Cavendish Update 4/21/23: SB Mtg/Water

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                        WATER CONSERVATION NOTICE!

Cavendish Municipal Water System users are requested to reduce water consumption as much as possible during the time period: 7 am Monday, April 24th through 5 pm Friday, May 5th

During this period the municipal water system will have the system well off-line for cleaning and redevelopment. The system will remain operational during this period using water in the storage tanks and water quality will be normal. Once cleaning is completed, the tanks will need some time to refill.

 Your cooperation is needed and all users are urged, wherever possible, to defer activities which may require large amounts of water until after Friday, May 5th, With good user cooperation and conservative use there should be an ample supply of water for normal household use during this period and there should be no interruption of service. For more information please call the Town Office at 802-226-7291

 4/21/23

1.    Select Board Meeting 4/17/23

2.    Earth Week Activities

3.    COVID

4.    Events

1. SELECT BOARD MEETING 4/17/23: Cavendish Select Board (SB) meetings are videoed by Okemo Valley TV and posted to their website. In addition, unapproved minutes from Monday’s meeting will be posted at the Cavendish Municipal Website. The VT Journal and Chester Telegraph generally provide coverage.

Without a town manager, Diane McNamara, town clerk, answered as many town related questions as she could and various members of the SB assumed responsibilities that normally would be held by the town manager. The board will be conducting second round interviews for town manager in executive session. To the question of whether town employees should meet prospective town managers, the decision was made to leave things as they were.

The following took place at Monday’s meeting:

Trees: The white pine on the east side of the Stone Church is posing a considerable risk to the building. The town’s tree warden, Tim Calabrese, has stated that the tree needs to come down. The cost will be approximately $2,000-$3,000 provided the Town disposes of the downed tree. The tree appears to be on both the town property and the abutting property owner. The board would like to talk to the town’s lawyer as far as what will be required in writing from the homeowner. This issue will be on the May agenda.

• The two maples in front of the town office require a gypsum treatment.

Town Water: Local resident and municipal water user, Daniela Clark read a letter to the board expressing concerns about water quality including why an above average manganese level in October of 2022, wasn’t reported to water users until March 2023. According to McNamara, the water report from the state wasn’t received until March and were told to issue an immediate report to users. According to the June 2022 Consumer Confidence Report Our water filtration plant which we constructed for the purpose of removing the high levels of iron and manganese commonly found in the ground water in this area continues to prove itself to be effective and efficient. The filtration equipment removes virtually all of these two nuisance minerals. At most times, they are not even able to be detected in the samples (<0.020 ppm) which we test in-house as well as those we send out for professional lab analysis. Complaints about yellow and brown water have been occurring with more frequency in town. It appears randomly and the thought is that it maybe from the pipes during times of high water usage. Chair Bob Glidden noted that for the first time in about 2 ½ years, the Proctorsville Fire Dept. had brown tap water that day. The board agreed to include municipal water on the May agenda and will have someone from the water department on hand to answer questions. Note: Iron and manganese were serious issues in town until the current biologic system was installed. Cavendish was the first town in New England to install such a system, though it is used in Europe and Canada.  To learn about the system check out  page 40 of the Iron and Manganese Removal Handbook and/or Biological Iron & Manganese Treatment: 5 Years of Operating Experience in Cavendish VT

Cemetery Mowers: Bruce McEnaney, town sexton, requested that $4,700 of the Cemetery Equipment Budget be used to purchase two used mowers,  a Ferris Zero Turn for $4,000 and a Troy Built for $700.

Concert Series: Peter LaBelle provided the list of Wednesday night concerts on for the 2023 season as follows:

July 5 - Gypsy Reel

July 12 - Bill Brink

July 19 - Gully Boys

July 26 - The Willistones (Mark Huntley, etc.)

Aug 2 - Sammy Blanchette

Aug 9 - Yankee Chank

Aug 16 - The Silverbacks

Outdoor Liquor Licenses: The board approved the request for Smokin Bowls but had concerns about the request for Outer Limits. Due to Covid, the SB gave a permit to Outer Limits in June 2020 to use town property, previously used as parking space, in order to operate an outdoor venue. This poses a liability risk to the town and also reduces parking options. SB vice chair Mike Ripley will talk to the owners. No permit was issued for Outer Limits.

Building Permits: As this was a task for the town manager, Bob Glidden as chair will take on this responsibility until a new manager is hired.

Oil Spill at the former Town Garage site:  When the soil samples are completed, the town will be informed about next steps and removal of dirt currently under plastic near the Museum and poll barns.

Town Grant Policy: McNamara requested that the SB adopt a grant policy to make things easier for her to manage. The SB agree and will follow up with at the May meeting.

2. EARTH WEEK ACTIVITIES: Throughout Earth Week (April 16-22), we’ve been posting to Facebook daily ways to support our community and the planet.

• Monday-Black River Good Neighbor (BRGN) in Ludlow is in need of any and all household items. Please check and see what you can donate. Before you buy new, check and see if you can find it gently used at BRGN. You can support your neighbors, community and the environment by recycling, repurposing and keeping items out of the landfill.

• Tuesday-Black River Action Team (BRAT) is helping to preserve the Black River for now and always, by river cleanups, water quality monitoring, invasive plant management, dragonfly surveys, native vegetable planting and educational programs. You can support their work by volunteering or making a donation. This month you can stop by the Springfield Coop to round up at the register! Whether it's a quick bite, cup of coffee, some adult beverages, or a week's worth of groceries, just have them round up to the nearest dollar and all the change will go to help BRAT do all the awesome projects they do!

• Wednesday-The Cavendish Transfer Station: You can save money and help the environment by taking full advantage of what the Transfer Station offers including: Free Zero Sort Recycling; free E-waste recycling; free composting, chipping and burn pile  and more. To learn more about this valuable community resource, visit the Transfer Station website.

• Thursday-Efficiency VT: Order a free Energy Savings Kit. The kit includes LEDS and water saving devices that can help you save on energy bills.

• Friday-Get a Jump Start on Green Up Day: While the official date for VT’s Green Up Day is May 6, , get a jump start by picking up a Green Up trash bags from the town office when they become available and clean up your neighborhood roads and waterways. As a volunteer, you make a huge difference for our environment. 

3. COVID: For local information on Covid, please see the Cavendish COVID-19 Resource Guide, which includes information on Long Covid.

Vaccination for Covid-Doctor’s office or pharmacy.  The FDA ruled this week that People 65 and older and those who are immunocompromised are now eligible for another COVID-19 booster shot.

Free Covid Test kits/masks & hand sanitizer: Available Monday-Friday at the Cavendish Fire Dept from 9-4. For weekends and off hours, call 802-226-7807. Pick up free masks and sanitizer when picking up a test kit. Masks and hand sanitizer are available 24/7, 365 at the CHS Cares Closet, next to the steps of the Museum.

Schools: Chester Andover Elementary reported one case on 4/18

Vermont Covid Surveillance Report: The 4/9-4/15 report indicates low community levels state wide, with the exception of Rutland County, which is reported as medium. There have been 9 new Covid deaths, bringing the state total to 956, with 11 in April.

4. EVENTS

APRIL 22 (SATURDAY): Drug Take Back Day

MAY 6 (SATURDAY): Green Up Day

APRIL 24 (MONDAY)-MAY 5 (FRIDAY): Water Conservation weeks for those on town water. During this period the municipal water system will have the system well off-line for cleaning and redevelopment.

MAY 15 (MONDAY): 4th quarter property taxes due

MAY 16 (TUESDAY): The Annual Meeting of Cavendish Fire District 2 will be held at Cavendish Fire Station, 2154 Main Street, Cavendish, VT 05142, at 6pm. Copies of the board’s annual report will be available beforehand from the Town Office. The Warning notice is available online.

MAY 29 (MONDAY): Memorial Day. Town Office closed.

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