Cavendish Select Board Meeting 10/16/17

Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by LPC-TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television.  Written minutes are available at the town’s website. The following action was discussed/taken at Monday night’s meeting:

• Telecommunications: While Comcast has been awarded a grant by the state to provide service from Tarbell Hill up and around Knapp Pond, the state has yet to send them the agreement letter. Once that is received they can begin work and will have a year to complete the project. In conversations with Comcast about expansion into other parts of town, representatives have stated that without contribution or aid, they only expand into areas where there are 13 houses per mile, regardless of how many accounts that may exist.

Over the weekend, a resident posted a problem with TDS Internet. Consequently, a question was posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page about TDS’s subscribers recent experience with their Internet service. The response was swift and immediate, 22 people either posted or e-mailed with major complaints about TDS-slow speeds, buffering, needing to continually reboot etc. TDS does have Connect America Funding, but it is unclear when and if Cavendish will benefit from this service.

• TDS Utility Pole: Unanimously approved the addition of a new utility pole at 37 High St. (next to the town office) for TDS. This might help to reduce some of the TDS issues in that area.

• Check/Recycling/Transfer Station: Tom Kennedy, on behalf of the Southern Windsor/Windham County Solid Waste Management District, who voted to return tipping fees held since 2008 when the VT/NH Solid Waste District was dissolved, presented a check for $14,786 to the town.  This money will be used to help offset the cost for the new electronics shed that was approved by the voters.

Kennedy also alerted the board that China’s proposed prohibition on recovered plastic and fiber imports could have drastic impacts on recycling costs. Currently, China has taken a large share of these recyclables. With the proposed ban, costs could significantly increase for zero sort recycling and the town should build that in for next year’s budget.

• Trails in Proctor Piper State Forest: The Planning Commission was given approval by the board to move forward with an application for a matching funds grant from the VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Agency of Natural Resources. The purpose of the grant would be to create a hiking trail that would connect Proctorsville and Cavendish villages starting at Pratt Hill (near the fire pits) and over to White’s Hill near the old Cavendish Train Depot station or the Water Tower.

• Bridge Replacement Bids: Bids were open from six vendors for the replacement of Bridge 21 (Greenbush) and Bridge 22 (East Rd). For Bridge 21, bids ranged from $160,000 to$$254,000. For Bridge 22, the range was from $158,000 to $245,725. The town manager, Brendan McNamara, will prepare a matrix by Wednesday for the SB to review. A decision on award will be made at the Nov. SB meeting.

• Bond for the Town Garage: The SB signed the Declaration of Official intent regarding the anticipated for the town garage.

• Town Garage Replacement: Borings will take place in the next two weeks to see if the alternative site by the sand pit is suitable for the new garage. If the town decides to use this location there are a series of hoops the town will need to jump through, and McNamara is already talking to the state about Act 250 permits and other necessary steps. Since the garage will not be built before “snow flies,” an agreement is being worked out for rental space from M & M construction, new owners of the old Black River Produce building, for space. The rent will be $1,500 plus heat. Changes are also being made to make it easier to take sand from the lower pit this winter.

• Website: There is now a new municipal website at www.cavendishvt.com Jen Leak is the contact person at the Town Office for website related questions.

• Signage by the School: The town has received a grant of $4,000 towards the installation of blinking lights by the school. Bruce McEnaney, asst. Town manager, will be meeting with the CTES board to secure the additional $4,600 for the installation. These will be solar powered flashing lights.

• Municipal Water: Following the recent flushing there are reports of issues with water discoloration. It is believed that there is a leak in the pipe, which has been narrowed down to the island across from Glimmerstone. This will be checked out this week. In the mean time, water quality continues to test fine.

Cavendish SB Meeting Agenda 10/16/17

Select Board Meeting, Monday, October 16th, 2017 in the Cavendish Town Office
Meeting Room at 6:30pm
................................................................ AGENDA ................................................................
1. Call the meeting to order
2. Act upon minutes of the meetings of August 23rd(Corrected) and September 11th, 2017.
3. Adjust agenda
4. Hear Citizens
5. Select Board to review and consider approval of easement with TDS for the placement of a pole at 37 High Street.
6. Tom Kennedy from the Southern Windsor/Windham Solid Waste Management District to
address Select Board.
7. Cavendish Planning Commission to present State of Vermont Recreational Trails Program to
the Board.
8. Select Board to open bids submitted for the replacement of Bridge #21 and Bridge #22. (Bids will be opened and read aloud, the Select Board will award the bid at a later date)
9. Select Board to sign Declaration of Official Intent regarding the anticipated bond for the Town Garage.
10. Town Manager to update Select Board on Town Garage Project and Various Town Activities.
11. Other business
12. Executive Session (Personnel Matter)
13. Adjourn

Cavendish Update 10/13/17: News/survey/events

In an effort to help people in Cavendish have high speed Internet, we'd be interested in hearing from those in Cavendish who rely on Satellite Internet e.g. Hughes Net. Have you noticed a change in service recently? How fast are your speeds? Is there still a latency issue and are you satisfied with your service? Send an e-mail to cavendishconnects@gmail.com

 CHECK THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY FOR THE LATEST NEWS You don’t have to be a Facebook subscriber to see this page.

 10/13/17 /Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Job Opening

3. Jenni Johnson Proctorsville Concert

4. Trunk or Treat on Halloween

5. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Want to Know What’s Going on in Cavendish? During the recent Select Board (SB) meetings on rebuilding the Town Garage, the issue of transparency was raised. In order to help residents and property owners understand where to get information about Cavendish, actions being taken by the SB and how to participate, a resource guide has been posted to The Dish.

CTES Minutes 9/19/17 and Agenda for 10/17 Meeting: Unapproved minutes from the Sept. 19 Cavendish Town Elementary School meeting are now available on-line along with the agenda for the board’s annual September meeting at The Dish.

Cavendish Receives Back Tipping Fees The Southern Windsor/Windham County Solid Waste Management District voted to return over $379,000 in tipping fees held since 2008 when the VT/NH Solid Waste District was dissolved.   On July 27th the district’s board of supervisors voted to release the funds. Since then board members have been presenting the checks to the towns during selectmen’s meetings. Cavendish’s portion is $14,786.

Congratulations to Murdock’s and Neal’s: For the second time this fall, Murdock’s on the Proctorsville Green has been an award winner at a cooking contest. Winning the People’s Choice Award for their Mac N Cheese, this time Murdock’s took 2nd place in the People’s Choice Award at the Ludlow Rotary’s Chili Cook-Off. Neal’s, which is located in the former Table 19 restaurant, took 3rd place in the People’s Choice as well as the Best in Show award from cook-off judges. Congratulations to both restaurants.  VT Journal

Ludlow Ambulance Offering Membership to Residents: All property owners in Ludlow Ambulance coverage area, which includes Cavendish town, will be receiving a postcard in the mail within the next few days. For $45 a year the membership will provide you and your dependents with FREE and unlimited emergency ambulance transports within the coverage area. Since 2005 the ambulance service has seen a decline in volunteer members. In response to this national trend the service has had to increase our part time and full time staff to continue providing the high quality service that the communities we serve deserve. This membership drive is used as an alternative to raise money, to offset the increased staffing as opposed to requesting money from the taxpayers. Ludlow Ambulance Facebook page

2. JOB OPENING: Cavendish Town Elementary School has an opening for a kitchen helper. This person would perform the duties outlined to prepare food and serve students and staff: Assisting the head cook in any manner requested in the planning of menus, preparation of meals, serving, cleaning and sanitizing of kitchen facilities, taking of inventories, or any other duties to result in the proper operation and management of the schools hot lunch and milk programs. Complies with health standards, all safety procedures, district policies and procedures; and adhere to all applicable state and federal regulations.  Some experience in food service and preparation in a school setting preferred.  For more information and to apply, send an application with references to: George O. Thomson, Principal Cavendish Town Elementary School george.thomson@trsu.org

3. JENNI JOHNSON PROCTORSVILLE CONCERT: Jenni Johnson, a favorite on Vermont's blues circuit, will return to the Black River Valley to perform as the autumn leaves fall and a hint of chill is in the air.  Her concert in Proctorsville's Raise the Roof concert series was walloped by a snowstorm last November that prevented many from making it to the performance.  This time we're taking no chances and she's booked for a stand-out concert on October 22.

The smooth voice of this popular Burlington blues and jazz artist will shake the rafters of Proctorsville’s Gethsemane Episcopal Church, backed up by the well-tuned Jazz Junketeers on keyboard, horns, bass and percussion.  Born in NYC’s Harlem Hospital and raised in the Big Apple, Johnson now resides in Burlington, Vermont but loves to come south to perform in the tiny Proctorsville church with its big crisp acoustics.  Gethsemane Church is at 89 Depot St. (next to Crows Bakery Cafe). The music starts at 4:00 and admission is $10.00 at the door.  

4. TRUNK OR TREAT ON HALLOWEEN: Once again the Cavendish Baptist Church is sponsoring Trunk or Treat at the Cavendish Town Elementary School Parking lot. This fun event brings people from all over our community together in one location to celebrate Halloween! Invite your friends! Adults can be Trunk-or-Treaters! Bring your car, decorate the trunk with a theme and hand out candy. Kids can be Trick-or-Treaters! Come in costume and collect candy.

Set up begins at 4:30pm with Trick-or-Treating from 5:00 to 7:00pm

Guidelines for Trunk-or-Treaters: *No scary decorations please* Be as creative as you'd like – pick a theme from books, movies, games, hobbies, sports, history, or a friendly Halloween theme. There are lots of ideas online to start your brainstorming. You can even wear a costume to go with your theme! Bring enough treats for approximately 200 kids.

5. EVENTS

OCTOBER 14 (SATURDAY): FieldDaze Obstacle Course and Fun Run-take 2 at the Big Barn Farm 112 Chapman Rd, Proctorsville 10-3 Offering $10 course runs for students on the day of (without registering on the website).  More details at facebook.com/thebigbarnfarm

 OCTOBER 16 (MONDAY): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. The agenda will be posted to The Dish as soon as it’s received, with a notice also appearing on the Cavendish Vermont Facebook page.

 OCTOBER 17 (TUESDAY): CTES School Board Meeting, 5:30 pm in the Arts Center

• Heat Pump Workshop, 6-7 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. Free and open to the public.

OCTOBER 22 (SUNDAY): Jenni Johnson Concert, 4 pm at Gethsemane Church, off Depot Street in Proctorsville

For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.  

IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

Want to Know What's Going on in Cavendish?

During the recent Select Board (SB) meetings on rebuilding the Town Garage, the issue of transparency was raised. In order to help residents and property owners understand where to get information about Cavendish, actions being taken by the SB and how to participate, the following resources have been compiled:

• The public is invited to all SB meetings. The regular monthly SB meeting takes place the second Monday of every month at 6:30 pm at the Town Office. "Hear Audience," that portion of the meeting where those in attendance can bring up topics of importance to them, takes place at the beginning of the meeting. If you have an item you wish to bring to the SB's attention, be sure to arrive by 6:30.

• Agendas for the various SB meetings are posted

-       At the town office

-       On the bulletin board outside the Town Office

-       At the town’s website

-       Cavendish VT Facebook page

-       Cavendish Connects blog/calendar and Cavendish Update

The town manager also e-mails the agenda to SB members and interested parties.

• Where to learn about what is discussed at the SB Meetings:

-       LPC-TV posts on their website all meetings they record within two days of the event. This is gavel to gavel coverage. These meetings are also aired regularly on Comcast public access channels. Note that LPC-TV primarily covers the monthly meetings.

-       The town’s website posts unapproved minutes on-line within approximately 5 days of the meeting.

-       Cavendish VT Facebook Page/ Cavendish Connects/Cavendish Update. The Cavendish Update provides summaries of monthly SB meetings etc., which are also posted to The Dish on the Cavendish Connects website.

-       The Vermont Journal provides coverage of monthly meetings and includes reports in their on-line and in print newspaper. Note that the Vermont Journal is Cavendish’s paper of record, which is free and mailed once a week. It is also available for free at various locations around town.

-       The Chester Telegraph often provide coverage of SB meetings but is only available on-line.

• All legal notices and warnings are printed by the Vermont Journal and included on their website. In addition, the town website and Cavendish Connects/Update includes this information.

• The Cavendish VT Facebook page has several administrators, and has been set up so the public can read the page regardless of Facebook status. This is the best place to go for immediate news and information.

•  If you have questions, or something isn’t clear, call the Town office 802-226-7292.