Cavendish Update 12/6/19 SB Mtg/News/Events
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12/6/19 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 11/25/19
2. Cavendish Related news
3. Events
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD SPECIAL MEETING 11/25/19: A special select board (SB) meeting was held to vote on whether the town should appeal the Vermont Department of Property Valuation Review dated October 24th 2019, Watson V. Town of Cavendish.
Bruce and Linda Watson, who live at the intersection of Tierney Rd, and High Street appealed to have their property taxes lowered due to a proposed .64 acre quarry at the end of Tierney Rd-approximately a mile from their property. In the decision rendered by the hearing officer, who ruled in favor of the Watsons, the assessed value of their property will be reduced from $498,800 to $449,000 for the grand list year 2018.
In a Letter to the Editor, Maureen Savage, who along with her husband Justin, owns the 176 acres at the end of Tierney Rd, provided the following information about the scope of this project. Note that the quarry will be run by Jason Snow of Snowstone. It is important to understand how and when Snow will remove the stone, which is in the same manner as he had done with the Cavendish Gulf Rd, where no objections or issues from the town or neighbors were raised:
• Quarries dimensional and decorative stone, process to remove and split is by hand.
• Further processing by machinery is done off site [in Chester, VT]
• .64 acre parcel tucked in woods not in residential area, can’t see it.
• No more than four trips daily in a ford F550 (landscaping truck)
• Controlled blast approximately once a year
• Operation would last approximately five years.
• Seasonal business, no weekends or holidays, no operation in the Winter
On Nov. 14, the Cavendish Board of Civil Authorities met to discuss whether the town should appeal this decision.
Diane McNamara, Town Clerk and treasurer, noted that, upon reviewing the Decision, there were items that raised some questions and that she felt an appeal should be pursued if for no other reason than to have an accurate record. Among her concerns included:
Item #4:The appraiser stated that she visited the Tierney Road property with the owners and saw their property from the road. According to the Handbook on Property Tax Assessment Appeals, the appraiser is obligated to inspect the property and to issue a decision in writing.
Item#5: There is currently a very small gravel pit operation at the far end of the road. My understanding is that there is not currently a very small gravel pit operating at the end of the road.
Item #8: The residents of Tierney Road have taken the Town to court to stop the gravel pit from happening. I am unaware that the Town has been taken to court on any matter regarding this.
In her Letter, Savage shared similar concerns with McNamara, Regarding Watsons Tax Appeal decision there are many incorrect statements and assumptions. It’s clear the assessor was lied to by Mr. Watson and took his word as fact without confirming, I will reference these inconsistences as they are in the 10/24/19 document from the Department of Taxes: Savage shared points #7 and 8, and along with McNamara noted that for Item #7, no act 250 permit has been applied for to expand the quarry. Savage also noted Watson Stated in 11/14 Cavendish Board of Civil Authority meeting he showed the assessor where the quarry was – [however] you can’t see it from the road.
Savage points out that Data provided from 2008 study how “gravel pits” affect values is comparing a 200+ acre pit with 120 truck trips a day to a small 2-man operation. Also references rezoning, there is no zoning in Cavendish.
According to Savage, Mr. Watson has circulated considerable misinformation. The first one being that we will “postage stamp” our property and sell an acre over and over again. Last year we placed our entire property into land use minus the .64 acre and our homesite.
We purchased our property to live on it, enjoy recreationally and would like to retire here. This is our home; we are local small business owners and consider ourselves respectful and good stewards of the land. We - just like all of you have no desire to live next to a large-scale quarry. Note: The Savages live full time on Tierney Rd with two of their three children.
After going into executive session with the town's attorney the SB returned and voted 4 to 1 not to appeal. The rationale for this decision was that it would cost the town more to appeal the decision than to let it stand. The one dissenting vote was from Mike Ripley.
Savage’s Letter to the Editor is available at The Dish and the VT Journal.
2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
CVFD Free Air Hose is Operational: The free air hose at the Cavendish Volunteer Fire Department is back in service.
CHS December News Brief: Catch up on the latest news from the Cavendish Historical Society at their monthly “briefs.
Former Ludlow Dentist John C. Montgomery Dies: It is with sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Montgomery, who was a dentist in Ludlow until 2011. His obituary is available on-line.
GMUSD November Board Meeting: GMUSD board meeting Thursday, Nov. 21 lasted nearly four hours dealing with several major issues including a Cavendish Community Library incident that necessitated changes to library hours. On Friday, Oct. 25, the library assistant noticed a town library patron was carrying an unloaded gun. The police were called the next day and the patron’s library privileges were suspended until the investigation was completed. The Cavendish public library is attached to one end of Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES). Following the incident, there were several meetings with Library Board President Bob Evans, CTES principal Deb Beaupre, librarian Kata Welch, additional safety consultants, and TRSU administrators. The result of the meetings were that the library hours have been changed so each morning the library is open to students from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then open to the community from 12-7 p.m. On Saturdays, the library is open from noon to 4 p.m. The library doors are also locked so that no students can enter the library from the school after noon. Beaupre has agreed that as they consider more permanent solutions to the issue, the short-term changes will work through this year. Beaupre expressed her focus on student safety first and foremost and discussed her initial reaction “as a principal thinking about this particular space and how it makes us vulnerable, the pragmatic thing for me is that the library should go.” She admitted, however, that that’s a bigger conversation. Librarian Kata Welch noted “The thought of the library leaving the school grounds, I think would be a tragedy. We are a huge resource for the community.” Further discussion has been tabled to the December meeting. VT Journal
GMUSD budget panel nixes CAES preschool, urges fund-raising for CTES playground Puts money into STEAM, literacy, early foreign language: The Green Mountain Unified School District Finance Committee rejected a number of administration initiatives at its Nov. 25 meeting in favor of fully funding the priorities it established at a September retreat- early reading, establishing a world language program in the elementary schools and a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) program in elementary and high school. The committee rejected the biggest initiative – buying the TD Bank to establish a preschool there for more there $500,000, but considered funding a new playground at Cavendish Town Elementary School before deciding that the $150,000 project should be the objective of a fundraising campaign as it was at Chester-Andover Elementary. Speaking to the playground issue, CTES Principal Deb Beaupre said the school’s support group was very small and that based on a lack of parental involvement, she decided not to pursue fundraising. She also said that since most of the fundraising would come from school families she was uncertain how quickly she could raise the money. Board members Doug McBride and Kate Lamphere, both of Cavendish, told the meeting that residents they have spoken with understand that playground funds were raised by the Chester community and not out of school funds and that people are ready to start fundraising but might need some help with grants. Chester Telegraph
Ludlow Rotary hears speaker on proposed 1% local tax: At a recent meeting, Ludlow Rotary Club members listened to Charlie Kimbell of Woodstock as he discussed that town’s implementation of the 1% local sales tax. Kimbell, who was instrumental in the implementation of the 1% tax in Woodstock, was invited by the LRC to discuss this issue since the Ludlow Select board may consider placing the additional 1% sales tax before the 2020 town meeting for consideration. He noted that, contrary to some towns that have implemented this tax, Woodstock was interested in using the additional revenue to improve infrastructure, enhance recreational facilities, and promote the town’s economic development. Kimbell indicated that the benefit of this approach, rather than simply putting the new revenue in the general fund to lower property taxes, was that it provided necessary improvements that did not increase property taxes. VT Journal
Vermont seniors face high rates of financial insecurity: Seniors in Vermont face one of the highest rates of financial insecurity in the nation. According to the report, 31% of seniors over the age of 65 who live alone, and 43% of elderly couples, don’t make enough income to meet the cost of basic needs, even though they are above the federal poverty line. The report, which analyzed federal data on the costs of housing, health care, transportation, food, and other goods in all 50 states found Vermont ranks first in the nation for the highest rate of economic insecurity for older couples, and third for singles. VT Digger
How Vermont’s DMV makes millions of dollars selling personal information: The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles has been quietly selling the personal data of Vermonters to private companies since at least 2004, making more than $15 million on sales of the data over the past four years. VT Digger
Tax commissioner forecasts school taxes will rise over 6%: Vermont’s tax commissioner is forecasting a projected $72 million increase in school spending will drive up the average education property tax bill by more than 6% next year. VT Digger
3. EVENTS
DECEMBER 6 (FRIDAY): Tree lighting and sing along, 5:30 pm on the Svec Park (Proctorsville Green). . Tree lights by HP Fuels, remaining decorations from Ludlow Women’s Club and Cavendish Streetscape. Free cookies and hot chocolate to follow
DECEMBER 7-8 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): Indulgence Tour. Taste your way through Okemo Valley of Vermont. A dozen country inns inn-vite you inn-side to enjoy their holiday decorations and their inn-dulgent treats from noon til 5 each day. Savory pies, homemade soups, decadent chocolate cake, and more! $15 per person in advance (until Nov 27), then $20 per person. FMI: Julie at Golden Stage Inn 802-226-7744
• Christmas Tree Sale at Proctorsville Fire Dept. 9-4
DECEMBER 14 (SATURDAY): Christmas Tree Sale at Proctorsville Fire Dept. 9-4, Santa arrives at 10 with free coffee and homemade doughnuts!
DECEMBER 15 (SUNDAY): Christmas Tree Sale at Proctorsville Fire Dept. 9-4
DECEMBER 21 (SATURDAY): Winter Solstice
DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 30 (SUNDAY-MONDAY): HANUKKAH
DECEMBER 24 (TUESDAY): Christmas Eve
DECEMBER 25 (WEDNESDAY): MERRY CHRISTMAS
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.