Newly formed Windsor Association requests help with community improvements.
By: Cynthia Koons
WASHINGTON The village of Windsor wants to be heard.
With 50 members, a new residents group calling itself the Windsor Association approached the Washington Township Committee last week to make its concerns known.
"We appreciate the past efforts of the Township Committee regarding Windsor village, namely (with regard to) town beautification," group spokesperson Chris Harbach said. "However we also recognize that more needs to be done, especially regarding safety issues."
Truck traffic and speeding, as well as ditch cleanup and encroaching development, are three problems the group is working to resolve with the Township Committee’s help.
"We would like to work with the (committee) to find solutions to these pressing issues which affect our quality of life," Mr. Harbach said. "To that end, we have committed a representative of our association to attend every committee meeting to record information and to measure progress."
In their first night of lobbying on Jan. 23., members Al Walker, Cathy Lubbe and Laura Friedman all addressed aspects of the group’s platform.
"Church Street is a busy road, and we’ve known that since we moved in," Ms. Friedman said. "Rather than just complain, I’ve looked into solutions."
Equipped with a packet on state transportation laws, she pointed out that "large trucks" do not appear to be allowed on Route 641 (Church Street). The group suggested fining truckers who disobey this law, she said.
"It appears to be an enforcement issue," Township Administrator Jack West said, adding that the committee will need to clarify the details surrounding the law.
Regarding drainage issues, the group urged the committee to clean some of the clogged ditches in the Windsor neighborhood that date back to the village’s rural past.
Addressing the encroaching development that threatens Windsor’s small-town feel, Ms. Lubbe questioned the proposed construction of a Mobile gas station close to South Main Street.
"We’re concerned about the boundaries of development," she said. "As a group, we do have issues with our fifth gas station coming to town.
"We are all taking this as a very serious commitment to bettering the town," she said.
Committee member Vince Calcagno said he was supportive of the group’s initiatives.
"It’s actually very good that you have a group in the town," he said. "You’re probably aware that we have a plan to move (Department of Public Works) out of (Windsor)."
Because the former Public Works building will be left vacant in Windsor, Mr. Calcagno encouraged the new group to generate ideas for its fate.
"That’s kind of like a homework assignment," he said.

