♦ Welcome ♦ Westfield Town Announcements ♦

♦ SPECIAL SELECTBOARD MEETING: The Westfield Selectboard along with the Selectboards of Lowell, Jay and Troy, will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the Westfield Town Office to discuss ambulance services. The meeting can be joined in-person (38 School Street) or by Zoom at:
♦ EXCITING NEWS FOR WESTFIELD RECYCLING CENTER USERS: 
The Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District and the Westfield Recycling Center have some exciting news to share!

Starting Saturday, December 3rd, the Westfield Recycling Center will now be accepting #6 Expanded Polystyrene Foam (Styrofoam) for recycling! For more details visit the town’s website www.westfield.vt.gov/recycling-center/.

This means you can recycle items including clean and dry foam coolers, packaging, egg cartons, and meat trays. You can recycle foam of any color and any size (yes, even black foam!). There is no size limit so PLEASE DO NOT BREAK UP YOUR FOAM BEFORE RECYCLING (it can be a little messy!) We are accepting only RIGID #6 EPS foam.

Unacceptable foam items include any foam that is flexible (EPS foam is rigid and breaks into small plastic beads when broken). We are not accepting any pool noodles, packing peanuts, pipe insulation, or foam insulation board.

Visit the Waste Management District’s website www.nekwmd.org/eps-foam-recycling to see a WXAC news recording of the NEKWMD’s foam recycling process, and to find more information about the foam recycling program. If you have questions, call the NEK Waste Management District at 802-626-3532 or email outreach@nekwmd.org

♦ 2022 PROPERTY TAXES WERE DUE OCTOBER 11, 2022: Any unpaid taxes after 4 p.m. on October 11th are subject to an 8% penalty plus interest. For your convenience, after-hours payments can be dropped in the secure drop box to the left of the Town Office front door.

To make online payments visit the ♦ Property Taxes page and click on the MuniciPay logo. 

  • Credit card payments–an additional 2.65% is added in addition to the regular credit card interest. *
  • e-check payments–$1.50 flat rate charge. *
  • Pay 24-hours a day online with MuniciPay. 
  • *Fees are charged by the MuniciPay clearinghouse not the Town of Westfield. 

Please contact the Delinquent Tax Collector, Joyce Crawford (802) 744-8085 for the balance due on your account if you have not made your tax payment by the date due. 

♦ 2022 ATV PERMITS:  The Town of Westfield is NOT REQUIRING ATV PERMITS FOR THE 2022 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. 

REMINDER: It is ILLEGAL to drive on a state highway unless it is permitted section of the VASA corridor. In Westfield, the VASA corridor runs from Kennison Road (on the Troy side) to Reservoir Road to North Hill Road to the Westfield General Store, then follows Route 100 from the store to Cemetery Road then to the Loop Road into Lowell. BE ADVISED, those who continue on Route 100 from Cemetery Road to Buck Hill Road risk being ticketed by the Sheriff or State Police. That section of Route 100 is not part of the VASA corridor.  

♦ 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 4th:
Spayed/Neutered $9; Unaltered $11
**Westfield Dog License fee AFTER April 4th:
Spayed/Neutered $11; Unaltered $17
 
For additional information about the Rabies Clinic or licensing contact the Westfield Town Clerk at 744-2484.
Photo: Zodiac, Westfield’s doggy mascot, courtesy of Pat Lipinski (thanks Pat!)
♦ TROY & AREA LIONS CLUB COMMUNITY & SENIOR MEALSITE MENU:

A Big Thank You to Berry Creek Farm, and its CSA Members, for offering another season with fresh fruits and vegetables. All are welcome to enjoy the weekly meal at the Westfield Community Center, 59 North Hill Road (at School Street). The meal is served at noon. A $4.00 suggested donation is appreciated.

♦ Notice Re: Mealsite and Covid-19
In order to protect the health of our senior citizens, as well as our volunteer servers, the Troy and Area Lions Club, sponsors of the Westfield Mealsite Program, require that you be fully vaccinated in order to have a sit-down service. Otherwise, you are welcome to order a takeout meal and pick it up around 12:15. For pickup orders please call 744-5466 after 10 a.m. on Thursday. Until the pandemic has run its course this will remain our policy. This policy only applies to the Mealsite sit-down service, not to other activities that may be going on at the Community Center, nor to other Lions Club activities.

Thank you.
The Troy and Area Lions Club

  • January 5: Juice, Baked Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Squash, Brown Sugar Pound Cake     
  • January 12: Juice, Chili, Salad, Corn Bread, Cookies and Ice Cream
  • January 19: Juice, “Home-made TV Dinner”: Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Sauce, Buttered Peas, Mashed Potatoes, Dinner rolls, Apple Crisp
  • January 26: Juice, Turkey Tetrazzini, Broccoli Salad, Dennis’ Rolls, Cannoli Cake 
♦ TOWN & SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT:
Click here to view: 2021 Town & School Annual Report

♦ 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 ARE OPEN REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS:

The Hitchcock Museum & Memorial Library is open 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 to make an appointment.  

The Recycling Center is open every Saturday, 8 a.m. until Noon. Masks and social distancing are recommended.

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

Be well and stay safe.

♦ 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.

♦ 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.  Meetings have been in person but you may also join in Zoom 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 2021 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 
Karen Blais  ♦ Assistant Town Clerk
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Lisa Deslandes ♦ Treasurer
Office Hours: Wednesday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and by appointment

Cover photo by LaDonna Dunn: Pristine Winter on Buck Hill Road