Cavendish Update 1/16/26: SB Mtg/Budget/Rec/Wkshop/Greven
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1/16/26
1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 1/12/26
2. Greven Field: Planning Commission Meeting
3. 18th Century Valentine’s Workshop
4. Cavendish Related News
5. Events Calendar
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 1/12: The video of the monthly Cavendish Select Board (SB) meeting is available at the Okemo Valley TV Website. Unapproved minutes are available at the Town’s website
Note that Layne Millington, TRSU Superintendent, did not attend the meeting and therefore not available to discuss the school budget. However, a forum is being held on Jan. 20th (Tuesday) at 6 pm at CTES, with two goals-provide voters with information about school tax rates and to begin the discussion of current class sizes compared to Act 73’s requirement. Community members are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts and ideas on how toachieve these class size targets. Zoom Access: https://trsu.zoom.us/j/89934892830?jst=2
Items Approved
• To hold the Town’s Informational Meeting at 10 am on Feb. 28 at Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES), pending approval by the school’s principal
• To say the Pledge of Allegiance at SB meetings after the meeting has been called to order
Discussed
Elimination of the Town Recreation Director Position: Until 2014, Cavendish did not have a paid recreation director. The schools sports program was coordinated by parents with the assistance of the school’s administrative assistant. Due to several factors-the flooding of Greven Field and its extensive rebuild following tropical storm Irene in 2011, a declining school enrollment (dropped from 130 in 1993 to 91 in 2014) and the school’s administrative asst. retiring, parents wanted a recreation director to run the school’s sports program and to offer programming for the entire community. In the ensuing years, it was not for lack of trying various programs like volley ball, ice skating etc., but adults didn’t attend. Further, Greven Field would periodically flood causing delays and cancellations of events.
Starting with the July 2023 floods, Greven Field flooded four times within a 12 month period, making it unusable as a ball field. In addition, the enrollment at CTES for students in K-6 has dropped to 62 students.
While those in attendance, as well as those who wrote letters, expressed frustration that they were not informed about the possibility of this position being eliminated, so planning or other avenues could be explored, Selectman Dave Norton stated that this has been up for discussion starting with last year’s Informational Meeting held prior to Town Meeting. It was discussed at the Budget meetings on Dec. 22 and Jan. 5.
The concerns of the SB board about a need for a rec director focused on the fact that the programming offered is “in-school programs.” As selectman Mike Ripley noted, he thought the recreation director does a lot for the school, which was fine when it was our own school district, but now the Town is paying for TRSU to have a recreation program.
While the current rec director thought Greven Field could be redone, town manager Rick Chambers said that wasn’t realistic. Greven would be an informal area for recreation but not a baseball and soccer field like before. [See item 2 below for discussion on Greven Field at the January 7 Planning Committee meeting].
During the discussion at the Jan. 5th meeting where the board voted on eliminating the rec director position, Mike asked where is the cut off point for the number of students in the school to do this. Dave said that he thought that someone at the school could coordinate sports. Shannon (Deverux) suggested that the TRSU should have one person to coordinate all schools sports. She also thought Cavendish kids could play on other school’s teams. Dave didn’t say there shouldn’t be school sports, he just thought someone else should do it.
Chambers pointed out that the current rec director’s position ends June 30th so there is time to make plans for the 2026/2027 school year and funds are being left in the recreation budget for equipment and/or payments to other towns so kids can play there.
Water: The recent holiday season saw a return of brown water to municipal water users, particularly in Proctorsville. Chambers explained this was due to high usage. Normally, the town uses about 65,000 gallons of water daily, but during the recent holidays, the town was averaging 135,000 gallons per day.
As water moves through the pipes, naturally occurring minerals fall out, creating sediment in the pipes. When the lines are flushed, the sediment is stirred up resulting in brown water.
Cavendish filters it’s water, due to high levels of naturally occurring iron and manganese, so that slows the process of how quickly the water supply can be replaced during high peak times. Further, at the levels of holiday demand, the water is moving through the pipes with the same type of force that occurs when the town does fall and spring flushing, when water users see brown and cloudy water. With bi annual flushing this water goes out through hydrants, where now it’s coming into peoples’ homes.
Christmas and New Year’s occurred at such a time to allow two steady weeks of high water usage due to visitors. Even though the water tanks in both Cavendish and Proctorsville were filled to overflowing before the holiday season began, it wasn’t possible to keep up with the demand.
It's clear that changes are needed. Chambers discussed having an engineering study that provides reasonable solutions, recognizing the high cost of adding a second filtration system as well as a new transmission line from the Cavendish water plant to Proctorsville. While there isn’t the kind of funding there once was for this type of infrastructure project, the engineering study would be able to identify possible funding sources, including low and no cost loans.
Chambers said that anyone with questions should call him at the town office 802-226-7291.
VTRANS Railroad Project: The railroad project at the intersection of Routes 103 and 131 will take place in the next few weeks. They will be staging for the project on Greven Rd. Extension.
Speed Limit Signage: Chambers has been told by the state that the speed limit signs by the school will be installed in the spring.
Elections: Petitions for town elected positions need to be picked up from the town office and requires signatures of 12 Cavendish registered voters. Petitions need to be returned to the Town Office by January 26th by 5 pm.
Next Budget Meeting: The meeting has been set for January 26 at 6:30 pm.
2. GREVEN FIELD:Planning Commission Meeting: Okemo Valley TV website has a video of the January 7 meeting and the Town Website includes unapproved minutes. Kelly Stettner of Black River Action Team (BRAT) joined the Planning Commission discussion on Greven Field Restoration and an action plan for spring/summer 2026. There was agreement that this needed to be a flood plain but that it could serve the community by offering walking/nature trails, wildlife tracking, bird watching, plant and flower education, painting classes and other low impact workshops. To prepare the field for such activities the following will be needed:
• Removal of the Green Monster, approved by the SB, and offered to anyone who might want a piece of it. The removal will be done by a contractor.
• Knotweed eradication is an important component of flood plain management. Stettner is waiting on an estimate from Amy Braxmier about using her goats at Greven, which can effectively remove invasive plants without using herbicides. Before goats can be brought to Greven, the field needs to be free of all debris. While a considerable amount of work has been done there, more is still needed. It was suggested that Green Up Day-the first Saturday in May-would be a good time for a community clean-up of Greven. Stettner thought the goats would arrive late May or early June.
• Stettner will also be looking into other measures of bank stabilization.
• Tim Calabresse has agreed to develop sketches about the proposed plan and put them out for public comment.
• There is about $6,500 to help with Greven Restoration, but it will go very quickly.
3. 18th CENTURY VALENTINE WORKSHOP: In keeping with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) is running a series of events in 2026 to honor this occasion.
Letter writing in the Revolutionary War time period was not only a way to stay in touch with friends and family, write a valentine or conduct business, but it was critical to spying and winning the war. Using codes, ciphers and various “letter locking” techniques, messages were continually being sent by both patriots and loyalists.
On February 7 (Saturday) at 1:30 pm at the Cavendish Library, 573 Main St., Proctorsville, CHS will be hosting a workshop where participants will learn about the role of letter writing in the 18th century and have a chance to: write a Valentine using a “quill pen,” try various types of letter locking and seal it with wax. This workshop is free and open to the public. It is recommended for those 12 and up.
In the event the workshop has to be changed due to weather, information will be posted to www.facebook.com/cavendishvt by 10 am on Feb. 7. For more information call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com
4.CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
• Respiratory Weekly Report: The health department’s Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont reports Covid as “high” and flu as “very high” concentrations in Ludlow waste water, for the week of 1/4/26-1/10/26. Masks and hand sanitizer are available at the Cavendish Cares closet next to the Museum steps.
5. EVENTS
JANUARY 19 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King’s Day, Legal Holiday
JANUARY 26 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board Budget meeting, 6 pm at the Cavendish Town Office.
FEBRUARY 7 (SATURDAY): CHS free workshop: Write an 18th Century Valentine. The workshop will include: writing with a “quill pen,” examples of letters written for Valentine’s Day, folding the letter and sealing it with wax (letter locking). 1-2:30 at the Cavendish Library, 573 Main St., Proctorsville. Recommended for those 12 and up. FMI 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
FEBRUARY 14 (SATURDAY): Happy Valentine’s Day
FEBRUARY 15 (SUNDAY): Cavendish 3rd quarter taxes due. Note, you have until Monday Feb. 16 to make payments.
FEBRUARY 16 (MONDAY): President’s Day, Legal Holiday
FEBRUARY 28 (SATURDAY): CHS Workshop: In keeping with Black History Month, this workshop will include screening portions of Ken Burns’ American Revolution series on the role of black patriots, the Ethiopian Army, and two Cavendish patriots-Peter Tumbo and Prince Robinson-who had been enslaved and made their way to Cavendish after the war. 1-2:30 pm at the Cavendish Library. Recommended for those 12 and up
MARCH 14 (SATURDAY): CHS Workshop- Celebrating Women’s History month, this workshop will discuss the role of women in the American Revolution and will include screening segments of the American Revolution series. This workshop will include a “taste of history,” where “Liberty Tea” will be served.
