Note: to participate in Tuesday’s remote Select Board meeting (which starts at 5 PM) please do the following:
Dial 1-929-205-6099
At prompt, input Meeting ID – 129 562 954 # It will ask if you are a host or participant. If participant, input #
Zoom now asks for a password. It is 725 124 #
MIDDLESEX TOWN OFFICES ARE CLOSED
Per Order of Governor Phil Scott, the Middlesex Town Offices will be closed starting 5 PM March 25, 2020, for all non-essential business. You can read the order by clicking HERE. Please rest assured that the Town roads will continue to be maintained for emergency vehicles. Should you require important documents (marriage license, death/birth certificates) or assistance, please email [email protected] or call 802-223-5915.
NOTE: The Town Clerk’s Office is now closed to any public research from now until the Order is lifted. The Town Clerk’s Office and Town Hall are closed to any public meetings or gatherings.
But What about TAXES?
(Here’s a note from our friends at the Vermont Department of Taxes):
Vermont Department of Taxes Issues 2020 Tax Season Guidance in Response to COVID-19 Emergency
The Vermont Department of Taxes continues to carefully monitor the evolving situation related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Department is working closely with the office of Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont legislature, following changes at the federal level, and adhering to guidance from the Vermont Department Health. Please see the Department’s information on relief for Vermont taxpayers at tax.vermont.gov/coronavirus. You should check this link periodically as the guidance may change. You may also follow the Vermont Department of Taxes on Facebook and Twitter.
Middlesex Emergency Management Committee Update
March 27, 2020
Below is an update from our Emergency Management Committee on how the Town and related entities are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Select Board: The Select Board will be holding its meetings – on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month – via Zoom. Access numbers will be published on the posted agendas, found on this website under Agendas, and on Front Porch Forum so the public may call in and virtually attend. In addition, the Board is apprised regularly of challenges facing the Town regarding road maintenance and public safety. For more information from the VT Secretary of State regarding open meeting laws, please go here: https://sos.vermont.gov/secretary-s-desk/commentary/covid-19-impacts-and-considerations-for-open-meeting-law-elections-and-public-records-access/.
Town Clerk’s Office: The Town Clerk’s Office is closed to all public traffic. Call 223-5915 or email [email protected] if you have a pressing concern. However, according to the VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: Business-related activities that are not providing services or functions deemed critical public health and safety or economic and national security are directed to suspend in-person operations under the Governor’s Executive Order unless specifically exempted. Services such as land records and title searches; marriage license applications; birth or death certificate searches; library lending are not considered critical to public health and safety or economic and national security. While the Town Clerk’s Office is closed, it continues to provide essential services deemed necessary.
Town Services (Roads/Fire/EMTs): According to the VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development – MUNICIPALITIES may continue in-person operations under the Governor’s Executive Order under certain circumstances. Section 6 (b) states that “law enforcement, public safety and first responders, including fire, ambulance services, emergency medical technicians and emergency management personnel” are deemed critical and may continue in-person business operations. Section 6 (d) states that “construction necessary to support the COVID-19 response and maintain critical infrastructure” are deemed critical and may continue in-person business operations. Please endeavor to limit your contact with the public to the extent possible, practice social distancing when practicable, and only undertake public interactions required to maintain the health and safety of the public.
Emergency Management: The committee has organized a structure in order to respond to community needs. It is organizing the Neighbor to Neighbor network to assist neighbors in need and to maintain local communication.
School Board: Governor Scott extended the school closure order for the rest of the school year so Washington Central students, including our Rumney and Middlesex U-32 students, will continue remote learning for the rest of the year. Our staff, parents, students, and administrators have responded wonderfully to these challenges making lemonade whenever possible. Remote instruction is ongoing, our bus drivers still ply their currently mud-challenged routes delivering meals, lesson plans and, when necessary, technology to students. Our employees practice social distancing and have through great effort ensured that students’ educational and other needs are being met in these uncertain times.
Resources:
Information:
VT Health Dept website: www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus
CDC website: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
FEMA website: www.fema.gov/
Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/
Direct assistance:
The Middlesex Neighbor to Neighbor network is forming to support neighbors in need. Neighborhood captains will be contacting their neighbors. To request assistance online, go to www.middlesexvermont.org.
Senior centers: Waterbury Senior Center offers Meals on Wheels and pickup of meals. Call 802-244-1234.
Vermont Foodbank: www.vtfoodbank.org lists several services for individuals
Call 2-1-1 for referral to various social services, such as unemployment, tax preparation, and housing assistance
How to help:
Practice personal hygiene and personal distancing to safeguard your health and the health of those you interact with.
Volunteering safely: Follow guidelines set by the group you are volunteering with. These should cover safe handling of items you may handle; personal distancing; considerations for vulnerable populations; self quarantine requirements.
Volunteer opportunities: In Middlesex: www.middlesexvermont.org. Regionally: www.oncallforvt.org.
Make a donation to an area service agency, such as the Vermont Foodbank or Capstone Community Action
NEED ASSISTANCE?
Here are some helpful resources.
- Instacart https://www.instacart.com/ is an online ordering service that will pick up groceries you order from Price Chopper and Shaw’s as well as pet supplies from Petco. Those picking up prescriptions from CVS through this service will need the scrip-holder’s name and date of birth. If it’s a controlled substance, they will need to produce ID. Note there is a $3.99 – $7.99 charge for each delivery.
- Meals on Wheels in Waterbury is accepting orders. Please call (802) 244-1234 to be added to their list.
- In addition, Meals on Wheels is looking for donations of the following items: toilet paper (of course!), hand sanitizer, paper towels, Kleenex, liquid hand soap, disinfecting wipes. The Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department (at the end of Welch Park Road off US Route 2 across from the VT State Police Barracks) will be OPEN for donations from 11 AM – 1 PM this Saturday (March 21). Please drop off what you can.
- If you know someone in town who is 60 or older and you feel comfortable calling (please, no door-to-door visits), you might want to phone them and ask the following: how are you getting groceries/prescriptions? Is there anyone under the age of 60 you know who can arrange pickups for you? Do you have a computer to order online? If not, would you like me to fill out a Google form so that Lauri Scharf can add your name to a list of those in need of these services? Here is that form:
https://forms.gle/YotqHRCrVtYJFuJQ8 - To offer assistance, please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/66pZHW9WfpimpSuX8 - Village Market in Waterbury is swamped and they are unable to fulfill online orders and curbside pickup at this time. Check back for more info.
- CVS on US302 in Barre (at the old Friendly’s site) has a drive-thru window where you can easily pick up prescriptions without getting out of your car. For more info, this is their #: (802) 476-2550
Here are guidelines about how to protect yourself from COVID-19 from the Centers of Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html
If you are suffering from a fever and cough and are concerned about whether you are infected, please call your primary care provider. For more information, you can call the State of Vermont’s COVID-19 Hotline at 2-1-1. Here is another online resource from the State Health Department. https://www.healthvermont.gov/
Finally, if you don’t know where to turn call the Town Clerk’s Office at 223-5915 or email [email protected] We will do our best to help you.
-Sarah Merriman, Town Clerk, on behalf of the Emergency Management Committee..
MARCH 3, 2020
MIDDLESEX PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RESULTS CLICK HERE!
&
TOWN VOTE RESULTS CLICK HERE
READ THE DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MARCH 3, 2020 TOWN MEETING HERE! (Thanks, Sorsha!)
Hot off the Presses! Read the 2019 Middlesex Town Report here….
***NEW TOWN CLERK OFFICE HOURS***
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
10 AM – 6 PM Thursday
Closed on Fridays
RESULTS OF NOVEMBER 5, 2019 WCUUSD SPECIAL SCHOOL MEETING
WCUUSD Vote Results |
|||||||
November 5, 2019 |
|||||||
Berlin |
Calais |
Emont |
Midd |
Worc |
TOTAL |
||
Article 1: Shall the voters change the date |
|||||||
of the 2020 Annual Meeting |
|||||||
Yes |
67 |
73 |
100 |
55 |
48 |
343 |
|
No |
11 |
10 |
11 |
6 |
5 |
43 |
|
Blank |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Damaged |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
78 |
86 |
112 |
61 |
53 |
390 |
|
Article 2 Shall the voters elect Moderator, Clerk and |
|||||||
Treasurer by Australian ballot |
|||||||
Yes |
70 |
72 |
105 |
55 |
50 |
352 |
|
No |
8 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
36 |
|
Blank |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Damaged |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
78 |
86 |
112 |
61 |
53 |
390 |
|
Article 3 Shall the voters require that the ballots be comingled |
|||||||
for all Australian ballot elections |
|||||||
Yes |
50 |
53 |
94 |
47 |
42 |
286 |
|
No |
28 |
33 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
103 |
|
Blank |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Damaged |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
78 |
86 |
112 |
61 |
53 |
390 |
|
CLICK here to read the 2019-2027 Approved Middlesex Town Plan.
Vermont recording fees will increase effective July 1, 2019.
SUMMARY OF VERMONT RECORDING FEE CHANGES
32 V.S.A. §1671
| PREVIOUS FEE | NEW FEE | |
| Document Recording | $10/page | $15/page |
| PTTR (property transfer tax return) | $10/document | $15/document |
| Survey plat recording fees | $15/sheet | $25/sheet |
| Certified copy of records (no change) | $10/page | $10/page |
| Vault time | $2/hour | $4/hour |
*Documents include all items recorded in the land records (deeds, mortgages, assignments, liens, releases, permits).
*Multiple assignments or releases included on one document are charged $15/assignment or release
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT FROM WHAT’S NEXT, MIDDLESEX?
Watch Middlesex Select Board Meetings on ORCA HERE !!
The Middlesex Food Shelf is open every Saturday from 9:00 – 10:30 am at the Middlesex United Methodist Church, which is located on Church Street across the street from Town Hall.
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Food donations can be made in the lobby of the Rumney School or at the food shelf (on Church Street) during its open hours on Saturdays.
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Cash donations may be made at the Town Clerk’s office (Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
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If you would like to donate to the Food Shelf via check, please click here for contact information.