​** Route 2 Detour **
VTrans Construction Update
Plainfield Slope Stabilization Project

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DATE: Friday, September 6, 2024
PROJECT NOTICE: The Plainfield ER E24-2(610) project is an emergency slope stabilization project on U.S. Route 2 (U.S. 2) approximately 0.2 mile west of the intersection with Vermont Route 214 (VT 214) in Plainfield. The project will include a two-week (14 day) closure of U.S. 2, scheduled to begin on Monday, September 16, utilizing an offsite detour. The detour will utilize VT 14 and VT 214.
The project team will issue weekly Construction Updates on Fridays and supplemental Traffic Alerts throughout the project. This is the first Construction Update for the project. The project is scheduled for completion in October 2024. 
TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: Motorists should expect flagger controlled alternating one-way traffic through the project area beginning Wednesday, September 11, until the detour is implemented on Monday, September 16. 
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: On Monday, September 9, crews will begin installing detour signs. On Wednesday, September 11, crews will begin mobilization of equipment and materials to begin construction to stabilize the failed slope. Work activities primarily consist of sheet pile installation and grouted soil nails.
LOCATION: The project is located on U.S. 2 approximately 0.2 miles west of the intersection with Vermont Route 214, from mile marker 0.6 to mile marker 0.7, in Plainfield, Vermont. 
PROJECTED COMPLETION: October 2024

TOWN OF PLAINFIELD REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS DISASTER RECOVERY CONSULTING SERVICES

Notice is hereby given that the Town of Plainfield is soliciting responses for DISASTER RECOVERY CONSULTING SERVICES. Interested and qualified respondents may submit RFP Packages, according to the requirements described herein, to Town of Plainfield, 149 Main Street, P.O. Box 217, Plainfield, VT 05667. All RFP Packages are due by or before 3:00 pm on October 4, 2024. Any packages delivered to or received after the 3:00 pm deadline will not be considered and shall be returned unopened to the addressee. The full RFP is available here. 

Financial Assistance for Businesses Impacted by Flooding & Storms

The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) application portal is now open to businesses, nonprofits, landlords, and farms that suffered physical damage from flooding and severe storms in 2023 and/or 2024. 
 $7 million is available to provide rapid relief to businesses, farms, and nonprofits that sustained physical damage from the 2024 flooding events. An additional $5 million will be available for ongoing recovery from the 2023 floods. Businesses may be eligible for both 2023 BEGAP funding as well as 2024 BEGAP funding. Separate applications must be submitted for each year's funding, for each physical location.  
 A minimum of 40% of 2024 BEGAP funds are reserved for applications from agricultural businesses if they apply by November 15th.
Before opening an application, you are encouraged to visit the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program page to learn how the program works and what you need to have on hand before you begin the online application process. Eligibility and grant calculations differ depending on several factors.
 If you need assistance submitting your application, reach out to Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation and complete their BEGAP support form.
 Learn more about applications for agricultural operations on the BEGAP for Agriculture Operations webpage. If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets at 802-828-2430 and press 0. 
More Info 

​Washington County Is Now A Federally Declared Disaster, DR-4810

The flooding that occurred from July 9 to 11, 2024, has become a federally declared disaster as DR-4810. Washington County qualified for individual assistance. Individuals who suffered damages will need to contact FEMA to register for assistance.  They can either do this online or over the phone. 
Individuals need to register with FEMA for Disaster Survivor Assistance either at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by calling FEMA 1-800-621-3362
More information can be found at Vermont Emergency Management FEMA Individual Assistance Information | Vermont Emergency Management
Please share this with anyone who suffered damages.
The FEMA declaration also includes funding for a public assistance program, which can provide up to 75% reimbursement to cities and towns for emergency repairs made to public infrastructure. The Scott administration plans to announce a schedule of briefings for town applicants soon, according to a recent press release.
​State officials have requested that Orange County be added to the declaration, according to the press release. Orange County was examined alongside the other seven counties when FEMA officials visited Vermont last month.


​A TOWN MEETING TO DISCUSS A PLAN FOR ROAD REPAIR

August 15, 7 PM, Town Hall Opera House, 18 High Street (On Route 2)

Selectboard member Karl Bissex organized a town-wide meeting to discuss how Plainfield should approach re-building (or not) the post-storm road system. There were nearly 200 people in attendance in person and via Zoom.
To help inform this discussion Karl tapped a number of experts on The Great Brook to give a scientific perspective on the risks and challenges.  The panel was made up of Charlie Cogbill, an Historical Ecologist; Staci Pomeroy, a River Scientist from the DEC Rivers Program; Roy Schiff, a Water Resource Scientist and Engineer; and George Springston of Norwich University's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
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Future community meetings will be planned to further discuss options for road recovery.

Click here to view the Plainfield Road Recovery Informational Meeting Zoom Recording (forward video to minute 8:30 for start of meeting)

Click Here for George Springston's presentation file

Before/After Aerial Flood Pictures 

This pdf file contains aerial photos of the Great Brook from the village to Maxfield Road. There are side-by-side photos before the flood and after the flood.

There is a link in the file that leads to additional photos including 3D images: ​https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/062a3b5e56c94cb49b1076f3187a1cbe/
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Many thanks to George Springston for these amazing photos!

2024 Primary Election Results

2024 Primary Election Results

Town Job Opening -
​Truck Driver/Equipment Operator

Road Crew Town of Plainfield Truck Driver/Equipment Operator Department: Town of Plainfield Highway Department.
Status: 40 hrs. per week, year-round and as needed, weekends, and holidays – mostly in the winter.
Salary: $25-$28 hourly
Application Deadline 08/30/2024 
Job Summary:
​This position is responsible for performing various duties in the maintenance of the Town of Plainfield Road System under the direction of the Road Foreman and the Selectboard.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
a. Performs daily work on the roads as directed by the Road Foreman
b. Performs daily General Maintenance and reviews the Town Equipment to make sure everything is in proper working order
c. Clear roads of snow and trees, brush, and sand roads after storms
d. Roadside Mowing and clearing brush and trees, cleaning up and repairing after storms
e. Replacement of damaged or undersized culverts. In addition to cleaning out culverts to keep them open. inspecting ditches inlet and outlet. Ditch cleaning.
f. Wash, clean, and perform preventive maintenance on equipment, including changing oil and greasing
g. Performing general housekeeping duties on a daily basis
​h. Performing other related duties as assigned

Additional Information
Job Application

 Zoning Permit Application for Repairs and Improvements after Flood

​Permits are needed for Repairs and Improvements after Flooding in Special Flood Hazard Area.
Please contact Plainfield Zoning Administrator at [email protected] for more information.
​Temporary emergency repairs and clean up do not require a permit. Anything permanent needs to meet standard to avoid future flood damage.
Help for homeowners and businesses can be found at www.floodready.vt.gov/help-after-flooding
​Be sure to contact to Register damages and get help at vermont211.org/resident-form
After flooding we can expect a FEMA Community Assistance Visit. The Town wants to keep flood insurance as available as possible

New Municipal Tax Rates

To the Plainfield Taxpayer,
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The tax bills were mailed on Friday July 19th. The Municipal tax rate is going to be 1.0665. This represents a 0.1088 increase from last year. It’s important taxpayers understand the confluence of events that led to this significant rate hike. In short, the problem stems from the one-two punch of the sequential July storms.

The Municipal tax rate is calculated by dividing the taxes authorized to be raised at Town Meeting by the Town’s Grand List (a formula representing the appraised values of properties) — offset by surplus from the previous year's budget and expected revenues from the state and other sources.  Sadly, last year’s flood depleted the Town Treasury and  there was no budget surplus. In addition, the FEMA reimbursements have been uncertain and slow in coming.  On top of all this, the Grand List has been lowered considerably due to this year’s storm which destroyed many houses. In short, this unfortunate combination of factors has led to the significant tax rise.

The only good news I can bring is that the State LOWERED the homestead tax rate by 0.0238. Unfortunately the non-homestead rate is going up 0.1654. Once again these numbers, although included in your local tax bill, are set by the folks in Montpelier, not Plainfield.

Given recent events, the town will endeavor to make the abatement process more manageable. PLEASE NOTE: the town considers building damage in these abatement proceedings but not loss of acreage. However the town has agency over the rating of the quality of the land. Once again these are State rules, not governed by the municipality.

If you wish to have the town consider an abatement please send an email to [email protected] with the specifics of the damage both structural and geographic. Mark the subject line ABATEMENT. You can attach pictures. 

Thank you to everyone who has helped mitigate our recent disaster.  

Bram Towbin
Plainfield Town Clerk/Treasurer

Photos of road damage and repair

Photos of repairs: https://plainfieldvt.wpcomstaging.com/2024/07/13/repairs-road-update-sat-jul-13/

Also link to SOME of the damaged roads: https://plainfieldvt.wpcomstaging.com/2024/07/13/july-24-flood/
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Plainfield Select Board, May 2024

Select Board

Next Select Board Meeting - Monday, Sep 4, 2024, 4:00 pm - Agenda
Latest Select Board Minutes - Aug 15, 2024
​Meeting videos are available on the Select Board page

​​Regular Select Board meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 PM.
More information on the Select Board page

​Notice of Upcoming 2025 Town Property Reappraisal Project​

PicturePlainfield's Listers - Kayle Hope & Gary Smith. (Sandra Ross not shown)
The Town of Plainfield 2025 Town Property Reappraisal Project has begun. You may meet members of the reappraisal team as they arrive at your property over the coming weeks. As we have received many questions about the process, please understand that anyone may refuse an interior inspection. You would still have the right to appeal if you refuse an interior inspection. You just have to allow someone inside at that point or your appeal would automatically be denied.  
If you have questions or would like to make an appointment for your property inspection, you can call the town office at 802 454-8461 or click here to email the lister team.
For more information, go to the Listers & Reappraisal page.

Construction Update
​Marshfield-Danville
U.S. Route 2 Resurfacing Project

** This update does NOT include any flood related issues. 
​DATE: Friday, September 6, 2024
​TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: Monday, September 9, through Friday, September 13, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., motorists can expect lane closures with alternating one-way traffic patterns and minor delays throughout the entire 16-mile project limits on U.S. Route 2 (U.S. 2) from the Plainfield/Marshfield town line to the VT Route 15 (VT 15) and U.S. 2 intersection in West Danville. Flaggers and Uniform Traffic Officers will be present to assist motorists through the work zone.  
Motorists are encouraged to use caution while traveling through the work zone and plan for moderate delays. 
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: Crews will continue cleaning shoulders with excavators along U.S. 2 near Danville Hill Road and Joe’s Pond in West Danville. On Friday, September 13, crews will be paving drive aprons near Joe’s Pond. 
LOCATION: Beginning near the Plainfield/Marshfield town line, on U.S. 2, near the intersection of U.S. 2 and Hillside Drive, and extending easterly along U.S. Route 2 to a point just west of the VT Route 15 and U.S. 2 intersection in West Danville. 
PROJECTED COMPLETION: Summer 2025
FREE Harm Reduction Kits are available at the Town Clerk's Office 
These kits contain Narcan (Naloxone HCl Nasal Spray 4 mg), Fentanyl Test Strips, Xylazine Test Strips, BZK Antiseptic Towelettes, CPR Face Guard, disposable masks, and Harm Reduction information. They're available during open office hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8am - 4pm.​
​We've got work - Town job opportunities! (updated 10/3/23)
​If you are looking for some additional income, consider serving the Town as: ​​ ​​For more information on these positions, email: ​[email protected]
Legal job description for these positions can be found here. 
​Interested in serving Plainfield as a volunteer? (updated 2/14/24)
​These Commissions could use additional members:
Public Notice - FEMA awards Plainfield grant to replace Brook Rd. bridge (posted 8/14/23)
FEMA has announced a grant for Plainfield to fund the replacement of Bridge #21 - the bridge overe the Great Brook in between Mill St. and Creamery St. 
​View the full Public Notice. 
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​Emergency Contact Info

Help is available, and increasingly so. Keep track of your damage by taking occasional "before" photos... when you can. I know it's hard. Local volunteer teams are assembling - get their help by leaving a message at 802-227-2660
Vermont needs a federal disaster declaration - try to call 211 and describe what has happened to you. And register at Vermont state's Crisis Cleanup 802-242-2054 so your building is on the list for evaluation and cleanup.
Call 911 if anyone is in crisis, hurt or endangered. Be careful around unstable buildings and stop to rest, drink water and don't get overheated.
If anyone needs sheltering or an alternative residence, call Plainfield Emergency Management at 802-380-6408 and we'll work on it. If you call and I can't pick up - please leave a message so I will know who to respond to.
Lastly... If you are overwhelmed or in despair, crisis counselors are on hand. Call them at (802)229-0591 and someone... I'm told... will get back in a few minutes. Also - from any phone - Dial 988.

Mental Health Support:

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You've all been through a lot, and almost no one here was spared. It has been extremely hard and sometimes overwhelming.
If anyone in Plainfield wants mental health support, please text me about the new walk-in service here... to meet and talk with a professional helper.

And the WCMHS 802-229-0591 crisis help line is being answered 24/7 (sometimes a 10-minute delay). Be sure to ask for screeners if you want in-person help, or for tele-health if you're o.k. with that.  Call "988" also for other mental health resources.

We are getting in-person help at a location in Plainfield starting today, for a few hours a day and perhaps most days of the week.  Let me know if you need directions. 

​​Michael Billingsley, my cell (text) number is (802) 380-6408.

Plainfield Flood Response Information

Plainfield Flood Response Information
For those affected, donations, and volunteers
Call 802-227-2660

All those affected by the flood:
Call 211 to report damages
AND
Call Crisis Clean Up at 802-242-2054

These reports NEED to be made for Plainfield to seek State and Federal assistance

Please Report All Flood Damage to Vermont 211

Please, please, PLEASE! Report all flood damage, no matter how trivial seeming, to Vermont 211. You can phone 211 or go to vermont211.org and select the flooding form. It only takes minutes to fill out the form as best you can. Phones are answered 24/7

Why do this? It's a numbers game. There is a threshold to reach before FEMA Federal dollars become available and they are sorely needed. Even if you are taking care of the damage yourself, reporting it lets the impact of this storm be known to the "powers that be." It can help your less fortunate neighbors get aid.

Need help reporting? The Cutler Library will be open extra hours, 11-5 Sunday and Monday, so you can use the computers and WIFI. (You can even just come sit in the clean calm and air-conditioned space.)
Title 1, Section 314 notice
​​Book the Recreation Field online
You can book the Rec Field for your event online here. 
Amenities available at the Recreation Field include:
Basketball Court, Tennis Court, toddler age play area, skate-park, swings, baseball diamond, tube slide, tire swing, covered picnic shelter that has four tables, lights and electricity, and a porta-potty during the summer months.  More info here.
Property Tax Payments - Direct Debit Program
You may sign up to have your property tax installments transferred electronically from your bank account to the Town. When you sign up for this program, the Town will  debit your bank account for the exact amount of the tax payment on the actual due date for each installment. You will continue to receive your bill in the mail.
Sign Up/Change Request Form
Plainfield History page added. Check it out here.
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Please don't flush wipes! Here's why!
Plainfield's American Rescue Plan Act Advisory Committee:   
Plainfield has received a total of $377,245 in ARPA funds.  The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Advisory Committee is considering what ARPA funds can be used for, what the Town's needs are, and any proposals for the use of the funds and provide the Select Board the committee's wisdom. These are one-time funds, and care needs to be taken in making the important decision of how to best use these funds for our community.  The members of this committee are George Cushing, Jane Bradley, and Arion Thiboumery. The Select Board commenced consideration of the recommendations from the ARPA Advisory Committee at the Select Board meeting on February 22, 2023. 
ARPA Allocations to-date:
$30,000 - CVFiber (approved 9/20/2022)**
$173,250 - Brook Road Bridge #21 Town Match, contingent on approval for a FEMA grant (approved 10/18/2022)
$17,711.95 - W/WW Water source property purchase and associated costs (approved 2/6/2023)
$3,000 - Plainfield Community Trust (approved 2/22/2023)
$30,300 - Cutler Memorial Library (approved 2/22/2023)
$32,000 - W/WW survey cost and School Street engineering study (approved 5/15/2023)

Further consideration of the use of ARPA funds will take place at future Select Board meetings. Agendas for meetings and Zoom links for participation may be found on the Select Board page.
​
** Update to the Official Notification of Proposed Merger between CVFiber and NEK Broadband


The Town Calendar has been moved to the new Calendar page. 
Town Office
149 Main Street
PO Box 217
Plainfield, VT 05667
802-454-8461
Town Hall Opera House
18 High Street
Plainfield, VT 05667
802-454-1286
Plainfield Town Charter
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