♦ Welcome ♦ Westfield Town Announcements ♦

♦ 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!)
♦ BEWARE-TICK SEASON IS UPON US: Vermont’s First Tick Survey will Accompany the 2022 Spring Turkey Hunting Season

Turkey hunters may see some new faces at their local game check station during 2022 Spring Turkey Seasons

April 4, 2022 | Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) are teaming up in a cooperative effort with Vermont hunters to look for the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum), a tick believed to be in Vermont but one that has eluded capture through standard surveillance methods.  However, this tick species has been found on turkeys in other northern states.  This will be Vermont’s first turkey tick survey.

Volunteers will staff several reporting stations around the state on Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend (April 23 and 24) and opening day of 2022 Spring Turkey Season (May 1) to inspect harvested turkeys for Lone Star ticks, if hunters give their permission to do so.  After inspection and collection of any ticks, which should take no more than 5 minutes per bird, information will be collected on the harvested turkey and the location in which it was harvested.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Environmental Surveillance Program tracks mosquito and tick populations around the state and works in partnership with the Vermont Department of Health to help prevent vector-borne diseases in humans and livestock.  This new cooperative effort with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is important to determine if Vermont has a persistent population of Lone Star ticks, because these ticks can transmit certain diseases if they attach to humans.  There is no known risk associated with eating harvested turkeys that host Lone Star ticks and no additional concern or actions are warranted.

As with all outdoor activity in Vermont, hunters should be vigilant in taking precautions against being bitten by any ticks.  Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants with pants tucked into socks, use an EPA-approved insect repellant, and do daily tick checks.  When possible, shower as soon as you get home to wash off any crawling ticks and toss your field clothes in the dryer on high for 20 minutes to kill any ticks that may have hitchhiked on your clothes.

“This is a voluntary program, and we greatly appreciate your allowing us to look over your birds,” said VAAFM Secretary Anson Tebbetts. 

For more information about the VAAFM Tick Survey Program, please visit: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/public-health-agricultural-resource-management-division/plant-health-and-pest-management/ticks/tick

For more information on active tick surveillance activities of VAAFM, please view this video.

 

♦ 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

  • June 2:  Juice, Roast Pork, Mashed Potatoes, Buttered Carrots, Rolls & Butter, Dessert by Susan M.
  • June 9: Juice,  Baked Ham, Roasted Potatoes, Peas, Rolls, Rhubarb Cake                          
  • June 16:  Juice, Chicken Thighs in Gravy, Potatoes, Carrots, Rolls, Brownies 
  • June 23:  Juice, Chicken Divan, Garlic & Rosemary Oven-Roasted Potatoes, Lemon Tarragon Muffins, Banana Cream Pie
  • June 30:  Juice, Pork Roast, Potato Salad, Corn, Rolls, Peach Melba Bar
♦ TAXES WERE DUE ON OCTOBER 12, 2021: Any unpaid taxes are now 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.  Visit the ♦ Property Taxes page (click on the Municipay logo) to make online credit card (an additional 2.65% is added in additional to regular credit card interest) or e-check payments ($1.50 flat rate charge) 24-hours a day. Please contact the Delinquent Tax Collector, Joyce Crawford (802) 744-8085 for the balance due on your account if you have not yet made your 2021 tax payment. 
♦ 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 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 
Karen Blais & Heather Johnson ♦ Assistant Town Clerks
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: First Cut at Lazy Lady Farm on Sniderbrook Road