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- Cemetery plots and interments
c70de9cd-6bf3-4195-a3bd-3cd3a327c668 Cemetery plots and interments Cemeteries The Town of Windsor maintains 5 cemeteries holding approximately 1,100 people going back to 1774. Bush Cemetery East Windsor Cemetery Shaw Cemetery (with the new "Franek Lot") Peru Road Cemetery Windsor Hill Cemetery Plus, there is one grave marker on Savoy Road Plots Town residents may purchase a plot by contacting the Cemetery Commission chair. Cemetery plots are 4' x 10' and are available for $150 with a check to "Town of Windsor". Interments Full interments are to be managed by a funeral home and require a payment of $100 - Town of Windsor $100 - Sexton $550 - Excavator Cremation burial for an urn 12" x 6" ... 24" deep requires a payment of $100 - Town of Windsor $100 - Sexton Installation Corner Posts (4): $75 - Sexton Veteran Markers (granite): $45 - Sexton Veteran Markers (bronze): $60 - Sexton Flush Markers: $50 - Sexton Baby Markers (no larger than 21" x 10"): $45 - Sexton All rates are subject to change by the majority of the Cemetery Commission. There will be no interments November 1 – April 1 except with the approval of the Sexton. Full Cemetery Rules & Regulations [pdf]. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Cemetery Commission
- Parks: What and Where?
2c0e7c7f-81a2-482d-80c4-2b32693d67f6 Parks: What and Where? The Town of Windsor has several great places to visit - for families with children, people looking for some wooded solitude and beauty, and for those hoping to have some outdoor fun. Windsor Town Park The 5-acre park is located approximately 1/2 mile up Peru Rd on the left. It has a ball field, covered pavilion with picnic tables, a playground, and parking. It is open to all town residents. Summer activities include pick-up games and outdoor movies. The park is available for rental. Please read this description [pdf] for details. Notchview Cross-Country Skiing and Hiking The Trustees of Reservations (a private, not-for-profit land trust in the State of Massachusetts) maintains Notchview , an incredible protected 3,000 acre woodland that is available year round for hiking, and in the winter maintains an incredible network of cross-country ski trails. Winter ski passes are available sale at the visitor center, but if you tell them you are a resident of windsor, you can ski for free. Windsor State Forest - Swimming and the Windsor "Jambs" We are lucky enough to be the home of one of the Windsor State Forest . It is about 1,200 acres and the recreation area is in the middle of a significant renovation that is expected to open Summer 2021 for swimming in the dammed Westfield River with day use. The Windsor "Jambs" is an incredible deep fissure in the rocks with cold rough and exciting water. There is a parking lot at the top and a trail down the side with some incredible views. At the bottom of the trail (about 1/4 mile or so), the water levels out and there are some good rocks for wading and relaxing in the shade. Windsor Pond In the far north east corner of Windsor - accessible only by going out of Windsor to Savoy is a beautiful pond. About 50 acres, it is mostly accessible only through private land - but the large ramp is public access and available for swimming and boating. Eugene Moran Wildlife Management Area Mass Audobon manages this beautiful 1,462 acre Wildlife Management Area . Previously a dairy farm, it is now a prime destination for birding and nature walks. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Parks & Recreation Westfield River
- Apply for Permits
f3b72a29-1f3c-41e8-bd33-dd9117052816 Apply for Permits The Town of Windsor has adopted online permitting through the Berkshire Online Permitting System. Contractors and homeowners must set up an account in order to apply for permits as listed below. Board of Health Permits: Permit system , instructions [pdf] and fees [pdf] Building Permits: Permit eyes system Building Permit Fees Voted and Accepted at the June 1, 2020 Annual Town meeting Full list of building, electrical, and plumbing/gas permit fees [pdf] Related Services How & What to Get Inspected Related Boards & Departments Board of Health Inspections
- 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
- Master Plan for Windsor
d8f4e08c-da62-4a77-b5f2-accf57f22f0a Master Plan for Windsor 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 being finalized and anticipated to be released in late November 2022. Documents The Master Plan (Nov 2022) [pdf] Wild & Scenic Westfield River Stewardship Plan [pdf] Master Plan Survey Results [pdf] Related Services Related Boards & Departments Planning Board
- Staffing
069c0016-9f4b-4dab-8471-b477dba0bc73 Staffing The Town of Windsor is run by a combination of paid staff and volunteers. The following information applies to all people working for Windsor, whether paid, elected or appointed, unless otherwise noted. Board & Committee Handbook April 2024 [pdf] Employee Handbook Dec 2023 [pdf] (for paid staff only) Windsor Oath of Office All people working for windsor whether paid, elected or appointed must adhere to this oath of office. "I solumnly swear to faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me in accordance with the bylaws of the Town of Windsor and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I promise to own my office, using my talents to help Windsor be the best place it can be." Open Meeting Law All people working for windsor whether paid, elected or appointed must follow Massachusetts open meeting laws. Furthermore, each person is expected to take the following training. Training [external site] - Massachusetts maintains a website that provides training about the Open Meeting Law. Conflict of Interest Law The conflict of interest law, M.G.L. Chapter 268A, seeks to prevent conflicts between private interests and public duties, foster integrity in public service, and promote the public’s trust and confidence in that service by placing restrictions on what municipal employees may do on the job, after hours, and after leaving public service. In compliance with Section 27 of the law, every state, county and municipal employee shall, within 30 days of becoming such an employee, and on an annual basis thereafter , review this summary of the COI law prepared by the State Ethics Commission and sign the acknowledgment at the end of the summary and return it to the Town Clerk . In addition, all employees must complete the e-learning course provided by the State Ethics Commission . Municipal employees are required to take the course every other year for the duration of their employment. It provides an overview of the state conflict of interest law and the various issues you might encounter as a public employee. Recognizing and properly responding to a conflict of interest is a key element to maintaining the public’s confidence in government and in the integrity of the work we do as public employees. If, after taking this course, you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the State Ethics Commission. Upon completion, you must send the provided certificate of training to the Windsor Town Clerk. Employment Opportunities If the Town of Windsor has any employment opportunities, they will be listed here along with an application [Google Drive]. Related Services Related Boards & Departments
- Paying Heating Bills
c83998ca-e24c-4da9-94b5-5ab392c137a1 Paying Heating Bills Staying Warm This Winter - BCAC Can Help Jan 20, 2025 Brochure [pdf] We all know someone – a friend, neighbor, family member or co-worker - who could use a little help to stay warm this winter. Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)’s Heating Fuel Assistance Program can help income eligible households with their heating bill. The program is accepting applications now through April 30th. Homeowners and renters may both be eligible to receive some help. All primary heating types may be eligible for assistance, including oil, propane, kerosene, coal, cord wood, wood pellets, natural gas and electric. Any household whose gross yearly income falls at or below the program income guidelines for the number of people in the household may be eligible. For example, a household of one can have an income of up to $49,196; a household of two can have an income of up to $64,333; a household of three can have an income of up to $79,470; and a household of four can have an income of up to $94,608 and be eligible. Once a household is determined eligible for fuel assistance, the household may also be eligible for BCAC’s Heating System Repair and Replacement, and Home Weatherization Assistance Programs. Eligible households may also be eligible for BCAC’s Refrigerator and Washing Machine Replacement Program, which replaces older high energy using models with new energy efficient ones. If you are eligible for fuel assistance you may also be eligible for a discount on your utilities. For more information or to begin the application process, call BCAC at 413-445-4503 (Central/South County) or 413-663-3014 (North County) Monday - Thursday between 9am to 3pm; or the 24-hour information line: 1-866-216-6200. To apply on line visit BCAC's online customer portal at: toapply.org/BCAC. BCAC's website is: www.bcacinc.org. Please contact BCAC today to apply. Related Services Related Boards & Departments
- Code Red
678b19a4-28b2-484e-9141-e7138972d58d Code Red Sign up for Code Red Alerts . It’s IMPORTANT. Windsor will not abuse the service. You will be notified in the event of a true emergency, such as a forest fire, evacuation order or something very important to the residents of Windsor. Register on your cell by texting WINDSOR to 99411 Register online Download the mobile app Questions: Call the Windsor Emergency Manager, Trinity Koch 413-684-3811 ext 9 Related Services Related Boards & Departments 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
- Food Security in Windsor
a8a4e125-1e12-48ce-8422-3c0cd19d118f Food Security in Windsor This initiative is supported by volunteer Windsor residents building town infrastructure to strengthen food security. Our immediate work is assisting Windsor residents who are in need of food due to instability in SNAP resources. If you are a Windsor resident in need of immediate food assistance, please submit a confidential request here . This request will go directly to Kim Tobin and should include your name, address, residents in household, and if there are children. You can also submit a request through the Town Administrator or the Outreach Coordinator ( Jessica Buoymaster ). Existing Resources: Food Bank of Western MA Food Finder Find food locations within 10 miles of Windsor Massachusetts SNAP benefits Massachusetts Healthy Initiatives Program (HIP) Mountain Girls Farms will arrange local mobile delivery in winter months. Upcoming Activities: Jan 24, 2026, 10am - noon: Distribution for residents at Windsor Town Hall Suggested donations include the following ( flyer [pdf]): 100% Fruit Juice Cooking oil Paper Towels Toilet Paper Toothpaste Deodorant Low Sodium Soups Sugar-free Applesauce Sugar-free Canned Fruits Gluten-Free items Canned Tuna, Chicken, Ham No Pasta Please PLEASE DO NOT DONATE PERISHABLE OR FROZEN FOODS, OR ITEMS IN GLASS JARS. Related Services Related Boards & Departments
- 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
- 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










