Town Manager's Report - June 18th 2018
Farmer’s Market to Begin Thursday
First Town Downtown is bringing back the Farmers Market for its 10th year this summer beginning June 28th. The Farmer’s Market will be held on Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM at 240 Broad Street (corner of Broad and Maple) through October 18th. Get locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, baked goods, herbs, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese and more. For more information call 860-688-5715.
Concerts on the Green
The Windsor Chamber of Commerce and First Town Downtown invite you to the summer concert series sponsored by Windsor businesses. Concerts will begin on June 28th and be held every Thursday until August 23rd. Performances are from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM on the Windsor Town Green. Free to the public. For more information call 860-688-5165 or 860-688-5715.
‘AAA’ Credit Rating Affirmed
I’m pleased to report that Standard and Poor’s (S & P) has reaffirmed the Town’s AAA credit rating for the 2018 bond issue. Our rating was affirmed after S&P reviewed and analyzed various aspects of the local and regional economy, recent economic development activity, management practices, fiscal and debt management practices, budgetary performance, retirement plan stewardship and our other post-employment benefits program. The Credit Profile report was issued earlier this week and documents a number of positive assertions put forth by S & P, such as our “strong economy, strong management practices as well as strong budgetary performance and flexibility,” to name a few. I’d like to thank Jim Bourke, Finance Director for doing a fine job in preparing information for the rating process.
Bond Sale Results
Our bond sale occurred last week. The town received five bids. Roosevelt & Cross from New York was the low bidder. The issue consisted of $6,765,000 in general obligation bonds and will fund a variety of projects including school HVAC improvements at Kennedy School and Oliver Ellsworth Elementary, town hall portico restoration and streetlight replacement. The term is 15 years. Annual interest rates range from 2.0% to 5.0%. Over the life of the term the average rate or “coupon” is 3.10%. The town received a premium of approximately $153,000 that will be placed into the debt service fund and be used for future debt service. The spread between bidders was about 0.25% which is considered a good, competitive bid result. We will close on the sale and receive the bond proceeds on Thursday June 28th.
Public Works and Engineering Updates
Prospect Hill Road
The majority of the work is complete. The contractor has some minor drainage work, roadside restoration and landscaping work remaining. Final paving is expected to be done in early July. Any remaining punch list items will follow and he should be wrapped up by the end of July.
Bloomfield Avenue Paving
State of CT DOT has indicated repaving of Bloomfield Avenue, its entire length, is now scheduled to take place in September.
Pedestrian Safety Beacons
Town crews have installed the rapid flashing pedestrian crossing beacon on Route 75 near Ox Cart Drive. Crews will continue installation work on 3 additional crossings – Broad Street near the entrance to Geissler’s Plaza, Broad Street at Sycamore and Windsor Avenue at Faneuil Street. This work is planned to done in the next 30 to 45 days as the workload schedule allows.
Athletic Field Project – Windsor High
Contractors are planning on starting work on the Windsor High Athletic Field renovation project once school is recessed for summer. This work will entail such tasks as reconstructing the Varsity and Junior Varsity softball fields, installing new fencing, dugouts, as well as making repairs to the Junior Varsity baseball field. Fields could be available for use as soon as the 2019 seasons.
Day Hill Road Reconstruction
We have selected B&W Paving of Waterford, CT, to undertake reconstruction of Day Hill between Northfield Drive and Marshal Phelps Road. Construction is expected to commence in July and be substantially complete by October first. The majority of the work will occur during the overnight hours. The project costs are being paid for through a State of CT grant.
Taxes Due July 1, 2018
Tax bills are scheduled to be mailed on June 22, 2018. Real estate, personal property taxes and motor vehicle taxes are due in full on July 1, 2018 and payable by August 1, 2018. Unpaid taxes will be considered delinquent on August 2, 2018. On that dateinterest will be charged from the original due date of July 1, 2018. If any taxpayer has not received their tax bills by July 1, 2018, they should contact the Tax Office at 860-285-1810 to obtain a copy.
The Tax office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM or you can pay online with an electronic check or with your debit/credit card.
Detailed information is available at the town’s website at www.townofwindsorct.com or by contacting the Tax Office at 860-285-1810.