Flowers Coming Back to Windham

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - Flowers will be gracing downtown Windham again, and the local police department is going to be rosier, following actions taken by local government leaders.

Town council members, at a recent meeting, approved a bid from SD Landscapes and Design for supplying, planting, watering and generally maintaining the nosegays along Main Street and beyond.

It costs a pretty penny, $20,250, but has perennially been worth the money, officials say, even as the price rises for the job like everything else.

There is also the possibility that, “people would tar and feather me if we didn’t do this,” town supervisor Thomas Hoyt said, light-heartedly.

Only the air and rain are free as the work is divided into two sections including $14,650 for the nitty gritty stuff, likewise performed by SD Landscapes and Design, last year.

“All garden beds will be planted by May 23 (weather permitting),” the bid document states, including removal of debris, soil amendments, fresh potting soil in the flower boxes, etc.

“The Windham Cemetery will include…pruning and removal of existing shrubs, perennial care or replacement as needed, fertilization and mulch,” the bid papers state.

Attention will be given to, “additional area planted by the front entrance of the sewer plant,” at the west end of South Street, the bid papers state.

“Also suggested to replace the two smaller overgrown shrubs by the bench near the [public] library bed with two smaller sized. The larger burning bushes would stay.

“Annual flowers included in planting will consist of angelonia, begonias, marigolds, zinnias, dianthus, dahlias, argrymanthemum, salvias, geraniums, and lantana.”

“Plants are chosen by long bloom time, color availability and durability for specific areas,” the bid papers state, extending from the east and west entryways to town and the hamlet of Hensonville park.

In terms of routine watering and maintenance, that bill comes to $5,600, attending to weeding, fall cleanup of all dead plants and cutting back of perennials in beds, forgetting-me-not the ambulance building.

The visuals, as usual, will be arresting for residents, visitors and passersby, and speaking of arresting, the police department has hired a new parttime officer who is no peach-fuzzed rookie.

“This gentleman is a heck of a find for our town,” Hoyt said after council members approved the addition of James Fitzmaurice to the force.

Fitzmaurice’s joining came as the result of a letter from police chief Richard

Selner who wrote, “I am respectfully requesting for the Windham town board to hire James Fitzmaurice.

“I have known James Fitzmaurice personally and professionally throughout my career. James is recently retired from the New York State police and is looking to continue his career with the Windham Police Department.

“James retired with the rank of sergeant and was a first-line supervisor at the Catskill barracks,” Selner wrote.

“James brings with him a list of certifications and knowledge that will be beneficial to the Windham. Police Department,” Selner wrote.

Fitzmaurice’s family is well-respected in law enforcement, including James’ father, Jim, a retired State Police BCI Investigator, similarly stationed in Catskill, and James’ brother William, also with the State Police.

Council members welcomed Fitzmaurice while bidding an unwelcome adieu to longtime tax collector clerk Edith Buel.

“I am writing to inform you of my intent to resign since I will be retiring. My last day will be April 15, 2025,” Buel stated in her letter to the board.

“Life is fleeting so I have decided to leave the workforce so I can enjoy watching my grandchildren grow up,” Buel wrote.

“I am very much looking forward to my next chapter. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have worked for the town of Windham. It has been an honor to work with everyone,” Buel wrote.

Tax collector Kathy Murray is expected to refill the parttime post. “We used to have a thousand tax bills. Now we have four times as many,” Hoyt said, noting a letter of sincere thanks would be penned to Buel.

In a final matter, council members agreed to reimburse local VFW Post #1545 for American flags “planted” for sundry respectful purposes.

The veterans place flags at several sites, including graveyards, as part of Memorial Day and Flag Day remembrances, also distributing them in conjunction with their annual Tag Day fundraising events.

“This is something the town has always sponsored,” Hoyt said, noting any and all donations from Flag Day, etc, are channelled to Post upkeep.