Cavendish Update 4/17/26: SB Mtg/Fire District 2/Tag Sale
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LINKS TO CAVENDISH CONNECTS: Facebook Blue Sky or Website
Fundraiser Carwash: Tomorrow, Saturday April 18, there will be a carwash and bottle drive from 10-1 at CTES parking lot. This is a fundraiser to help our CTES student DI Team attend the Global Finals in Kansas. You can also support them by dropping off a donation at the Cavendish Fletcher Library, at their Go Fund Me page, or mail it to the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, attn: Destination Imagination, 573 Main St. Proctorsville, VT 05153.
Culvert Crawlers Workshop Wednesday April 22, 5:30-6:30 at the Cavendish Library. Reduce flooding risks by learning how to check culverts, ditches and drains in and around where you live. No crawling in culverts involved. Can’t make the workshop-watch this short video.
4/17/26
1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 4/13/26
2. Fire District 2 warning & Prudential Committee Report
3. Requests for Proposals
4. 16th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale-Spring Cleaning Cavendish Style
5. Cavendish Related News
6. Events Calendar
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 4/13/26: The video of the March Cavendish Select Board (SB) meeting will soon be available at the Okemo Valley TV Website. Unapproved minutes are posted to the Town’s website.
Approved/Action Taken
• Use of town greens for Town Wide Tag Sale on July 25th 10-2
• Applying for State Structure Grant: These grants come with a 20% match. Applications are due by April 15. Town Manager, Rick Chambers, thinks the town will qualify for these grants for the next several years. Recommendation for this year is culvert work on Twenty Mile Stream by Bates Mansion.
• Town appointments: Positions are for one year-Claudine LeFevre Animal Control Officer and Auditor; Matt Seaton Tree Warden; Doris Eddy Trustee of Public Funds
• Liquor License Grafton Cheese
• Local Emergency Management Plan
• Mascoma Bank signature status for Michael Murphy, the new town clerk/treasurer
• Signed Annual Financial Plan-Town Highways and State Road Standards
Discussed
• Culvert Replacement: VT Trans made a presentation on the replacement of the culvert under Bridge # 5 on route 131. This is just east of the Howard Hill Bridge, which flooded in 2023. This will require the road to be closed for four days between June 28, 2027 and Aug. 23, 2027.
• ATVs Use of Town Roads: 17 VT towns have legal access to trails via town roads, can this be done in Cavendish? Scheduled for the May agenda.
• FY 27 Paving: The RFP (request for proposals) has gone out for summer paving. Projects this summer are High Street, Pleasant St. and Ranney Hill. Next year will be Twenty Mile Stream.
• Town Water: Efficiency Vermont will be providing those on town water with low flow shower heads and aerators to help with water conservation-distribution at the Town Wide Tag Sale. Along with these items will be information on ways to reduce water usage and how to sign up for meters. The property owner who was responsible for a million gallons of town water being wasted due to a water pipe break has been sent a bill. There are other concerns about this property, as the owner has received citations about trash and has been visited by the town’s health officer.
• Mud Season: Road grading is underway and should be completed in the next couple of weeks.
• Culvert Crawlers: Dartmouth students will once again be working in Cavendish this spring. A crew, along with community members, will be working on Green Up Day-May 2. A workshop on how to check culverts, ditches and drains, including use of the app, will be held at the Cavendish Library on April 22 from 5:30-6:30. For more information on Culvert Crawlers program click here.
• Act 181: This Act (passed in 2024) made changes to various laws related to land use, commercial development, and housing development. Chambers has asked the state to speak to the community about this in late May/early June following changes being made to this legislation.
• School sign: The sign by the school is still not working. Chambers talked to the state about a week ago about this.
• Recreation Director Job Description: Chambers provided a draft job description of the recreation director position, which includes offering a variety of events for the community, not just organizing sports for Cavendish Town Elementary School. Selectman David Norton stated that he didn’t think a rec director was needed and that he had seen no evidence of anything organized for the community in the last several years. The position described was more in line with a community events coordinator, which led to a discussion about what is most needed. The question was raised whether this position can be changed to be more in line with a community organizing type of position starting July 1. Chambers will check on that and report back to the SB at the May meeting.
2. FIRE DISTRICT 2 (CAVENDISH) WARNING/PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Warning of the Annual Meeting of Cavendish Fire District 2 to be held Wednesday May 173h at 6:30 pm at 2154 Main Street, Cavendish VT 05142
The legal voters of Cavendish Fire District 2 are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Cavendish Volunteer Fire Department fire station on Wednesday May 13th at 6:30 pm to act on the following articles:
Article 1: To hear and act on the Auditor’s report
Article 2: To approve the minutes from 2025
Article 3: Election of Officers
• Moderator for 1 Year (currently Abraham Gross)
• Prudential Committee Member for 3 years (currently Scott Ranney)
• Tax Collector for 1 year ( currently Town Manager)
• Auditor for 1 Year (currently Scott Boyer)
• Treasurer for 1 year (currently Maureen Savage)
• Secretary for 1 year (currently Matt Seaton)
Article 4: To see if the legal voters of Cavendish Fire District 2 will allow Cavendish Fire District 2 to borrow funds to cover both expected and unforeseen expenses in the yea July 1, 2026 to June30, 2027.
Article 5: To see if the legal voters of Cavendish Fire District 2 will raise money and in what amount for the purpose of defraying Fire Department expenses for the year July 1, 2026 to June 20, 2027.
Article 6: To conduct any other business to come before the meeting, including but not limited to 1) Update on progression of MERP project; 2) Update on District merger effort pursuant to 2025 resolution.
Signed Scott Ranney, Matt Seaton, and Stuart Lindberg Dated at Cavendish April 7, 2026.
The Prudential Committee Report 2025-2026 is available on-line by clicking here.
3. REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS: Cavendish Fire District #2 is seeking bids and proposals from qualified contractors for energy improvements to the fire station, located at 2154 Main Street in Cavendish, VT. There are three separate RFBs: one for replacing/refurbishing windows; one for a new heat pump system; and one for the remaining energy improvements (air sealing, insulation, doors, etc.) that also includes alternates for ADA improvements. The RFP is for final design and construction of a solar carport.
Because these projects are being funded with a Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) grant awarded by the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS), which prioritizes weatherization and fuel switching, the ADA improvements and the solar carport are subject to funding availability, and the window project may need to be modified to fit within the budget once all project costs are known. The three RFBs and one RFP can be found on the Mount Ascutney Regional Commission’s website.
There is an optional walk-through at the fire station on Thursday, April 23, from 9:00 until 11:00 AM, or by appointment with the Fire District contact. The deadline for submission of bids and proposals is Thursday, May 21, at 4:00 PM.
4. 16th ANNUAL TOWN WIDE TAG SALE/SPRING CLEANING CAVENDISH STYLE: Whether your spring cleaning is well underway, or your about to get started, chances are you’ll end up with stuff you want to get rid of. The 16th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale is the perfect opportunity to recycle and make some money. This year it is July 25 (Saturday) from 9-2. Space is available for free on both of the town greens for Cavendish residents, property owners and businesses, along with non-profit groups that serve the community.
To register for a space on the green, or if you have questions, please call 802-226-7807, use the Tag Sale Website or e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com
Have items that you don’t think you can sell but want to get rid of, Check out A-Z Recycling provided by the Southern Windsor/Windham Solid Waste Management District to learn about what can be recycled or repurposed and where. In town, and nearby resources include the following:
Cavendish Transfer Station: Offering a variety of free recycling (including electronics and metals) and composting options, check out what to bring and associated costs for things like old refrigerators, tires etc.
Black River Good Neighbors Services (BRGNS): Providing a furniture store, food shelf, and thrift store, there are a variety of items that can be donated. It’s best to call ahead to see what they are in need of and to arrange for furniture pick up. 802-228-3663
Apparel Impact: They take all clothing, footwear, sheets and towels as well as accessories. All items must be dry, contain no odor or mold. Items DO NOT need to be in wearable condition. The closest box is near Spaulding’s Garage, 4700 route 103 in Chester.
Household Hazardous Waste: The Alva Waste Transfer Station, 1080 Charlestown Road, Springfield VT provides convenient access to dispose of HHW properly. This will be available May 5 and runs for the next five months. Call 802-674-9235 for more information and to make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. If you need to get rid of it immediately visit www.rcswd.com and make an appointment in Rutland or consider the Environmental Depot in South Burlington.
5. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
• Respiratory Weekly Report: Flu season is now behind us, but due to a new variant, we will continue to post information about Covid-19. The health department’s Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont reports Covid in “very low” concentrations in Ludlow waste water, for the week of 4/5/26-4/11/26 Statewide Covid is listed as “low”
• Crown Point Realtors™ Annual Scholarship: The $1000 Sammy Pierce Scholarships are awarded each year to two students who demonstrate a strong commitment to their community and helping others. Their efforts may be volunteer or charitable service, leadership skills, humanitarian efforts, or active involvement impacting the lives of others. The scholarship is open to home schooled students, public or private school students, college or tech students. Adult learners are also eligible. Students must be full time residents of Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Clarendon, Grafton, Ludlow, Mount Holly, Plymouth, Reading, Rockingham, Shrewsbury, Springfield, Townshend, Wallingford, Weathersfield, Weston, West Windsor, or Windham. Applications may be picked up at the local high school or be reaching out to betty@diamondrealtyvt.com with “Scholarship” in the subject line. Completed applications are due by May 5th.
• Windsor County sheriff facing more sex crime charges, including soliciting prostitution: Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer, already charged with several sex crimes, faces additional allegations of sexual misconduct after more women have come forward with accusations against him, according to Vermont State Police.
• Free Seeds: The Fletcher Ludlow library has a free seed library full of vegetable seeds! Stop by and get your favorites!
• Vermont House gives preliminary approval to education reform plan WCAX
• Okemo Closed: Due to weather conditions-Okemo closed yesterday.
6. EVENTS
APRIL 18 (SATURDAY): Fundraiser Carwash and bottle drive at CTES 10-1 to benefit the DI Team (4th grade CTES students) attending Nationals in Kansas.
APRIL 20-24 (MONDAY-FRIDAY): School Spring break
APRIL 22 (WEDNESDAY): Culvert Crawlers Workshop, 5:30-6:30 pm at the Cavendish Library, 573 Main St. Proctorsville. FMI: cavendishconnects@gmail.com or 802-226-7807
- Celebrating Community Workshop: 1 pm Cavendish Library, 573 Main St. Proctorsville. FMI or to register, contact Amy at 802-226-7503 or CavendishLibrary573@gmail.com
MAY 2 (SATURDAY): GREEN UP DAY
MAY 9 (SATURDAY): Audubon Bird Walk, 7:30 A, 731 Stevens Rd. To register or for more information jleak499Wgmail.com or 802/376-3937
MAY 16 (SATURDAY): Geological Exploration of the Cavendish Gore. Meet at the Green Mountain Power Station on Power Plant Road at 10 am. To register or more information bdayaemig@gmail.com or cavendishcommunityconsdervation@gmail.com
JUNE 27 (SATURDAY): American Heart Association HeartSaver CPR and First Aid at the Cavendish Fire Station. Free to Cavendish residents. To register call 802-226-7790, e-mail puba0111@mail.com or stop by the station.
JULY 25 (SATURDAY): 16TH ANNUAL CAVENDISH TOWN WIDE TAG SALE.