Cavendish Update 11/30/18 Storm/SB Mtg/News/Events
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11/30/18 Cavendish Update
1. Emergency Response to Storm
2. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 11/19/18
3. Cavendish Related News
4. Events
1. EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO STORM: Schools were closed Tuesday and Wednesday of this week as the Cavendish Highway Department worked to clear the roads of both heavy snow and fallen trees. At one time, more than half the town was without power. Currently there are still over 150 Green Mountain Power (GMP) customers, primarily in Cavendish Village, that are without power. It is anticipated that by Saturday evening power will have been restored town wide.
The Cavendish Shelter at the Cavendish Baptist Church has been activated serving food and providing a warming space, showers, phone charging etc. The Shelter will remain open today, Nov. 30, starting at 8 am. Food will be available throughout the day on a serve yourself basis. Bottled water is now available. Those in need of assistance beyond today can call the church 802-226-7131.
The Shelter is in need of a toaster. If you have one you would like to donate, drop it off at the church.
Given that we’re just at the beginning of the winter season, it is important that people are adequately prepared for the season ahead. Check out the Emergency Preparedness page of the Cavendish Connects website.
Please note that the National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for our area. A wintry mix is expected Saturday night into Sunday as a strong warm front moves through the region. Precipitation will likely start off as snow and transition to sleet, freezing rain and ultimately rain. Snowfall amounts will generally range upwards to an inch during the onset of precipitation with the potential of ice accumulations less than one tenth of an inch Saturday night. Temperatures on Sunday will warm into the lower to mid 40s, which will change precipitation over to rain and bring an end to the wintry mix.
Many thanks to the Highway Department and to those donating food and services to the Cavendish Shelter.
2. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 11/19/18: 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.
Action taken
• Approved 2018-2019 Cavendish Green Mountain Snow Fleas Snowmobile Club Maps as it pertains to Town Rd.
• Reviewed and signed “Change in Terms of Agreement with Mascoma Bank, increasing Town Highway Garage Construction Bond Anticipation Note to $475,000.
• Signed Resolution for Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment
• Approved request for change of appraisal for parcel ID# 2P07-109
Discussed
• Electrical Charging Station Grant. The grant would allow Cavendish to install two electrical car-charging stations on the Proctorsville Green in proximity of Murdocks and Outer Limits Brewery. The grant requires a 10% match from the town, which can include in-kind work from the Town Crew. The application is due Nov. 30.
• Replacing the current listers with a part time hire. Due to the expanding duties of lister, the town’s current approach is no longer adequate. It was suggested that the Town could continue to hire an outside firm (NEMRC) to perform the property appraisals but a trained part time person is also needed. Changes to the listers program will need to be approved by the voters at Town Meeting. In April 2019 a new town-wide reappraisal will be issued. The last one was done in 2019
Updates
• The Waste Water Treatment Aeration project has been shut down for the winter and will resume in the spring
• Depot Street Bridge work is wrapping up for the season. Bids going out for bridge work over the winter. Anticipated completion date is Oct. 2019.
• Roadwork on 103 is at a standstill until after Thanksgiving. This could cause potential problems for the town plows where roads (e.g. Bailey Hill, Greven, 131) intersect with 103.
• New signs, made locally by Carl Liener, are being installed in the town cemeteries and town garage.
• Emergency Management Coordinator, Mike Ripley, said he is “wearing too many hats” and wishes to give up this position as soon as possible but can wait until March if need be.
• The new town garage should be completed and ready for occupancy before Dec. 14. The project is on budget. The former town garage space is being filled in with soil from ditching, which will resume in the spring. The ground will be seeded and hopefully the newly formed Cavendish Streetscapes Committee can do some gardening/landscaping. The Pole barn at the old site will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
3. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
GMUSD FY20 Budget Process Has Begun: The Chester Telegraph has provided a good overview of the Green Mountain Unified School District FY 20 budget process. It includes proposed changes, new staffing and much more. If we want to avoid last year’s issues, it’s important that voters stay informed, participate in meetings and raise questions and concerns now. Chester Telegraph
Proctorsville Fire Department’s Annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale: Begins Saturday December 1, 9am-4pm and continue on December 2nd, 8th, and 9th. Trees are VT grown and are $30 and up. Wreaths are $15. Trees range from 5ft to about 9ft. Will deliver in the area, just stop by and pick out that perfect tree and we can get it home for you. On December 8th Santa will arrive at the firehouse by a PFD Engine at 10am make sure your there with the kids to see him arrive. There will be free coffee and doughnuts also.
VT Home Health and Hospice Agencies Face Hit to Federal Funding: The nonprofit agencies that provide home-based health care to thousands of residents across Vermont are bracing for a hit to the federal funds that account for the majority of their operating revenue. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued new rules recently that will the qualifying criteria for supplementary payments to “home health and hospice” agencies that provide care in rural setting. The decision will result in funding cuts of about $1.2 million annually, once the so-called “rural add-on” is phased out entirely. VPR
4. EVENTS
DECEMBER 1-2 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): Indulgence Tour
• The Proctorsville Fire Department’s Annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale 9am-4pm. Trees are VT grown and are $30 and up. Wreaths are $15. Trees range from 5ft to about 9ft. Will deliver in the area, just stop by and pick out that perfect tree and we can get it home for you.
DECEMBER 1 (SATURDAY): BRGN Stuff-a-Bus, 9-3 Shaw’s Parking Lot in Ludlow. Foods needed include: canned fruit, cranberry sauce, pickles, olives, mac & cheese, hot chocolate, cookies, cereal, candy, canned carrots, peas, green beans and corn, gravy, stuffing, soup and coffee.
DECEMBER 2 (SUNDAY): Cavendish Celebrates Solzhenitsyn’s 100th birthday, 4 pm at the Cavendish Baptist Church. Will be showing Solzhenitsyn’s Farewell Address to Cavendish, which will be followed by discussion and a potluck supper. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
• Okemo Food Drive for Black River Good Neighbor: Donate at least five non-perishable food items, a new/unused child’s toy, new/unused clothing item, or $20 cash and receive a coupon for a $45 lift ticket good on this day. Donations will be collected in the Clock Tower Base Plaza from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. FMI: 802-228-3663.
DECEMBER 3 (MONDAY): TRSU Public Relations Committee Meeting, 6-7:30 pm at the Roost, Fletcher Farm. Agenda
DECEMBER 5 (WEDNESDAY): GMUSD Transportation Committee Meeting, 5-6 pm at GMUHS. Agenda
DECEMBER 6 (THURSDAY): TRSU Policy Committee 6-8 pm at the Roost, Fletcher Farm. Legal Warning-Policy Consideration
DECEMBER 8-9 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): The Proctorsville Fire Department’s Annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale 9am-4pm. Trees are VT grown and are $30 and up. Wreaths are $15. Trees range from 5ft to about 9ft. Will deliver in the area, just stop by and pick out that perfect tree and we can get it home for you. On December 8th Santa will arrive at the firehouse by a PFD Engine at 10am make sure your there with the kids to see him arrive. Free coffee and doughnuts.
DECEMBER 11 (TUESDAY): Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s 100th Birthday
DECEMBER 13 (THURSDAY): GMUSD Finance Committee, at CTES
DECEMBER 14 (Friday): Quilt Raffle Drawing at the Cavendish Library. Raffle tickets are for the quilt made by Gloria Leven are $1 each or a book of 6 for $5. The quilt, which measures 74” by 56” is hand tied and made of batik cloth. It can be seen online at www.cavendishlibrary.org or at the library. FMI: 226-7503.
DECEMBER 19 (WEDNESDAY): GMUSD Facilities Committee Meeting, 5:30-6:30 at CTES
DECEMBER 20 (THURSDAY): GMUSD Board Meeting, 6 pm at GM in Chester
DECEMBER 25 (TUESDAY): MERRY CHRISTMAS!
DECEMBER 31 (TUESDAY): NEW YEAR’S EVE
JANUARY 1 (WEDNESDAY): HAPPY NEW YEAR
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.