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10/21/22
1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting
2. Covid update
3. Events
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 10/17/22: At Monday night’s Select Board (SB) meeting, the hot topic for discussion, a late add on to the SB’s agenda, was the $20 million bond the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) wants passed on Nov. 8 (Tuesday), Election Day. The meeting can be viewed at the Okemo Valley TV Website Miinutes will be posted to the Cavendish Municipal website and an in-depth report is available at the Dish.
The bond of $20,474,354 would pay for building improvements at the three schools in the GMUSD: Green Mountain Union High School ($15,944,538); Cavendish Town Elementary Scholl ($1,694,700) and Chester-Andover Elementary School ($2,632,400). The issue wasn’t whether the schools need the upgrades, they are needed, rather it centered on whether there would be sufficient students to justify the expenditures.
Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) underwent an expansion and major renovation project in 2004, when they had 102 students. Built to accommodate 140 students, the current enrollment is 75, with the likelihood there will only be 65 this time next year. Green Mountain Union High School (GM) was built for 650 students and currently has 350.
The common belief is that there is a shortage of long term rental housing, which many young families rely on, as everyone has converted to AirBnB/short term rentals. Long time Okemo Valley realtor, Betty McEnaney, provided data at the September SB meeting that showed a steady decline in the VT birth rate. As it turns out, VT has the lowest birth rate in the country and there has been a 20% drop in the birth rate nationwide starting with the Great Recession in 2007. There is no indication that this trend is about to be reversed.
A further study of Cavendish’s short term rentals indicates, as McEnaney also suggested, usage is fairly similar to what it’s always been. For years short term rentals were listed with Strictly Rentals and other property management services. Yes, long term rentals are difficult to find, which has to do with VT legislation that favors the tenant’s rights over the landlord’s. How many of these rental properties there were and what is now available is unknown, but as McEnaney pointed out, the declining school populations are due to the declining birth rate not only in VT but all over the country.
Cavendish rep John Arrison, who serves on the House Education Committee, told the SB that in the upcoming 2023 legislative session, the Agency of Education will be presenting their report on the needs and conditions of public school facilities in the state. The hope is to reinstate the “State Aid For School Construction.” The monies, if approved by the legislature, may not be retroactive, according to Arrison. This means that if the bond passes on Nov. 8, the GMUSD may not be eligible for school construction funding voted on in the 2023 legislative session.
As far as taxes, the TRSU Business Manager Cheryl Hammond said that for a home assessed at $250,000, taxes would increase by a little less than $300 per year. For an average home assessed at $350,000, the tax would increase by a little less than $400 per year. Chester Telegraph
Note that because Cavendish is part of the GMUSD, though we send about 60 students to GM, we would be taxed at the same rate as Chester property owners. As one person who watched Monday’s meeting noted, There has to be a better way, we already pay too much in school /property taxes with declining enrollment. Many of us who are seniors don't have the income too be able to afford more in property taxes… We simply can't afford this, I can't believe they think the residents are ok with another tax increase, mine went up last year by quite a bit and if this went through it will be close to unaffordable.
Voting takes place on Nov. 8 (Tuesday) at the Proctorsville Fire Dept. from 10-7. Bond vote ballots can be picked up now and returned to the Town Office.
2. COVID UPDATE: For local information on testing, vaccinations, boosters, notifying contacts as well as other resources, including for Long Covid, please see the Cavendish COVID-19 Resource Guide.
Covid is working its way through Cavendish. While there is no longer state data provided by town, the increasing number of cases at CTES reflects what’s happening in the community. There are now many articles appearing about new strains that could easily overwhelm the health care system this winter. This is but one article, The Nightmare COVID Variant That Beats Our Immunity Is Finally Here The VT Dept. of Health strongly encourages people to get the bivalent vaccine, which is free, as well as a flu shot.
Vaccination clinics nearby: Fridays at Riverside Middle School in Springfield; 3-6pm, no appointment needed. Free flu shots are also available.
Free Test kits: Available Monday-Friday at the Cavendish Fire Dept from 9-4. For weekends and off hours, call 802-226-7807.
Schools: From 10/07-10/19, CTES had 8 new Covid cases; GMUHS 4; Ludlow Elementary 1 and Mt. Holly 3. Since the start of the school year, CTES has had 20 cases.
State: The current VT Dept of Health Weekly Report Oct. 9 to Oct. 15 report sstatewide community levels as medium, the first time the state has risen about low since June. Bennington county, is reporting “high” community levels.
• New hospital admissions with Covid: 73 new admissions (increase from last week’s 48).
• Percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by patients with Covid: 4.25%
• Outbreaks: As of Oct. 17, there were 13 active outbreaks with 5 at Long term care facilities, 6 at schools/childcare and 1 each listed for “other” and non-LTC Healthcare. No active outbreaks are listed for Windsor County.
• Deaths: Six additional deaths have been reported in October, bringing the monthly total to eight. 734 Vermonters have died since the start of the pandemic.
3. EVENTS
OCTOBER 29 (SATURDAY): Trunk or Treat at Greven Field in Proctorsville 6-8 pm.
- 6th Annual Trunk or Treat 3:30-5 at Hosington Field, Perkinsville or the ground of the 1879 school house. This is a rain or shine event.
OCTOBER 31 (MONDAY): Happy Halloween
NOVEMBER 1 (TUESDAY): Informational Meeting on the GMUSD Bond for $20 million, 6 pm at Green Mountain Union High School in Chester.
NOVEMBER 9 (TUESDAY): Election Day! Proctorsville Fire Dept. 10-7. Town Office Closed
NOVEMBER 11 (FRIDAY): Veteran’s Day Town Office Closed
NOVEMBER 24 (THURSDAY): HAPPY THANKSGIVING
NOVEMBER 25 (FRIDAY): Town Office Closed
DECEMBER 3-4 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): Okemo Valley INNdulgence Tour. Enjoy holiday decorations, warm drinks and tasty treats at nearly a dozen inns in the Okemo Valley. From noon-5 pm, tickets are $15 per person.
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