Town of Vernon, Vermont - Local Information

Vernon was originally part of the Hinsdale grant from King George, but this town has come a long way since then.

The Town of Vernon is governed by a five-member Selectboard, which is elected by the voters at the Annual Meeting held in March. The Board is made up of the following--Three 3-year positions (staggered) and two 1-year positions.

Vernon is the home of Windham-I's Representative to the Legislature, Patricia O'Donnell. Vernon is proud to have her represent us as well as Guilford in Montpelier to the best of her ability as she is guided by the residents of both towns.

Vernon is also proud to be the home of Vermont's only nuclear power plant, Entergy-Vermont Yankee (or VY to the residents), a company that has ben a good neighbor, watching out for the residents of the Town as well as the State.

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Happenings at the
J. Maynard Miller Municipal Forest
The summer of 2009 is a busy time for The J. Maynard Miller Municipal Forest which is located at the end of the Basin Road in Vernon. This municipally-owned forest is 469 acres and home of the fabled “Black Gum Swamps” Originally purchased in “1973,… town officials, worried about controlling development and protecting the watershed, decided to buy 450 acres of forest land containing the black gum swamps for woodlot and recreational purposes”, reprinted from an article in Vermont Life, spring 1988 by Peggy Watson.
The black gum swamps are accessible by a trail system which is an easy hike for people of all ages. Maps for the trails are located in a mail box at the end of the Basin Road. These swamps are ecologically unique, and at the northern edge of this species range. They may be a “remnant” from a warmer climate 600 to 1100 years ago. These areas are being maintained to allow natural progression of the ecology without any commercial harvesting. The entire property is managed according to a written forest plan to maintain the black gum and health of the forest, provide forest products such as firewood and lumber logs, and generate jobs and income to the town. There have been several commercial timber sales and Vernon resident firewood plots during the town’s ownership.
What is readily apparent when a visitor arrives at the forest is the upgraded access road that was repaired and enhanced by the Town’s road crew this spring. This is a permanent improvement for access for hiking, biking, hunting, safety and fire control, and will help make the harvesting more efficient and minimize erosion on the step section of road before the picnic table. Along the road 10 half-acre firewood units were located and poor quality hardwoods trees were marked for removal for firewood last fall. The lots were sold in a lottery system to ten Vernon residents which have created quite a lot of activity as they harvest this season’s firewood.
The current forestry operation is working in the southwestern and western section of the forest covering approximately 85 acres (18 % of the total forest). This area was last thinned 25 years ago. Green Mountain Forestry is marking and administering the thinning. The forest within this area is 75% hemlock with some oak, maple, birch and white pine. There is a serious pest of hemlock, the hemlock Adelgid marching from the south and it is already in Vernon. This forest is particularly susceptible because of the high proportion of hemlock. By harvesting hemlock and encouraging other species to grow, the proportion of hemlock will be reduced and the forest will be less susceptible to damage from this pest. A whole tree harvesting system (Steve Galbreath, Twin State Forestry, of Ascutney VT.) was chosen for several reasons. Felling and dragging whole trees with large equipment is very efficient and allows for better income to the town and it also causes disturbance of the leaf litter and exposes bare mineral soil to receive seeds which will be disbursed by the mature oak, hardwoods and pine this fall. So, exposed soil is good. This will give the best chance of growing new seedlings for the future forest. This new growth, including raspberries and blackberries, provides food and cover for deer, small mammals, game birds and songbirds, especially in a diverse mosaic with older trees of many species. Deer are expected to eat a high proportion of these new seedlings, and while that is good for the deer and many other wildlife species, it is important that there be enough trees to grow for the future. A smaller harvest area, or a lighter cut, would likely just feed the deer.
The forest is always changing, as trees grow and die every year. About 300 cords of wood grow on this lot every summer. Over time, the forest becomes too crowded for all the trees to be healthy, and less species of wildlife are benefited by the crowded forest. By harvesting selected trees, and leaving certain trees to grow, this change and growth can be directed to a more desirable future condition. With a mix of tree species, young, middle-aged and mature trees, and the old-growth black gum swamps, this forest can provide for a full range of wildlife species, recreation for residents, and natural forest products for Vermont families.

Prepared by Steve Hardy, Green Mountain Forestry, questions or comments contact information 802-257-1644 or gmforest@sover.net

Burning Permits
Fire Warden: Ray Capen (258-1338 or 254-2279)
Deputy Warden: Walter Zaluzny (254-5758)

More information can be found at the Fire Department's website at: http://www.vernonfire.org

Cemetery Regulations

Winter burials will be permitted if weather conditions warrant. The Cemetery Committee will notify the Selectmen each year when it is no longer advisable to allow burials. A notice will be published in the local newspaper.
NO HUMAN REMAINS shall be disposed of by burial in any Town Cemetery without proper permission from Town Clerk.
Grave liners of concrete, slate, or steel must be used to enclose coffins.
Monuments and headstones should be placed at the head of the graves and a base installed of at least 6” thickness extending 2” on all sides of monument or headstone.
Graves are not be to dug until permit is issued from the Town Clerk’s Office.
All burials must be 5 feet in depth, unless it is an infant under 4 years, burials will be 3 ½ feet. (Cremation included.) V.S.A.T. 18 5319.
Bicycles or unauthorized motorized vehicles will not be permitted past the cemetery entrance gates.
Gates will be closed after entering or leaving the cemetery. Fences shall be erected around the cemeteries and kept in good repair. V.S.A.T. 18 5364.
The owner of a cemetery lot(s) may dispose of same by will to any relative(s) who may survive, or to the Town of Vernon, in trust, for the use and benefit of any person(s) designated in such will. V.S.A.T. 18 5531(a).

Person(s) owning lot(s), and not having need for such lot(s), may sell or donate the said lot(s) back to the Town of Vernon.
Shrubs and flowers: Shrubs may be planted at the headstone if kept in an orderly manner and shall not exceed the headstone if kept in an orderly manner and shall not exceed the height of stone or width of lot. Flowers should only be planted close to the headstone or in movable pots. The committee planted close to the headstone or in movable pots. The committee shall have the authority to remove all floral decorations, flags, shrubs, plants, or herbage of any kind, which in the judgment of the committee have become unsightly, dangerous, diseased, or detrimental, or which do not conform to the regulation outlined.

Artificial flowers will be permitted until their appearance becomes unsightly. Artificial flowers must be confined to one area in bunches or wreaths. Both natural and artificial flowers shall be removed by lot owner(s) or the committee when they lose the original appearance.
No fences shall be erected inside the cemetery lot by owner(s).
Glass containers are not allowed. Metal, plastic, or other unbreakable containers are to be used. Proper disposal of such containers shall be enforced. Containers are not to be left in the cemetery.
The Town will provide mowing and clipping; and graves will be leveled when necessary. Shrubs and trees planted by the Town will be maintained by said Town. Shrubs, tress, and flowers planted by the lot owner(s) shall be maintained by said owner(s).
Debris shall be disposed of properly in the containers located by the cemetery gates.
The Town will not be liable for floral pieces, shrubs, plantings, benches, or decorations damaged by the elements, vandals, thieves, or by other causes beyond its control.
No lot(s) shall be used for any other purpose than for the burial of the human dead.
Person(s) visiting the cemetery or attending funeral services are prohibited from picking flowers, wild or cultivated, breaking or injuring any tree, shrub or plant, or from writing upon, defacing or injuring any memorial, fence, or other structure within the cemetery grounds.
It is the duty of the lot owner(s) to notify the Town Clerk of any changes of their postal address.
Ornaments and similar articles are permitted on or near the headstone, and if so placed on the lot to be replaced on a monthly basis. The Town reserves the right to remove the same.
No monument or marker shall be removed from the cemetery except by the Town, unless the written order of the lot owner(s) is presented at the Town Clerk’s Office.

Churches in Vernon

Vernon Advent Christian Church
4554 Fort Bridgman Road
Vernon, VT
257-2341
Rev. Bruce Burks

Vernon Union Church
2631 Fort Bridgman Road
Vernon, VT
257-8523
Rev. Steven Dunklee

Mountain View SDA Church
1002 Fort Bridgman Road
Vernon, VT
254-5088
Pastor Art Miller
http://www.tagnet.org/mountainviewsda/

Delinquent Tax Collector
Marylynn Scherlin (258-3955)

Hospitals in the Area
Hospitals utilized by Vernon residents include, but are not limited to:

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital--Brattleboro, Vermont
Franklin Medical Center--Greenfield, Massachusetts
Cheshire Medical Center--Keene, New Hampshire
Dartmouth Medical Center--Lebanon, New Hampshire
Grace Cottage Hospital--Townshend, Vermont

Schools in the Area

Vernon Elementary School
381 Governor Hunt Road
Vernon, VT
254-5373

Brattleboro Area Middle School
109 Sunny Acres Road
Brattleboro, VT
257-3029

Brattleboro Union High School
Fairground Road
Brattleboro, VT
257-0356

Senior Programs
President Maxine Smith 254-2877
Head Van Driver Eleanor (Cookie) Allen 257-1275

The Vernon Seniors are very active with monthly meetings, weekly trips, special trips, and events. Any resident may ride the van with them to their destinations on a first-come, first-serve basis. Information about the Town Van can be found here.

Trash Pickup
The Town of Vernon contracts with Triple T for household trash pickup. Trash should be placed in metal trash cans or other suitable containers whose total weight, including contents, does not exceed 60 pounds. Said containers are to be placed not more than 10 feet from the side of the public highway. Trash pickup is on Thursday and starts by 7:00 in the morning. If a holiday falls on a Thursday (such as Thanksgiving), trash is picked up the following day.

Vernon Newspaper
The Vernon Newspaper is published once a month and mailed to all residents at no charge.

Managing Editor: Lynda Starorypinski

Editor: Brandy Brow

Staff Writers: Brandy Brow - Christiane Howe - with David Andrews and numerous contributing editors and folders and tapers

Email for the Newspaper is vernonnewspaper@gmail.com

Zoning Permits
Vernon does NOT have zoning, so the only town permits required to build at this time are 1) a driveway permit from the Road Commissioner if your property is on a town road, and 2) a septic permit (unless you are building in an area where community sewer is available). However, there may be state permits required for your particular project.