LINKS TO CAVENDISH CONNECTS: Facebook Blue Sky or Website
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE: Only two candidates appear on the Nov. 3 ballot for the seven Cavendish elected Justice of the Peace (JP) positions. If you are interested in being a write-in, please let people know of your interest. Twelve (12) write ins are needed to be appointed to the position. JPs serve a two-year term. Responsibilities include managing local and statewide elections, sitting on the Board of Civil Authority and Board of Abatement, hearing property tax appeals, administering oaths, and solemnizing marriages. FMI: Call the town office 802-226-7291 The Vermont Justice of the Peace Guide
WINTER PARKING BAN GOES INTO EFFECT NOV. 1 & INCLUDES THE PROCTORSVILLE GREEN.According to Section 4 of the town’s parking ordinance, “The operator of a motor vehicle is forbidden to park a vehicle on any of the streets or highways within the Town of Cavendish between the hours of 12 o’clock midnight and 6 a.m. of the following morning between November 1st and the following April 1st of each year. Offending vehicles will be towed away at the owner’s expense." This ordinance does not apply to state roads such as 131.
SATURDAY: PRESCRIPTION TAKE BACK DAY. Mail in or drop off your unused or expired medications. Drop off locations are available throughout Vermont. The closest ones to Cavendish are the Ludlow and Springfield Police Departments. Check the VT Dept. of Health’s website for more info on prescription drug disposal
BOATERS & PADDLERS: Vermont has a new cold-water life jacket law. November 1 - May 1, anyone on the open deck of a vessel underway on Vermont waterways MUST wear a properly secured, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. This rule applies to motorboats, sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
TUESDAY LAST DAY TO MAIL BALLOTS: You can drop them off at the town office or at the polls (Proctorsville Fire Hall) on Election Day Nov 3 from 10-7.
LEAVING CAVENDISH THIS WINTER? Avoid burst and frozen pipes! Call the Town office to schedule a shut off date of your Municipal Water 802-226-7291. It’s free!
10/23/26
1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 10/19/26
2. Cavendish Civics 101-Town Meeting/Voting
3. Cavendish Related News
4. Events Calendar
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 10/19/26: The video of the October Cavendish Select Board (SB) meeting is available at the Okemo Valley TV Website. Unapproved minutes are posted to the Town’s website.
ATVs on Town Roads: This is the third meeting since May where the SB has discussed the possibility of an ordinance allowing ATVs on town roads. SB member Sandra Russo started the discussion by stating that she appreciates people being present and has read all the comments both pro and con. Because she believes the people of Cavendish deserve to know the full impact of such an ordinance, she made the following motion, to postpone further action on a Draft ATV Ordinance at this time, and to refer the matter to the Cavendish Planning Commission to conduct a comprehensive study on local enforcement feasibility, financial impacts, and neighboring town case studies with a requirement that the Planning Commission report their findings back to the select board within three to four months.
Seconded by Mike Ripley, he asked the audience if an impact study was done would those present still be opposed to ATVs on town roads, regardless of the report’s findings. Given the response – many in attendance don’t want ATV traffic of any sort- Ripley stated that instead of spending lots of time discussing and reviewing drafts for a proposed ordinance, that the issue be put before the town voters. If they vote no, that’s the end of discussion. If they vote yes, then it’s time for an impact study, drafting of an ordinance and public hearings etc.
A petition, with over 100 signatures, was read by Matt Seaton. Note that two petitions, with slightly different wording but similar intent, were circulated. The petition read by Seaton was as follows:
We, the undersigned residents and property owners of the Town of Cavendish, Vermont, hereby formally register our OPPOSITION to the proposed ordinance that would open town roads to All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) traffic.
We urge the Select Board to protect the safety, environment, and peaceful character of our town by voting AGAINST this proposal.
Reasons for Opposition: We oppose a general opening of Cavendish town roads to ATVs and UTVs for the following reasons:
• Noise, Pollution, and Quality of Life: The high-decibel noise generated by ATVs and UTVs will adversely affect taxpayers’ enjoyment of the peace and quiet of their homes, and potentially degrade property values. In addition, ATVs’ and UTVs’ engine exhaust and lack of emissions control produce pollution that is a public-health hazard in residential areas.
• Infrastructure Costs: The additional traffic of ATVs and UTVs with aggressive all-terrain tire treads will have a physical impact on unpaved town roads, imposing extra costs on taxpayers for additional road maintenance.
• Public Safety and Liability: Creating off-road vehicle traffic on narrow, unpaved town roads represents a safety hazard for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians. The town’s limited law-enforcement resources mean that ATV/UTV use will go effectively unpoliced.
• Lack of Compelling Need: By reason of their ownership of an ATV or UTV, those who participate in off-road vehicle recreation either also own or have access to a trailer to transport their vehicle to trailheads.
Ripley said that he started out thinking this was going to be like the snowmobiles with their VAST trails, but he now realizes that it’s a much bigger issue and with the overwhelming letters and e-mails they’ve received it appears many in the community are against ATVs on town roads. He further noted that this issue wouldn’t impact him because of where he lives in Proctorsville and only impacts a small part of town. However, an ATV rider pointed out that if town roads were available it would impact Ripley due to his proximity to the state forest. Others in the audience made comments about how ATVs would be everywhere.
As noted in the September SB meeting, by opening town roads to ATV use, it means anyone from anywhere would have access to the town roads, in effect making the town itself a trail system.
Dave Norton made a motion, that was unanimously approved, to put this issue before the “tax payers” at town meeting in March so they can decide if they are for or against the ATV use on town roads. Note that “voters “and “tax payers” are not interchangeable terms. While all property owners must pay taxes, not all are eligible to vote in Cavendish.
The final wording of the article to be voted on at Town Meeting Day remains to be seen. To better understand what is involved in creating the Warning, which includes the articles to be voted on, see item 2 below Cavendish Civics 101-Town Meeting/Voting.
Approved
• Gift of Cemetery Funds
• GMP Petition For Pole and Wire Location on Atkinson Road
• Permissible Use by Revocable Permit for 224 Main St.
• Moving into executive session to discuss the report on TRSU request for cost sharing of maintenance at town library. Russo made the following motion I move that the select board move into executive session to discuss contract strategy concerning the town's negotiations with the school district regarding library facility costs and shared services. Knowledge of the town's strategy may place the town at a disadvantage.
• Authorizing the Town Manager to present a revised cost allocation counter-proposal of $2,236 with the ability to negotiate costs and any shared mutual school services.
Manager’s Report: The winter overnight parking ban goes into effect Nov. 1-April 1 for Cavendish town roads (no parking midnight to 6 am). This does not pertain to state roads, such as 131. MERP Implementation grants of $308,000 have been awarded, which include heat pumps and furnace for the Cavendish wastewater plant and insulation, light replacement and ADA compliance at the town office. Town paving has been completed for the season.
2. CAVENDISH CIVICS 101-TOWN MEETING/VOTING: To help people better understand local government, Cavendish Connects is starting a Cavendish Civics 101 feature, which is available on-line. This week’s post focuses on Town Meeting and voting.
Long before town meeting occurs -March 2, 2027 this coming year- a great deal of work is done by the Select Board (SB) and town office staff. Below are definitions of terms used along with the timeline leading up to Town Meeting Day.
Cavendish follows the state’s open meeting law. All SB meetings are warned via the town’s website, posted to the bulletin boards inside and outside the town office, and posted to the Cavendish Facebook page. All minutes are posted at the town’s website Meetings are open to the public and are available by zoom.
Be advised, the education report and budget has a different process, though the final school budget is voted on at Town Meeting. Day.
TERMS
Town Meeting Day: Held the first Tuesday in March, all voting is by Australian Ballot. Both town and school budgets are voted on along with other articles that have been warned. Cavendish’s polling place is the Proctorsvile Fire Department and takes place from 10 am-7 pm.
Town Meeting: This is an informational meeting held prior to voting where issues are discussed but no action is taken.
Warning: The official public notice and agenda of articles to be voted on, which must be posted 30 to 40 days before a meeting.
Article: A specific item listed on the warning to be voted on by the registered voters.
Australian Ballot: A standardized, printed paper ballot filled out in private for secret-ballot voting on budgets and elections.
TIMELINE
• December: The SB begins meeting about the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Organizations that wish to receive money from the town must submit a letter of request.
• January: Anyone wishing to run for public office (e.g. SB member, school board) must submit a petition. They will need a minimum of 13 registered voters signatures. Petitions are available from the clerk who will let you know the filing date.
- SB holds weekly meetings about the budget, warnings etc. By the end of the month, the SB approves both the articles to be voted on as well as the budget.
- Citizens can request that an article to be voted on at town meeting The town office can help you draft your article. Allow ample time for this to be approved by the SB.
- A date for the informational town meeting is set by the SB.
- By the end of the month, the Town Report and Town Warning is finalized
• February: Town Report goes to the printer and is mailed to registered voters at least 10 days prior to Town Meeting. A PDF version of the Town Report is posted to the Town’s Website. The Town Meeting warning must be posted not less than 30 days nor more than 40 days before the meeting. This will appear in multiple locations including the town’s paper of record, The Vermont Journal. Informational town meeting may occur at the end of this month. Note that this meeting pertains to town issues only.
• March: Town meeting voting-all voting in Cavendish is done by Australian ballot-is held the first Tuesday in March. This year that will be March 2. First SB meeting with new members includes an organizational meeting.
VOTING: Only registered Cavendish voters can vote in in town elections. This can be done by mail in ballot or in person on election day.
If you are 18 or older, you can register to vote in one of the following ways:
• on election day vote that same day
• at any time, in person, at the Cavendish Town’ Clerk’s office
• on-line at the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page
3. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
• Act 170 merger study group holds first meeting: Cavendish is part of the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD), which along with Ludlow and Mt. Holly comprise the Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU). However, as part of the merger process, Ludlow and Mt Holly are no longer part of Group 7 and are now part of Group 3. Members at this first meeting on Oct. 13 included GMUSD Springfield, Rockinham, Bellows Falls High, Westminster and Athens/Grafton school districts. Lisa Saunders of Cavendish represented GMUHS. Springfield has the most number of students 1,184 or 43% of the total student population of the combined school districts. GMUSD has 21% of the students (593). Act 170 requires that the combined districts have at least a total of 2,000 students. Chester Telegraph
• 136 Main Street demolition in progress: The demolition of 136 Main Street in Ludlow, the former location of the Book Nook – which has since relocated to Lamere Square – began on Friday, Oct. 16. This is the first step in the planned redevelopment of the site. The foundation of the former Pot Belly Pub, located next door at 130 Main Street, was also removed. The developers recently reported that, “After analyzing the feasibility of replacing the Pot Belly building with a restaurant and apartments, it was decided the abutting building, which was deemed unsafe, would be incorporated into the new design. “The intent is to still build a beautiful new building with an all-new Pot Belly restaurant. To follow the requirements in modern zoning, the developers have engaged local permit specialist Ted Reeves and local builder Ed D’Ottavio of DCI Concepts to navigate the process. VT Journal
• Estate planning workshop at Fletcher Memorial Library: Join the Fletcher Memorial Library on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 2-3 p.m., at Fletcher Memorial Library, for an overview of estate-planning resources. This program is brought to you by the Black River Good Neighbor Services and Fletcher Memorial Library with support from the Godnick Adult Center and the Vermont Community Foundation. It is free and accessible. FMI: 802-228-8921 or Black River Good Neighbor Services at 802-228-3663.
4 . EVENTS
OCTOBER -DECEMBER 5: Solzhenitsyn in Vermont Exhibit, Cavendish Library, 753 Main Street, Proctorsville. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am-6 pm. FMI, or to arrange other times, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com
OCTOBER 29 (THURSDAY): Haunted Halloween Walk at Gill Home 5-7 PM
OCTOBER 30 (FRIDAY): Bambino University’s 1st Trunk or Treat. Bring your vehicle, decorate your trunk. 6-8 pm, 2588 Route 103, Proctorsville VT. RSVP by Oct. 15th bambinouniversityvt@gmail.com
OCTOBER 31 (SATURDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN. Cavendish Historical Society’s Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) workshop at the Cavendish Library 10-noon. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
• Benson’s Trunk or Treat 4-6 pm, Ludlow
• Ludlow Health Center 5 pm Ludlow
• Weathersfield Trunk or Treat 3:30-5:00 at Hoisington Field in Perkinsville, the site of the 18799 Schoolhouse.
NOVEMBER 1 (SUNDAY): FALL BACK. Day light saving ends. Clocks move back one hour. This is a good time to check and change batteries in smoke detectors and other devices.
NOVEMBER 3 (TUESDAY): VOTE. General Election. Polls are open 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Dept.
NOVERMBER 11 (WEDNESDAY): Veteran’s Day Town Office closed
NOVEMBER 15 (SUNDAY): CHS Proctorsville Ghost Walk, 2 pm. Meet at the Proctorsville War Memorial across from the Green. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807
NOVEMBER 18 (WEDNESDAY): Book Talk-Love the Revolution with Ignat Solzhenitsyn, 6 pm at the Cavendish Community Library FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807
NOVEMBER 26 (THURSDAY): HAPPY THANKSGIVING
NOVEMBER 27 (FRIDAY): Town office closed
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