaller snowpack * More frequent ice storms * Multiple Winter thaws which wreck gravel roads * Earlier last frost in Spring and later first frost in Fall * More extremely hot days in summer and longer hot spells * General weather weirding: Winter weather starts later and lasts into spring; more frequent strong windy days in late spring and summer * Impact of invasive species, weeds and pests * The attendees also identified how these changes have created specific challenges in their lives including winter ice storms and freeze thaws increase risk of icy conditions raising risks of ice caused falls; more frequent power outages with strong winds and ice; and general mobility issues both for walking and driving in bad weather. TAKE CHARGE! Student Climate Challenges Summit April 24, 2024 – Wahconah Regional High School During this “dine and discuss’ event, each invited group had the opportunity to present information on either what their group had recently done or a climate change- related topic of interest to their group. After the presentation section, we held the “dine and discuss” segment with dinner from a local pizzeria. Attendees broke into small groups to discuss the 4 following questions: * What is your biggest personal concern about climate change? How will this play out in your lifetime? * What is the top climate change challenge that you see as affecting Western Massachusetts? * What is something the community could do RIGHT NOW that would improve the climate outlook for this region? * How would hearing of a project focused on climate challenges in Windsor affect how often you visit the town or choose to live in Windsor? This very successful engagement event not only allowed the MVP 2.0 Core Team to gather relevant information from regional groups who are active in conservation and climate change-related projects, but more importantly began what we hope to be long lasting relationships that had not previously been developed between Windsor and local groups. Take Charge! Green Umbrella Presentation Take Charge! Team Earth Week Student Engagement at Wahconah April 23 and 24, 2024 – Wahconah Regional High School Over two days, Doug McNally and Liz Lounsbury provided information about MVP 2.0, climate change, and the upcoming TAKE CHARGE! Climate Challenges Summit. We asked students to answer 2 questions on a decorated posterboard: * What can we do TODAY to help our community TOMORROW? * What is your biggest climate change fear? This event was a great opportunity for the MVP 2.0 Core Team to hear from local students and resulted in 43 total responses from students. We specifically focused on our target demographic of students/young adults to uncover their concerns which could prompt MVP 2.0 project ideas based on their responses. Unlike the more targeted groups to attend the TAKE CHARGE! event, this gave a broader view of students’ thoughts about climate change issues in their lives. We specifically gathered this groups’ input because they experience unique, but similar challenges experienced by Windsor’s Youngers. For our first question “What can we do today to help our community tomorrow?”, we received 24 responses spanning 5 general topics: individual/societal shift, land stewardship, recycling efforts, education, and conservation. For our second question “What is your biggest climate change fear”, we received 19 response spanning 6 general topics: ecological change, natural disasters, industrial effects, water scarcity, temperature change, and inaction.

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

8e264af0-d4d6-418f-873a-e33ed70da580 Support for Aging in Windsor The Council on Aging tracks a number of service that may be helpful to those aging in Windsor. Home Modification Loans "Good Options for Independence" is a non-profit which operates a Home Modification Loan Program to assist homeowners in financing necessary adaptations to keep disabled or elderly family members in their homes and communities. Berkshire County residents should call the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission at 413-781-6045 and ask to speak with Shirley Stephens. You may also visit www.cedac.org/hmlp to learn more information, or watch a short video on the loan program. Heating Fuel Assistance The Berkshire Community Action Council, BCAC, oversees the federally funded fuel assistance program, running from November 1-April 30 each year. Detailed information to apply, including income guidelines (which are very generous) are available on the BCAC website. Call COA outreach 413-329-4364. Food Assistance Call COA outreach 413-329-4364. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Council on Aging

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

fbbc7dc7-5599-4ea5-b83f-8ab804643b29 Zoning Variance / Special Permits To apply for a zoning variance of special permit, please submit this application form [pdf] and any other application materials to the Town Clerk. Electronic copies are preferred via email, or you can submit 3 paper copies of all the materials to the Town Clerk. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Zoning Board of Appeals

1e8c8c6a-5952-423d-ac2f-ebcfbfd5de1e Pay Windsor Town Fees Paying Windsor Town Fees The following Windsor Town fees may be paid online: Property and Excise Taxes - If you pay electronically from your checking account, there is a minimal fee. If you pay with a credit card, there is a modest fee. (The actual fee varies, so you'll have to go to the website to see what it is.) If you send a paper check to the address on your tax bill (or drop it off at the Town Offices), there is no fee. Inspection fees are all paid online via the various inspection portals. All other fees (transfer station, dog license, firearms permit, home fire inspection, etc.) must be paid by paper check made out to "Town of Windsor" and delivered to the relevant department (Town Clerk, Police, or Fire). Related Services Related Boards & Departments Tax Collector/Treasurer

2c0e7c7f-81a2-482d-80c4-2b32693d67f6 Parks: What and Where? ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Parks & Recreation Westfield River