HARDWICK – The select board’s work at its October 3 meeting included the now-usual flood recovery and mitigation activities, reducing accidents and improving visibility at the post office intersection, recent arrests on drug-related charges, planning for bike lanes and dealing with dog bites.
Of particular note is work Zoning Administrator Kristen Leahy has been doing to develop a timeline of town projects and milestones related to flood recovery that can be shared on the town’s website. It will include work already completed and what’s still being planned in a format for community members to access.
Hardwick’s Community Television’s (HCTV) newly-appointed Executive Director Macy Molleur introduced herself and received Board Chair Erik Remick’s appreciation for the station’s important work.
Town Manager David Upson and Business Manager Casey Rowell have been working on funding for a $1.7 million wastewater treatment facility project to protect lift stations needed to run the facility from future flood events. Bond Bank funding, supported by ARPA funds, is likely to be available now, in advance of FEMA funding. Upson hopes the funding can be structured in a way that will eliminate a 25% match under FEMA funding that is usually split with the state, resulting in no cost to the town.
The lift stations are not located at the treatment facility so the town can move forward with this project while work is done to determine the best course to protect the treatment facility during future flooding events
The town’s engineering firm, Aldrich & Elliot (A&E) is working on recommendations for the treatment facility project, including the lift stations. Upson said A&E will be at the next select board meeting to share their recommendations. FEMA will provide a cost analysis of what will be covered once a plan is developed.
Upson said he and Leahy had met that day with 10 potential bidders on an Emergency Watershed Protection Program project to armor the riverbank at two properties along Route 15. Since the July 2024 flood, Upson said 12 properties in town have been submitted for either buyouts or to have their riverbanks armored for protection from further erosion.
A residential property and its wellhead along Vt. Rte. 15, east of its intersection with Vt. Rte. 16, is now within 20 feet of Haynesville Brook. The brook was more than 75 feet from the home before recent flood events. The town plans a project to armor the riverbank there and at another nearby property.
The replacement of the Riverside Farm Road bridge was recently completed so that access is usable again, Upson reported.
Six dog bites were reported to the town manager’s office in the last two weeks, said Upson. He reminded HCTV viewers that all dogs must be licensed with the town clerk’s office. Out of the six bites, only two were by licensed dogs. When dogs are licensed, it assures the victim that the dog is up to date with their vaccines and reduces health concerns.
Upson gave the road foreman’s report, saying the crusher is at the gravel pit and the town is starting to get various materials for the future. The road crew has been busy hauling and preparing for winter, he added. Remick suggested a future board meeting could be warned at the gravel pit for the board and residents to be given a tour.
The Hardwick Police Department’s Interim Chief Mike Henry said he’s spent months working with new body cameras that use a cloud-based system for storing the footage. While funding covered the purchase and first five years of storage, the company supporting them has not been able to help him make them function properly. He’s looking at other options while continuing to work with the ones the department has now.
The department has been working closely with the drug task force to try and control drug activity in town, putting particular emphasis on activity subject to federal charges. They made several arrests last week, two of which included state and federal charges.
Henry said he’s received complaints about visibility for vehicles exiting the post office parking lot and there have been multiple crashes there. The board discussed possible options, including restricting those leaving the post office parking lot to making right turns only. Upson recommended the intersection be given a full review as part of the work covered by a Transportation Alternatives Grant. The grant was awarded to the town for a full scoping study of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the area from The Civic Standard on South Main Street to Mill Street past the Buffalo Mountain Market.
A new First Class Liquor License for Front Seat Coffee was approved. Tobin Porter explained that he’s planning to begin offering drinks like mimosas, along with beer and wine. He said he plans to begin hosting events where beer and wine will be served, but doesn’t plan to become a bar.
A Manufacturers Tier 3 cannabis license renewal was approved for Tillia Processing LLC, which has not had any issues to date.
The board continued a discussion from the last meeting about creating a connector loop to bring bicycle riders from the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail into downtown and designate a South Main Street bike lane. It is hoped a solution can be in place by Spring, before Memorial Day. The town manager will investigate further and offer suggestions at a future meeting.
The meeting ended after just over 45 minutes, significantly shorter than usual, because a representative from the Small Business Administration (SBA) didn’t show up to give a planned presentation about flood recovery options. Remick said SBA recovery assistance is still available and to contact the town manager’s office for more information.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
