♦ Welcome ♦ Westfield Town Announcements ♦

♦ PROPERTY TAX APPEAL HEARINGS FOR WESTFIELD:
  • JUNE 12 BY APPOINTMENT STARTING AT 9 A.M.
  • Deadline to file for a Grievance Hearing is June 7, 2021.
•ABOUT THE PROCESS:
Every year, the Listers prepare the town’s Grand List which is a list of all of the real property and in the town and the appraised valuation of that property. Any aggrieved person who disagrees with the Listers’ appraisal can request a hearing before the Listers. 32 V.S.A. § 4221 [1]. If the appealer is not satisfied with the written decision the Listers issue following that hearing, they may appeal to the Board of Civil Authority (BCA). 32 V.S.A. § 4404(a). 32 V.S.A. § 4404(a) [2].
 
The BCA for each town consists of the Town Clerk, the Selectboard, and the Justices of the Peace. 24 V.S.A. § 801. The BCA must hold a hearing and conduct a site inspection of every parcel of property that is the subject of an appeal. 32 V.S.A.§ 4404(c) [2]. The BCA may sustain, increase, or decrease the value of the property set by the Listers. 32 V.S.A § 4409 [3]. A decision issued by the BCA may be appealed to the State Appraiser or to Superior Court. 32 V.S.A.§ 4461 [4].
Letters were mailed on May 22, 2021 to all Westfield property owners whose property value changed (either increased or decreased). Every property owner in Westfield has an opportunity to grieve tax values during this period, even if your property value didn’t change.
 
Complete and submit the Application for Grievance (below) to the Westfield Town Office (38 School Street) or email to westfieldlisters@gmail.com and you will be contacted by a Lister (Danny Young, Scott Dunn or Shelley Martin) to set up a phone appointment. The deadline to file for a Grievance Hearing is June 7, 2021. Be advised, this process only happens once a year, so don’t delay in filing for your hearing.

♦ TROY & AREA LIONS CLUB MEALSITE TO RESUME SERVICE JULY 2021: 

Due to Covid-19 mandates the mealsite has been closed for the past year. The Troy and Area Lions Club is pleased to announce they will resume regular service on Thursday, July 8, 2021. Please call the Town Clerk’s office (744-2484) to confirm your attendance the first few weeks while we adjust to a new normal. We want to ensure there is enough food for everyone.  We look forward to serving you again and thank you for your patience. 

The Texas Hold’em Tournaments will also resume on Saturday, July 17th at the Westfield Community Center. Mark your calendars! 

♦ PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE, MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021 AT 6 P.M. ONLINE VIA ZOOM (RECONVENING ON MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 at 6 p.m. at the Westfield Community Center, 59 North Hill Road (at School Street). 

The Public Hearing will reconvene on Monday, June 7th to continue hearing testimony and public comments about the application by Scenic View RuralEdge LLC to convert the assisted living home into ten (10) efficiency apartments and one, two-bedroom apartment, as well as adding two exterior decks to the back of the building at 979 Vt. Route 100 in Westfield. 

Click on links below for Hearing documentation:

♦ DOG LICENSES DUE STATEWIDE ON APRIL 1st:

Please check to see if your pup needs a rabies vaccination before the April 1st dog licensing deadline. A person who is the owner of a dog or wolf-hybrid more than six months old shall annually on or before April 1 cause it to be registered 20 V.S.A. §3581(a). You must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination to license your dog.
 
Westfield Dog Licenses can be purchased Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Town Clerk’s Office, 38 School Street. You may also mail your check and new rabies certificate (if required) to the address above or put it in the drop box next to the Clerk’s front door and your new dog license and tag will be mailed by USPS.
  •  Westfield Dog License fee BEFORE April 1st:
    Spayed/Neutered $9; Unaltered $13
  • Westfield Dog License fee AFTER May 15th:
    Spayed/Neutered $11; Unaltered $17
♦ TOWN & SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT:

Click here to view: Town & School Annual Report 2020

♦ TOWN OF WESTFIELD HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT: 

The Town of Westfield produced a Housing Needs Assessment. The assessment inventories existing housing conditions and explores housing needs now and in the future. Specifically, we examined redevelopment ideas at the Scenic View site, the 25-unit residential care home that closed in 2018. A public presentation was held on January 12th at 6 p.m. 

This project is funded by a Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development Municipal Planning Grant and is being produced by Camoin 310, an economic and community development consulting firm.

♦ THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA):

Adopted at the December 7, 2020 Selectboard meeting, this position statement in accordance with the Federal Law.

Selectboard Position Statement Regarding Americans with Disabilities Act

♦ HITCHCOCK MUSEUM & MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND THE TOWN OFFICES RESUME REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS:

The Hitchcock Museum & Memorial Library reopened on February 16th, 2021 with social distancing, masks, and cleaning protocols in place. Winter hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Town Clerk’s office is open to the public, Monday -Thursday 8 am to 4 pm.  The vault is still by appointment only.  Please call the office at 744-2484 and make an appointment.  

The Recycling Center will continue to be open every Saturday, 8 a.m. until Noon. Masks and social distancing are required.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work through this challenging pandemic. Please check the website frequently www.westfield.vt.gov and Like Us on Facebook for updates.

Be well and stay safe.

Westfield Selectboard: Yves Daigle (Chair); Jacques Couture; & Anne Lazor
Westfield Town Clerk: LaDonna Dunn
Treasurer: Mary Lou Jacobs
Listers: Danny Young (Chair), Scott Dunn and Scott Dean

♦ 2021 ATV PERMITS:  The Town of Westfield is NOT REQUIRING ATV PERMITS FOR THE 2021 SEASON. Reminder: The season begins on May 15th through November 15th. Hours:  8:00 am to 9 pm. ATV’s are permitted on town maintained portions of roads only. The road map and ordinance are below.

♦ PLEASE NOTE:
WESTFIELD TOWN CHANGES
DUE TO COVID-19

  • RECYCLING CENTER: The Recycling Center is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon. Come with your masks and gloves and PLEASE adhere to the 6′ social distancing practice. Exact change is requested for trash fees. You must sort your own recyclables to minimize everyone’s exposure. The number of people inside the Recycling Center will be monitored by the attendant to ensure 6′ social distancing. All communities may utilize the recycling center and trash services. 
  • PLASTIC CAPS:  Effective immediately, PLASTIC CAPS MUST BE REMOVED from plastic containers before placing them in the recycling bin. Please help us avoid a $150 contamination penalty fee by making sure your plastic is rinsed out before recycling it.  Your help is appreciated.
  • TRASH: Trash is accepted on Saturdays ONLY 8 a.m. to Noon. Camera surveillance is operational. Exact change is appreciated. 
    • Trash Fees 
      White bag $2.00
      30 gallon $3.50
      50 gallon $4.50
  • STEEL BIN: You may continue to bring steel and place it in the steel bin at no charge.
  • PLAYGROUND CLOSED: The playground is open at the discretion of the parents. Since young children are not vaccinated against Covid-19, masks are required when in the presence of other families outside of your own household.
  • TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS: The tennis court is open. Please bring your own equipment. The shared equipment has been removed at this time due to the high touch surfaces. The basketball court is open for hoop shooting. Scrimmaging is not permitted to ensure 6′ social distancing.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Please contact us if you have questions.

Westfield Selectboard: Yves Daigle, Jacques Couture & Anne Lazor
June, 2021

 

♦ IN NEED ?

  • Jay Area Food Shelf:  Serves Jay, Westfield, Lowell, Troy and North Troy.  Every Thursday, 9am – Noon at the Jay Town Hall.
  • Need a Mask?  Email jayfocusgp@gmail.com
  • Free Books.  Jay Town Hall porch. M, T, Th 7 am-4 pm.  Wednesday 7 am – Noon.  Inside Westfield Town clerk office and inside Lowell Town Hall, Mon-Thurs  8 am – 4 pm.

♦ DOG LICENSES:  Dog licenses are due by April 1st each year.  All dogs 6 months of age or older are required by Vermont State Statue to be licensed.  Proof of rabies certificate is required for licensing.  License fee on or before April 1:  Spayed/Neutered  $9 ,  Unspayed or unneutered,  $13.  License fee after May 15th:  Spayed/Neutered $11 ,  Unspayed or Unneutered $17. 

Dog licenses are issued at the Town Clerk’s office, 38 School Street,  Monday through Thursday 8 to 4.  For more information, please call 744-2484.

♦ HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN:

Town officials, in conjunction with the towns Regional Planning Board, Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA), recently began work on an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan. We are seeking input through a community survey. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Town Clerks office, at Town Meeting or the online survey may be completed by clicking this link: http://www.nvda.net/westfield

Your input will help us insure we mitigate potential hazards in our community. If you wish to participate on the committee, please contact a Selectboard Member (Yves Daigle, Jacques Couture or Anne Lazor) or the Town Clerk’s office at 744-2484.

Westfield Hazard Mitigation Informational Flyer

♦ VILLAGE CENTER DESIGNATION: 
The Town of Westfield was recently awarded Village Center Designation by the Department of Housing and Community Development. For full details click on this Press Release Link-Westfield Village Center Designation 9-2019

♦ TAFT BROOK ROAD NOW DEAD END ROAD:
Click here to view the Selectboard resolution

♦ SELECTBOARD MEETING DAY/TIME: The Selectboard meets at 5 p.m. the third Monday each month, for their regular monthly meeting. Until further notice the meetings are held remotely via Zoom. You may join Zoom meetings by telephone or electronic device. Login information is at the top of each agenda. Agendas and minutes can be found by clicking here to visit the Meeting Minutes/Agendas page. Contact the Town Clerk if you would like an item on the agenda.

♦ VT TAX INFORMATION: Click on this link for VT Dept. of Taxes-FAQs Tax Time.  The document includes links for VT Department of Taxes forms.

♦ NOTICE TO HOMEOWNERS: Homestead Declaration are to be filed each year by every Vermont resident whose property meets the definition of a homestead. A Vermont homestead is the principal dwelling and parcel of land surrounding the dwelling, owned and occupied by a resident individual as the individual’s domicile on April 1. If your homestead is leased to a tenant on April 1, you may still claim it as a homestead if it is not leased for more than 182 days in the 2019 calendar year. Vermont Tax Booklets are available at:
  • Download fillable PDF forms from the web at www.bit.ly/vttaxforms
  • Order forms by email: tax.formsrequest@vermont.gov
  • Order forms by phone at (855) 297-5600 (toll free in the U.S.) or (802) 828-2515 

Visit the Property Taxes Page for additional property tax information.

Westfield has two FREE WiFi Hotspots:
 Westfield Community Center and
the Hitchcock Museum & Library with
accessibility in the parking lots or 
inside the buildings.
No password required.

Westfield Community Center, 59 North Hill Road

OR

Hitchcock Museum and Library 1252 VT Route 100

 Social Media:  Like us on Facebook  facebook-logo-001at Town of Westfield, Vermont

 Town Offices: 38 School Street, Westfield, VT 05874
Phone: (802) 744-2484 ♦ Fax: (802) 744-6224
Email: townofwestfield@comcast.net

LaDonna Dunn ♦ Town Clerk 
Heather Johnson & Karen Blais ♦ Assistant Town Clerks
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mary Lou Jacobs ♦ Treasurer
Office Hours: Wednesday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and by appointment

Cover photo by LaDonna Dunn: The Coming of Spring