10/15/10 Cavendish Update SB Mtg/School Budge/Jobs/Flushing/Events

This issue of the Cavendish Update is made possible by the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA), a non-profit membership organization that is dedicated to the conservation of land and natural resources and to the preservation of historic sites within the context of sustainable economic growth. FMI: PO Box 605, Cavendish VT 05142 or 802-226-7736


The 10/15/10 Cavendish Update Contains the following:
1. October 11 Select Board Meeting
2. Fall Hydrant Flushing for Cavendish Municipal Water
3. Impact of Challenge for Change on the Cavendish Town Elementary School
4. Cavendish Library to Change Hours
5. Getting What You Need in Cavendish: Check List
6. Classifieds: Job Openings
7. Art Wanted for Group Show at the Cavendish Fletcher
8. Warning of Scams from the VT Attorney General
9. Cavendish Activities 10/15-22

1. October 11 Select Board Meeting
The Select Board, at their meeting on Monday, Oct. 11, discussed the following items:

Town-wide Appraisal Update: A request for proposals (RFP) is being drafted by the town manager, Rich Svec and will be let shortly.

Depot Street Bridge (# 58): Hoyle, Tanner and Associates, a civil and structural engineering firm from Burlington, is completing a study of the bridge. A report of findings is expected this month.

Town Website: Svec will develop an RFP for the development of a town website. This will be reviewed at the next SB meeting. While $1,000 has been set aside for this initiative, additional funding will most likely be needed. The e-Vermont grant maybe able to help with this-see item below. Who will be responsible for updating and maintaining the website will also need to be determined.

e-Vermont Grant: The e-Vermont Community Broadband Project is helping rural communities across Vermont optimize their use of broadband as a tool for economic development, education, social services, community connections, and civic engagement. A team of statewide partners will bring a variety of free services to selected applicants, including computers for elementary school classrooms, business advising, trainings and workshops for community members, library equipment, assistance in e-government and town website design, an online platform for community building, and other programs developed in response to specific local needs.

The e-Vermont Community Broadband Project is supported by a $2.5 million stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce with additional support from Vermont philanthropists, corporations and organizational partners (a full list can be found at www.e4vt.org).

The Select Board have recommended Peter LaBelle, as the municipal representative, to work with the Cavendish Library and other community groups in developing a grant application. The application will be reviewed at the November Select Board meeting. Submission must be electronically filed by Nov. 17. Notification of award will be mid December with implementation beginning January 2011.

In addition to assisting with a town website, the grant provides an opportunity for Cavendish businesses to develop their own web presence, computers for the school and technical assistance.

Vermont State Police Regional Advisory Board: Diane McNamara will represent the town on this Board.

Chapman Street (Stone Church Way): The road is on the western side of the Stone Church and connects 103 to High Street. The SB voted in February, as part of the Ancient Roads initiative, to keep the road classified as a Class 4 road. This designation puts the road on the map but there is no obligation to maintain it. The SB voted Monday night, 3 for, one opposed and one abstaining, to continue the classification. A letter will be sent to affected property owners that in the spring 2011, this road will be graded to once again make it passable for pedestrians. Cars or other vehicles cannot be parked to block the roadway. While grass will be permissible, trees and shrubbery will need to be removed.

2. Fall Hydrant Flushing for Cavendish Municipal Water
The Cavendish Municipal Water System has announced it’s fall flushing schedule from Wednesday, Oct. 20 through Friday Oct. 22 during the hours of 9-5. Systems users are reminded that Flushing hydrants may cause temporary discoloration and turbidity of the water. We apologize for any inconvenience to our users, however this very important system maintenance procedure must be conducted each spring and fall. The flushing program allows the pipes to be purged and the hydrants checked for proper operation.

Users are advised to avoid drinking the water or washing clothes (especially whites) while discoloration is in evidence. Following hydrant flushing in your area, users should be run cold water until it clears before resuming normal use. It is also advisable to flush individual water heaters after the water clears following a hydrant flush in your area. FMI: 226-7291

3. Impact of Challenge for Change on the Cavendish Elementary School
The Challenge for Change bill signed by Governor Douglas in June requires the Department of Education to reduce their current $1.2 billion budget by $23.2 million. This will require Cavendish Elementary School to reduce their current school year spending budget by slightly less than 2% ($26,358). The state is requesting that schools submit their planned reductions by December 15, and have recommended that schools convene their Financial Committees earlier this year.

In addition to the Challenge for Change, the state is planning additional cuts in education, such as Small School Grants, which will impact various school programs. Ultimately, the Cavendish school may be required to reduce their current budget by $80,000 to $100,000 for the coming year.

In attempting to look critically at the budget to meet the “Voluntary Reduction,” cuts non-instructional areas are being considered first. These include:

• Transportation Considerations: Contracting outside with a bus service; Having GMUHS take over the busing; Having pickup points for students; Cutting to one bus; No busing

• Food Service Considerations: Exploring ways of reducing costs in our own food service; Contracting outside with a food service; Having GMUHS take over service (one Hot lunch agent); Having foods prepared but overseen by GMUHS; Having foods prepared elsewhere and brought into the school

• Plant and Maintenance Exploring ways of reducing costs in our own program/cutting staff; Possibly combining with GMUHS somehow

• Office: Exploring book keeping move to the central office

• Planning Room: Teachers and staff dealing with ALL behaviors and plans and covering all recesses and duties currently assigned

FMI: 226-7758

4. Cavendish Library to Change Hours
The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library will be changing its open hours as of Monday, November 1 due to budget cuts. The new hours will be Monday 10-6, Tuesday 9:00-4:30, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00-6:30, Friday 9:00-4:30 and the first two Saturdays of the month from 12:00-4:00. “It was a difficult choice to make” said Kata Welch the library director, “but with our income down due to the economy we had to cut staff hours.” The library board will be working together to cover weekend hours twice a month to minimize the impact of the cuts on the public.

5. Getting What You Need in Cavendish: Check List
The resource pamphlet “Getting What You Need in Cavendish: A Check List for Those Living with a Chronic Condition; Caregivers, and/or Seniors, developed by Chronic Conditions Information Network (CCIN) and Healing Whole is available on-line or in PDF format by e-mailing margoc@tds.net. Copies are also available at the Cavendish Library.

6. Classifieds: Job Opening
Cavendish Town Elementary School is a grade K- 6 school with approximately 110 students located in Proctorsville, Vermont. Cavendish is seeking a .85 FTE School Nurse starting on January 3 for the remainder of the year. The preferred candidates must hold an Associates Degree for a Nursing Program accredited by the National League of Nursing, a current Vermont license as a Registered Nurse, and current certificates in CPR and First Aid.

This position involves the operation of the school health office and delivery of health education to grades 3 - 6. Qualified candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest, qualifications, a current resume, transcripts, evidence of licensure in VT and three current letters of recommendation to George O. Thomson, Principal Cavendish Town Elementary School, P.O. Box 236, Proctorsville, VT 05153 E.O.E.

7. Art Wanted for Group Show at the Cavendish Fletcher
The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library is looking for small pieces of art for a group show in the Redfield Proctor Room in December. Any type and medium of art is accepted as long as the pieces are smaller than 5x7 inches. For more information, please contact Kata at 226-7503.

8. Warning of Scams from the VT Attorney General
The Attorney General is warning Vermonters to be suspicious of wire transfer requests. The state's consumer protection division has seen a dramatic spike in consumer scam activity. In the last two weeks, over $35,000 dollars has been stolen from consumers because of wire transfer schemes and that figure only accounts for the reported incidents. The checks may look real. The prize notices may seem legitimate. But they are part of a slew of consumer scams that are on the rise in Vermont. The most common scams are fake lotteries and sweepstakes. Consumers get a check claiming to be an advancement on their winnings. To claim the rest, they must wire money to cover some sort of fee.

As a general guideline, don't wire money to someone unfamiliar. And a sure fire way to know you are being scammed is if the company asking for money is from another country. It's a violation of federal law for U.S. citizens to participate in foreign lotteries and sweepstakes.

The Attorney General's office is asking folks to contact the Consumer Assistance Program at 1(800)649-2424, if they receive a suspicious request or if they've been a victim to one of these scams.

9. Cavendish Activities 10/15-22
October 17 (Sunday): Cavendish Historical Society Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner, 5 pm at the Cavendish Elementary School. Free and open to the public. FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net

October 20 (Wednesday): Cavendish Municipal Water Flushing-see item 2.
• The Cavendish Homeworkers II meeting will meet at 10:30. This meeting will be our Christmas meeting where we bring gifts (value of up to $10) and exchange them by drawing numbers. There will be a potluck lunch with the husbands invited to lunch. The meeting will take place at the Proctorsville Fire Department building.

October 21 (Thursday): Cavendish Municipal Water Flushing-see item 2.
• Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373
• Schools closed due to NEA Convention
• Wendy Clinch, local mystery writer, will be speaking about her new book
“Double Black,” at the Fletcher Memorial Library’s Third Thursday Program

October 22 (Friday): Cavendish Municipal Water Flushing-see item 2.
• Schools closed due to NEA Convention