HEALTH ALERT!! RABID ANIMAL IN CAVENDISH

On Friday, March 10, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) contacted the Town Office to alert the town that a rabid raccoon has been confirmed in Cavendish, and another in Shrewsbury. Please:

• Do not try to capture or handle a wild animal, strays or even baby animals.

• Report unknown or strangely behaving animals to the game warden that serves Cavendish Timothy Carey 802-773-9101 or 802-259-9533

• Please have your pets vaccinated against rabies. Even cats that do not go outside should be vaccinated. A rabies clinic is being offered by the Sullivan County Human Society tomorrow, Saturday, March 11 from 9-noon at the Claremont Senior Center, 5 Acer Heights, Claremont. Cost is $10 per shot and it’s on a first come first serve basis.

• Do not feed wild animals, use "clean design" bird feeders.

• Keep garbage, trash and recyclables in containers with tight fitting lids.

• Raccoon-proof your compost.

• Feed pets inside the house.

• Keep pets indoors at night. If they are out during the day, keep them on a leash or in a closed space. Pets that roam free are more likely to get rabies.

• Wear protective gloves when handling a pet that has been involved with a wild or stray animal.

• Do not feed wildlife or make them into pets.

Share this post with neighbors and friends, particularly those who may not be on-line. 

Cavendish Update 3/10/17 Town Mtg/News/Events

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 This week’s special coverage of Town Meeting has been made possible by a donation from Lucille and Bob Evens, and a contribution by Liz Bammarito supported this week’s edition of the Update.

 SUNDAY- DAY LIGHT SAVINGS RETURNS: Time to Turn and Twist-As you set your clocks ahead by an hour, test and change the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

 3/10/17 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Town Meeting Results

2. Cavendish Related News

3. Spaghetti Dinner/Quarter Auction Benefit Library/Pollards

4. Do You Know Anything About the Henry James Farm

5. Claudine Langille to Play in Proctorsville-3/21/17

6. Events

1. CAVENDISH TOWN MEETING RESULTS MARCH 6 & 7 At the beginning of Town Meeting, not only was Rich Svec, Town Manager of Cavendish for over 28 years, thanked but it was announced there will be a retirement thank you party for him on April 2 (Sunday) at Murdock’s on the Green (Proctorsville) from 3-5. All are invited and encouraged to stop by to thank and wish Rich well in his retirement.

Cavendish’s Town Meeting took place on Monday, March 6, with Australian Balloting occurring the following day. All articles were passed for both the Town and the School, though there was a very long discussion, with a number of questions raised about Act 46, during the school budget informational meeting. Please see The Dish for a full report of Town Meeting.

The only contested race for elected positions was for the two positions for one-year term as Selectmen, which were won by Jillian Flinn and Mark Huntley. All school budgets were passed as was the municipal bond for replacing the aeration system for the Waste Water Treatment Plant. See The Dish for more in-depth report.

The Cavendish Vermont Town and School District 2016 Annual Report is available in PDF format on-line or in print from the Town Office.

2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Unapproved Select Board Minutes for Feb. 24 Now On-line: At the Feb. 24 meeting of the SB, the Board approved the purchase of a 2017 dump truck for the amount of $204, 566, including warranty, from Reed’s Truck Service, which replaces the truck lost in the recent town garage fire. Weston & Sampson Engineering was awarded the bid of $29,360.00 for the Bridge # 58(Depot Street Bridge) Utilities Crossing Project .

Unapproved Select Board Minutes for Feb. 13 Now On-line: The following actions were taken at the February 13 meeting of the SB:

• Approved the contractual agreement for a town wide reappraisal with New England Municipal Resource Center (NEMRC), with sole source procurement so as not to conflict with the Town of Cavendish procurement policy, for $100,200 to be paid over 24 months in monthly payments of $4,175 per month.

• Approved Liquor Licenses for Singleton’s Store and Jill’s Place

• Approved making a counter offer to Country Condo Association of $13,185 for the purchase of Apt. 4 of North Country Condos Phase 2 for a closing on or before June 15.

• Accepted the 2017 Certificate of Highway Mileage

• Agreed that ditching plans on rural roads should be considered on a case-by-case basis. • Approved a Declaration of Official Intent so that the Town can use proceeds of its tax-exempt bonds and notes to reimburse itself for project advances in the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Facility improvements.

Springfield Animal Hospital Finds Temporary Home: The Springfield Animal Hospital is open for business at their new temporary location at 368 River Street in the former Ridgewood Associates Building next to Biben’s Ace Hardware. The new hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 pm. The Message

Affordable Care Act Bill Could Have Significant Negative Impacts on VT: Monday’s proposal to “repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act” would eliminate federal subsidies available for health insurance premiums and replace them with a tax credit based on a person’s age. Al Gobeille, Vermont’s secretary of Human Services, whose team is reviewing the plan, said it could mean more expensive insurance for many Vermonters. “Anything that undermines coverage we feel is bad, and that’s either coverage from Medicaid or coverage from the commercial side,” he said. “At first glance, we think this could do that and we would not support that.” The GOP proposal will continue funding for states that have expanded Medicaid coverage, including Vermont, under the ACA through 2020. But after that, the plan calls for a per-person cap on Medicaid spending. The state is also in the process of implementing a new health care payment system under the so-called all-payer model. It seeks to end the fee-for-service payment structure in favor of one that pays health care providers based on health outcomes. Gobeille said the GOP health care plan does not address that. Rutland Herald

3. SPAGHETTI DINNER/QUARTER AUCTION BENEFITS POLLARDS/LIBRARY : The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library will be holding a Spaghetti Dinner and Quarter Auction on Friday, March 24 in the Cavendish Town Elementary School’s Multi-Purpose Room from 6:00-9:00 PM. Everyone is encouraged to attend.  This fundraiser will benefit both the library’s programming budget and the Pollard family, whose home was damaged by fire in February.

The first hour of the event will be a spaghetti dinner. The price for dinner is $7.50 per adult, $5.00 per child 5-12 and under 5 year-olds eat for free.  It is capped at $20/family.  The menu will consist of Spaghetti with meatballs, rolls, tossed salad, cookies and various drinks.  Vegetarian meals are available, as is takeout.  

The next two hours will feature the quarter auction.  A quarter auction is similar to a bunch of raffles.  Participants purchase a paddle with a number on it.  A chip with the same number goes into a "hat" at the time of purchase.  After dinner the auctioneer will have the "hat" up front along with the items up for auction. Participants will sit at tables with their paddles and a bowl in front of them for quarters.  The auctioneer names the value of the item and the "bid" in quarters.  Usually between $.50 and $1.50 depending on the value of the item.  If a participant is interested, they hold up their paddle and put the specified number of quarters in the little bowl on the table in front of them.  Volunteers collect the quarters.  The auctioneer then draws chips out of the "hat" until a person whose had placed a "bid" ( paddle in the air, money in the bowl)'s number is called.  They get the item for the small amount of quarters they put in and the library gets all of the quarters. The chip then goes back into the hat for the next item.

Participants may bid on whatever items they want.  More than one paddle may be purchased. You do not have to buy dinner to participate.

Items we have for the quarter auction include a Patriots mirror, gift certificates from area merchants, art, some wine, various baskets of items, including a dog basket, baked goods, and more coming in every day.

Direct sales vendors will also be at the event auctioning off items. FMI: 226-7503 Kata

4. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE HENRY JAMES FARM?: Recently the Cavendish Historical Society was asked if we knew anything about the Henry James Farm in Cavendish, dating back to the WWII era. The person who is inquiring writes,  "I only know about it because my father volunteered there between 1941 and 1944.  And I only know that because the FBI was watching him at the time and reported that he went out with the other young people who stayed - there- likely other COs [consciousness objector] -to volunteer to help local farmers with their work such as haying I imagine. Chances are no such person as Henry James who lived there- maybe it was named after a radical Henry James figure ?? Or maybe a local farmer named Henry James with lefty politics??  Really love it if u dig up Any info- the coincidence of this has bugged me for years as my dad eventually settled in close byAndover but never bothered to mention his experience in Cavendish a decade earlier... although he did love to tell a story about how he went door to door during the depression trying to peddle applesin Springfield . Having no luck with sales he eventually just knocked on doors and offered them for free .!people would not accept them andslammed their doors and called him a communist. He did love to tell that story. Now I wonder ifthat period in his life was the same as when he lived on Henry James farm in Cavendish. FBI records are the only documentation ironically of this."

If you have any information on a Henry James, please e-mail margocaufleld@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807.

5. CLAUDINE LANGILLE TO PLAY IN PROCTORSVILLE- 3/21/17: Welcome Spring with a celebration of Irish Music!  On Tuesday, March 21st at 7 p.m. at Crows Bakery and Opera House Café on Depot Street in Proctorsville, Claudine Langille, of Gypsy Reel, will share some jigs and reels and stories from the Emerald Isle and beyond.

Claudine is listed in Wikipedia as a "noteworthy Irish mandolinist" and plays and teaches tenor banjo, mandolin and guitar. She will share from her extensive collection of songs and true-life tales garnered from her travels with Gypsy Reel and with Touchstone, her award-winning band in the 1980s. Claudine has been featured on the internationally broadcast Thistle and Shamrock radio show. Friend and whistler Robin Timko will accompany her on a few choice tunes.

Cover charge is $8 at the door for music and your choice of Chocolate Guinness cake or Apple tart, coffee or tea. Since seating is limited, please RSVP by calling Crows Bakery at 226-7007.  For more information please call Robin Timko at 226-7007.

5. EVENTS

MARCH 11 (Saturday): Bake Sale by the GMUHS Freshmen Class to benefit the Pollard Family at Singleton’s 10-3 FMI.

MARCH 13 (Monday): Select Board Meeting

MARCH 14 (Tuesday: Community Luncheon, noon at Gethsemane Church, off of Depot St. Proctorsville. The menu will be a New England Boiled dinner:  corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and turnips.  And of course , dessert!  Donations accepted.  

MARCH 17 (Friday): Happy St. Patrick’s Day

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

Cavendish Town Meeting -Voting 3/7/17

With slightly more than 1,000 registered Cavendish voters, only 211 (about 20%) voted on Tuesday, March 7.  The only contested race for elected officials was for the two one-year positions for Select Men. Jillian Flinn and Mark Huntley were elected. Download the slate of elected officials for the coming year. 

As far as Cavendish Town Elementary School budget, it was passed  132 Yes, 79 No. The bond for the Aerations System for the Cavendish Wastewater Treatment Plant also passed 169 Yes, 42 No.

The GMUHS budget, voted on by Cavendish and Chester,passed  744 Yes, 214 No as did the GMUHS Bond Vote to replace the roof.  590 Yes, 371 No

The Riverside Vocational Technical Budget was approved by Cavendish voters 137 Yes, 73 No

Town Meeting-March 6

Town meeting coverage has been made possible thanks to a donation made by Bob and Lucille Evens. Thank you!

Please note that Town Meeting was filmed by LPC-TV and will be available at their website  and on Comcast TV. 

The Cavendish Vermont Town and School District 2016 Annual Report, which includes "warnings" is available in PDF format on-line or in print from the Town Office. 

Before the meeting began, the town’s attorney Matthew Birmingham gave a tribute to Rich Svec, who retired from his position as town manager, with over 28 years of service, in January. Birmingham informed the audience that there would be a town wide retirement and thank you party for Svec on Sunday, April 2, from 3-5 pm at Murdock’s on the Green in Proctorsville.

In keeping with so many things that are new for Cavendish this year-president, governor, town manager-there is now a new town moderator Mike Ripley. Former moderator, Will Hunter, is no longer a Cavendish resident and so stepped down after the March 2016 meeting.

The comments voiced by the state representatives that spoke Annmarie Christensen and Senators Dick McCormack and Alison Carkson, made it clear that they had little to report. Christensen summed it up best by explaining that the Governor wants a balanced budget without raising taxes, yet accommodating certain educational interests. It’s not clear how that can happen, plus, it wont be until July 1, when the federal government issues their budget that the state will know how much funding they will be receiving. Note that Vermont is a “net importer” of federal money, currently receiving approximately $2 in return for every dollar sent. Medicaid is the single biggest governmental benefit to VT, $1.1 billion which includes many human services beyond upfront health care-water testing, food stamps, housing, addiction services, corrections, mental health, public health and much more.  For a more in-depth report, go to We are One Town-Could Governmental Cuts Impact Cavendish?

School: Several math errors were pointed out in the Town Report-On page 88-The savings Account Balance should be $9,641 and for the White Trust Fund, the word “increase” should be replaced with “decrease.” On Page 89 it could not be explained how the Hot Lunch Program starting budget was reported at $110, with money received for the year being spent, yet the remaining balance at the end of the school year had increased to $136.

On the topic of the school’s trust accounts, it was recommended that the school board should consider maintaining these funds and avoid the trust company fees. Board member Doug McBride said he would be sure to bring this topic up at a board meeting. 

All articles, (page 85 of the Town Report) which could be voted on at Town Meeting, were approved. During the “Informational meeting,” for the budget that will be voted on by Australian Ballot,  board member Sharon Huntley explained that the budget only increased by 1.4% while the per pupil cost went up by 4.70%. The difference between the two figures couldn’t be explained, other than to say it’s the formula being used by the state.

Huntley and the Principal, George Thomson, both explained that Cavendish’s enrollment is one of the best in the Twin River Supervisory Union (TRSU) and appears to be holding around 100 students. There has been a significant increase in students requiring special education-28 versus the previous year’s 19. Because CTES does well with these students, Huntley believed that parents were using school choice options and/or moving in to the district in order to provide a better opportunity for their child.  Consequently, additional staffing is needed to accommodate these children.

ACT 46: The largest portion of the evening was spent on trying to understand Act 46 and the talks that have been going on for almost a year and a half. Signed into law in June 2015, Act 46 encourages and eventually requires school districts to merge into larger units over the next four years in an effort to better serve students reduce costs (taxes). This is one way to eliminate schools with very small enrollments, where educational opportunities are limited. Read more at Decoding Act 46: What it Means, How it Works.

At one time Cavendish was part of the Windsor Southwest Supervisory Union (WWSU), which merged-minus Londonderry-with the Ludlow/Mt. Holly district to form the Twin Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU). Because of the recent merger, it made sense to consider forming an Act 46 District with these participating towns plus the addition of Baltimore. Note that when originally chartered, Baltimore was part of Cavendish.

Board member McBride explained that the way the Act. 46 law is structured, there was a carrot and a stick. If you didn’t participate in a district you would be penalized but if you did there were real cost incentives. Therefore Cavendish needed to consider becoming part of a district. After 16 months of discussion, it became apparent that:

a)     The tax burden of keeping Black River High School in Ludlow open would significantly increase the taxes of participating towns. McBride, who serves on the Act 46 committee, said Cavendish taxes would have been raised by .20¢, which would be a hefty tax increase.

b)    Mt. Holly will not send their students to GMUHS because it’s too far away. They want to be out of their district relationship with Ludlow, so they can send students to Mill River and be part of a Rutland district. As McBride described it, “this is like a couple where one party wants a divorce and the other refuses to grant it.”  

c)     Ludlow does not want to close its high school.

Since Ludlow/Mt. Holly were not going to budge, the other members of the TRSU, plus Baltimore, opted to form a Regional Education District (RED). This would mean that:

a)     There would be one school board for all of the District schools, in this case CTES, Chester/Andover, and GMUHS.

b)    The new district would now “own the school,” and be responsible for maintenance, upkeep etc. It is unclear how Cavendish’s Library, which is connected to the school but is also a town library, would be handled.

c)     The education tax rate would be set for the district, not just the town.

Frustration was voiced over the lack of local control and the state’s continually making mandates that impacts everything from budgets to districts. However, this is a comment that has been voiced continually for at least the last 25 years.

There were many questions that were brought up that have no answers at this time-What happens to the TRSU? Will there be one treasurer? What happens to the endowments given to the town library? What benefit will it have for my child? Ultimately, there will be more public meetings on this topic that voters should attend if they wish to make an informed decision on May 2, when they vote on whether Cavendish should be part of the RED.

Town: All articles were passed (pages 8 & 9 of the Annual Town Report). Article 5, was amended as follows, “To see if the legal voters of the Town of Cavendish will authorize a special appropriation not to exceed $20,000 to construct a new building at the Transfer Station for storage and processing of electronic and universal waste.”

The discussion on this article was lengthy. Assistant town manager, Bruce McEnaney, explained that Cavendish would be receiving $16,000 and change to help defray the costs of the building. This money was coming from funds left over from the NH/VT Solid Waste District, which dissolved when Wheelbrator’s closed. Attempts were made to change the article to reflect the lower actual cost. Through this process, some issues in the town budget were brought up, which resulted in corrected figures on page 35 -Solid Waste Transfer Station Budgetary Information. Line item “Site Improvement Maintenance” should be reduced to $4,000 and line item Solid Waste Building Fund should list 0 versus $12,000.

Aeration System: Article 2, which will be voted on by Australian Ballot, states Shall the legal voters of the Town of Cavendish approve the issuance of a municipal bond in the amount not to exceed $790,000 for the purpose of complete replacement of the Town Wastewater Treatment Plant Aeration System.

The concern was raised that the cost of town water and sewage continues to increase and would this new system increase costs? Brendan McNamara, town manager, explained that the new system would increase costs but by how much was unknown. However, the aeration system has to be replaced but there are significant funding opportunities that would offset the costs noted in the Article. If we don’t act on this now, who knows what kind of funding opportunities will be available after July 1.

While those on town sewer will be responsible for paying off the loan, because of town “indebtedness” of a municipal bond, a town vote is required. Read a more in-depth report at The Dish.