Weather Advisory

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — The National Weather Service has indicated that our local forecast calls for snow showers increasing to a steady snow starting early Saturday around 4 a.m.

West Haven DPW crews will be out before, during and after the snow ends to ensure that roads are clear of any snow. Snowfall of 1 inch or less is expected.

Although the impacts are expected to be minor, it is recommended to drive carefully in the morning hours and give yourself extra time to travel as some slick spots can be expected.

As temperatures rise, any impacts should be all clear by mid-to-late morning.

Tax relief programs for elderly, disabled homeowners offered

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — The assessor’s office is accepting applications by appointment for tax relief programs for elderly and disabled homeowners.

West Haven residents can apply for the programs, based on their 2024 taxable and untaxable incomes, weekdays from Feb. 18-May 15 in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. For an appointment, call 203-937-3515. No walk-ins.

The state offers a tax reduction benefit depending on income and marital status through the circuit breaker program. To qualify, the applicant or spouse must be 65 or older by Dec. 31, 2024, or permanently and totally disabled as defined by Social Security.

Income limits, including Social Security, are $55,100 for married applicants and $45,200 for a single applicant. Those eligible for the program must reapply every two years.

To qualify for the West Haven tax freeze program, the applicant must be age 70 by Dec. 31, 2024, and have lived in the city for at least 20 consecutive years with nobody under age 25 living in the home. The program will freeze the city portion of the resident’s taxes only for the upcoming year.

Income limits, excluding Social Security, are $50,000 for married applicants and $35,000 for a single applicant. Those eligible for the program must reapply annually.

The assessor’s office is also accepting applications until Oct. 1 for additional veterans exemptions. The maximum income is $55,100 for married applicants and $45,200 for a single applicant.

For veterans who are 100% service connected, income limits are $24,000 for married applicants and $21,000 for a single applicant. Social Security and veterans disability payments do not count for 100% disabled veterans only. All other ratings must include veterans disability payments and Social Security.

Dubel’s Cafe tees off for breast cancer scholarship

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — (Pictured): Dubel’s Cafe owner Fred Hugendubel, a co-chairman of the annual Dubel’s Golf Tournament, presents a $6,300 check to the West Haven Breast Cancer Awareness Program at City Hall on Monday.

The money raised at the October tournament will benefit the program’s Susan A. Ruickoldt Scholarship Fund.

The fund was founded in March 2003 to raise breast cancer awareness in honor of Ruickoldt, who taught third grade at Savin Rock Community School before dying of breast cancer in 1997.

Each spring since 2003, scholarship organizers have awarded $2,000 in Ruickoldt’s memory to a female high school senior from West Haven who plans to continue her education.

(City Photo/Beth A. Sabo)

West Haven offers free radon test kits for National Radon Action Month

City offers free radon test kits for National Radon Action Month

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — January is National Radon Action Month, and the city Health Department is encouraging residents to protect their health by testing their homes for radon.

Radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer, is a colorless, odorless and naturally occurring radioactive gas formed from the natural decay of uranium. It is found in rock, water and soil.

While radon in outdoor air poses a relatively low risk to human health, it can enter homes from the surrounding soil and become a health hazard inside buildings, according to city health officials.

Testing for radon is recommended every two years, officials said.

A limited number of free radon test kits have been made available to West Haven residents by the state Department of Public Health. To receive a test kit, call the city Health Department at 203-937-3660.

Learn more about radon at the DPH Radon Program.

WH DPW issues reminders for Christmas trees, holiday trash pickup

Reminders issued for Christmas trees and holiday trash pickup

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — The Department of Public Works reminds residents not to put Christmas trees in plastic bags or stands for curbside pickup.

Lights must also be removed from Christmas trees. Plastic bags and other items can become tangled in the machine that grinds the trees into compost.

Christmas trees will be picked up in January and February only. City residents needing a pickup after Feb. 28 will be charged a $25 fee. Christmas trees can also be brought to the compost site at 1 Kimberly Ave.

Also, residents are reminded that five 2025 holidays will delay curbside pickup one day.

Affordable Waste Systems LLC of East Haven, West Haven’s private contractor for rubbish and recyclables, will not pick up rubbish, recyclables or metals on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If a holiday falls on a weekday, pickup for that week will be delayed one day. But when a holiday like Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, only Thursday and Friday’s collections will be delayed one day.

Thanksgiving is also the only holiday that excludes metal pickup in those affected districts.

Separate metals and recyclables from regular trash.

Detailed information about the city’s trash and recycling guidelines is available at Bulk Trash Pickup & Other Services.

The brick Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park, West Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh, File)

Veterans Council launches 2025 Brick Campaign

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — The West Haven Veterans Council has launched the 17th phase of its popular Brick Campaign.

In November 2006, the council began the first of 17 campaigns selling bricks to memorialize veterans on the 100-yard Walk of Honor between the William A. Soderman and Vietnam Veterans memorials.

The bricks, which cost $75, have charcoal lettering for personalized messages.

About 3,000 bricks have been installed to date, including 47 for Phase 16, which was dedicated May 25, 2024.

Download a brick application here.

Applications, due March 14, are also available in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St. For details, call 203-937-3510.

Taxes due now in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — The second installment of city tax bills — real estate, personal property, motor vehicle, sewer — was due Jan. 1, and payments after Feb. 3 are considered delinquent and subject to interest, per state law.

The 2023 supplemental motor vehicle bills are for vehicles registered after Oct. 1, 2023, and were also due Jan. 1.

After Feb. 3, interest will be charged on the installment due from Jan. 1 at the rate of 1 ½% per month.

Payments — full or partial — can be made by cash, check, credit card, debit card or money order from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the tax office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. The building has an ATM on the first floor.

Taxpayers can also make payments online at My Tax Bill. Sewer bills are on the same page but under a separate tab. Tax payment history can also be viewed and printed.

The fees for credit cards and electronic checks are available at Payments.

During tax season, taxes can be paid by the drop box outside the interior door of the tax office from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do not leave cash or credit card information in the drop box.

When paying by drop box, the canceled check is the receipt.

Taxes can also be paid by mail to the Office of the Tax Collector, City of West Haven, P.O. Box 401, West Haven, CT 06516.

Anyone needing a motor vehicle clearance must pay by cash, credit card, debit card or money order.

West Haven property owners should be advised that the January installment of taxes does not reflect any changes in real property assessments that may have been indicated in a revaluation notice they have received. The revaluation adjustments will be applied to the tax billing starting in July. For more information, visit the Assessor’s Office webpage .

As part of the city’s revaluation, property values have increased. However, to ensure that the overall tax burden remains balanced, the mill rate will be adjusted downward. The adjustment will help offset the increase in property values, resulting in a more equitable tax bill.