Cavendish SB Meeting Report 1/8/18

Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by Okemo Valley 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: TDS did not respond to Brendan McNamara’s request to attend the January SB meeting to discuss what their plans are for Cavendish. The Telecommunications Committee is meeting this week and will be contacting Senator Leahy to see if his office can help us in this regard. It was noted that there have been changes with the CEO of TDS and this might explain why they have not been responding. It was also noted that Comcast has yet to sign the agreement with the state for the grant they were awarded this summer. The grant reimburses Comcast for wiring the Tarbell Hill and Knapp Pond areas of Cavendish.

Intersection of 103 and 131: Recently there was a school bus accident at the intersection of 103 and 131. With the closure of the Depot St. Bridge, Dec. 2015, the town office has been talking to VTrans about “calming measures” with the intersection. The request was made for a sheriff and a blinking blue light on winter weekends. VTrans said they would do a traffic study, which they did on a Tuesday. This was their justification for saying there was insufficient traffic to warrant the expense of precautionary measures. With the most recent accident, followed by a lengthy discussion on Cavendish VT Facebook page, town manager, Brendan McNamara, felt it was time to go back to VTrans and ask for traffic calming measures. The SB agreed. The issues with the Whitesville Bridge were also discussed and McNamara will be discussing that location as well as 103/131 with VTrans.

Town Constable Position: With Seth Perry’s resignation, due to health issues, the town has been without a constable for the last seven months. McNamara felt the town needs were being met with the combination of VT State Police and the Windsor Sheriff’s Dept., which is in town four days a week. In addition, it was noted that the state wants to see towns give up their Constable positions. While the SB can remove a town constable they can not abolish the position without the consent of the voters. Therefore, at this year’s town meeting, voters will be asked to decide if they wish to continue the town constable position.

Open Positions for 2018: Below are the positions open for election. Those interested in seeking an elected office, should obtain petitions from the Town Clerk’s Office, Monday-Friday, 9-4. Deadline for filing with the Town Clerk nominating petitions for town offices to be voted on by Australian ballot is January 29, 2018 by 5pm. Election will take place on March 6 by Australian Ballot.

Town Moderator                    1 year

School District Moderator      1 year (This will no longer be necessary since there will be no informational meeting for the school budget this year at town meeting. Instead there will be an informational meeting on Feb. 27 (Tuesday)  in Chester as the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) goes into effect July 1, 2018. . Voting is done by Australian Ballot on school budgets.)

Select Board                            3 year and 2 openings for 1 year term

Town Agent                            1 year

Lister                                       1 and 2 year terms

Auditor                                   1, 2 and 3 year terms

Library Trustee                       5 year

Trustee of Public Funds         3 year

Town Grand Juror                  1 year

Constable                                1 year (This need for this position will be voted on at Town meeting)

Town School Director             2 positions for 3/6/18-6/30/18

GMUHS                                    1 position for 3/6/18-6/30/18

Note that the school board positions end June 30 as the Green Mountain Unified School District goes into effect on July 1, 2018.

2018 Certificate of Highway Mileage. There are no changes this year. It was adopted and signed by the SB members.

Removal of Two Members of the Planning Commission: Due to lack of attendance, and no response to repeated attempts to reach them, the SB received a written request from the Planning Commission to remove the inactive members. This was approved. Anyone interested in serving on the Planning Commission should contact the town office 226-7291.

Warning of Town Plan: The board approved a warning for adoption of the town plan for Jan. 29, 5:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. This will take place an hour before the SB’s budget meeting. Copies of the town plan are available from the town office either in print or electronically. Call 226-7291

Cavendish Update 1/5/18

A Wind Chill Warning is in effect until Jan. 6 at 7 pm

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

1/5/18 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. New to Cavendish Library in December

3. January Survival Guide

4. Dinner and a Movie: Dunkirk

5. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Burglary in Proctorsville: On 01/01/2018 at approximately 2:36 am the State Police responded to the town of Cavendish due to the report of a male subject entering a residence and physically assaulting the home owner and another person that was at the residence. The male subject was identified as Steven Kelly of Ludlow, VT. After further investigation Kelly was arrested for Burglary into an occupied dwelling, simple assault and domestic assault, then transported to the Ludlow Police Department for processing. Kelly was released with a criminal citation and is scheduled to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Windsor Criminal Division, on 1/2/18 to answer to the above charge. VT State Police Report

Thank you Jeff Davis: Cavendish Fire Department wishes to thank Jeffrey Davis for his many years of dedicated service to our department, the town of Cavendish and the surrounding communities. It’s been a true honor to have Jeff be a part of the Department. Jeff is stepping down after 17 years to focus on a few other things including finishing a college degree and spending valuable time with his family. Jeff has always been an excellent example of dedication to family and service to community and continues to serve as a role model, even as he steps away from the Fire Service at this time. Cavendish Fire sends Jeff and his family best wishes going forward and are excited to see the success he finds in the future.

Celebration of Life and Music of Robert De Cormier: Robert De Cormier, who passed away in November, bequeathed an indelible legacy of music and engaged performance to Vermont, to the world of choral singing, and was a special individual to many in Cavendish. At 3pm on Sunday, January 7, 2018, at Grace Church in Rutland, the two local ensembles that Robert founded – the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Counterpoint – will join with many other local choruses and musicians who worked with him closely for a stirring musical tribute. The program will include works that Robert composed, arranged, or simply loved. Admission is free.

Adams Funeral Homes in Chester and Ludlow to Close: Adams Funeral Home, which has locations in Chester and Ludlow, will close in both towns by late January or early February, according to a statement from the firm’s owner, Dignity Memorial. The company did say it would “continue to work through the details of serving our client families with pre need arrangements at these funeral homes and will communicate those plans prior to closing.” Chester Telegraph

K-Mart at Diamond Run Mall Closing: Sears -- which owns Kmart -- announced more closings on its website Thursday. Among the 100 stores to shutter their doors is the Kmart in Rutland. The stores will be closing starting in March through April 2018, with liquidation sales beginning as early as Jan. 12. WCAX

 State Encourages Vermonters to Learn Earthquake Safety: A week after a minor earthquake hit the Upper Valley, the Agency of Natural Resources is reminding Vermonters what to do the next time the earth shakes. Vermont state geologist Marjorie Gale says that while earthquakes are rare in Vermont, they do happen, and Gale says it's important for people to understand the proper procedures to follow when the earth does shake. The Agency of Natural Resources updated its earthquake information webpage following the White River Junction quake. The state wants everyone in the state to be familiar with the Department of Homeland Security procedure to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" during an earthquake. The federal agency says when an earthquake hits, people should drop to the ground, cover their head and neck, and hold on to something sturdy until the shaking stops. Gale says people should not stand in a doorway during an earthquake. VPR

New Laws go Into Effect on Jan. 1: Here are some of Vermont's new laws that start Jan. 1-Minimum wage workers will see a pay increase of 50 cents an hour to $10.50. Act 21 requires reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions, with some limits for anything that would impose an undue hardship on employers. Seniors 66 and older get permanent hunting and fishing licenses. Minors will be able to begin receiving outpatient mental health treatment without consent from a guardian though prescription drugs are not included. WCAX

2. NEW TO CAVENDISH LIBRARY IN DECEMBER: The following are now available at the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville.

NEW BOOKS: Hardcore by Janet Evanovich; Whispering Room by Dean Koontz; Deja New  by MJ Davidson; Typhoon Fury by Clive Cussler; Hideaway by Lauren Denton; Midnight Line  by Lee Child; Paris Fires by Carolyn Frasier; Artemis by Andy Weir; Demon's Crown by James Rollins; The War Bride's Scrapbook by Caroline Preston

NEW MOVIES: Despicable Me 3; Kingsmen:  The Golden Circle

DID YOU KNOW....that you can check to see if the library has the book you want by going online at cfct.follettdestiny.com....and if the book you want is not in our collection we can borrow it from the intrastate library system for you...So anything you want to read is at your beck and call!!!!

3. JANUARY SURVIVAL GUIDE: Bone chilling  cold, the onset of flu season (this year it’s suppose to be worse than normal), snow, frozen pipes, and the end of the holidays, January can be a very challenging time. The following resources can help make the “winter woes” a bit more manageable.

• Avoid Winter Skin

• Don’t Have Time to Be Sick-Flu Prevention

• Extreme Cold Weather Precautions

• How to Prevent and Deal with Frozen Pipes

• Put a Freeze on Winter Fire

• What to do with your Christmas Tree

4. DINNER AND A MOVIE: DUNKIRK: On Sunday, Jan 28th at 1pm, Cavendish Library’s Dinner and a Movie will present Dunkirk. In May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be found. At the end of this heroic mission, 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated. Dinner to be Cassoulet, Toad in the Hole. Madeleines and other English/French foods applicable to that time and place. Free to all----Donation are encouraged and appreciated. FMI: 226-7503

5.  EVENTS

JANUARY 8 (MONDAY) : Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office.

JANUARY 9 (TUESDAY): GMUSD Finance Committee Meeting, 5 pm GM’s Sam Adams Room I. GMUSD board meeting 6 pm at GM in the Library Learning Commons.

 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

JANUARY SURVIVAL GUIDE

A combination of bone chilling  cold, the onset of flu season (this year it’s suppose to be worse than normal), snow, frozen pipes, and the end of the holidays, January can be a very challenging time. The following resources can help make the “winter woes” a bit more manageable.

• Avoid Winter Skin

• Don’t Have Time to Be Sick-Flu Prevention

• Extreme Cold Weather Precautions

• How to Prevent and Deal with Frozen Pipes

• Put a Freeze on Winter Fire

• What to do with your Cavendish Christmas Tree

Cavendish Update 12/29/17: News/Events

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

12/29/17 Cavendish Update

1.Cavendish Related News

2. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

GMP to Raise Rates by 5%: The Public Utility Commission has approved a 5 percent rate increase for Green Mountain Power. GMP initially filed for a 4.98 percent effective rate increase for 2018, and said the rate increase was needed to pay for increased transmission costs, for increases in electricity costs from the regional grid, and for increased costs associated with Vermonters’ growing reliance on small renewable-energy generators. Filings by GMP’s corporate owners say the Vermont utility saw a $6.8 million drop in revenue compared to last year.

Ludlow residents petition for school merger re-vote, hope to keep BRHS alive: On Wednesday, Dec. 27, Ludlow’s Assistant Town Clerk and Treasurer Pamela Todt confirmed that the petition had 127 valid signatures and is therefore sufficient to cause a re-vote of the merger with Mount Holly. The Chester Telegraph

Hobby Lobby Signs Lease for Former Claremont Kmart: Hobby Lobby, the Oklahoma City-based big-box craft supply store, has taken out a lease on the former Kmart building on Washington Street. The corporation and its owners are openly Evangelical Christian, and stores are accordingly not open on Sundays. The chain also saw substantial national news coverage in 2012 after its owner opposed provisions in the Affordable Care Act requiring companies to provide coverage for morning-after pills in employee health plans. Eagle Times

Boston Developer Buys 3 Upper Valley Shopping Plaza: The Davis Companies purchased three plazas in the area: the Miracle Mile Plaza, the North Country Plaza and the Kmart Plaza. Each contains a mix of storefronts, anchor tenants and restaurants. The Boston-based real estate company says the $27 million price tag is a good investment, even with the ever-increasing influence of online retail giants. WCAX

2. EVENTS

DECEMBER 31 (SUNDAY): New Year’s Eve

 JANUARY 1 (MONDAY): HAPPY NEW YEAR. Legal holiday, town office and schools closed.

 JANUARY 2 (TUESDAY): Community luncheon at Gethsemane Church, noon, all are welcome. The luncheon is held in the Parish Hall, which is directly behind the church off Depot Street.

 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