HARDWICK — The Hardwick Select Board kicked off the year with their usual mixed agenda, January 2, discussing various grant applications, 2025 town meeting and approval of the FY26 draft budget.
Town Manager David Upson began the meeting by informing the board they are beginning some of the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) grant work. He said the required documents have been submitted for the grant funds and an internal meeting is scheduled for the next steps. The first project will be focused on the heating system at the community center.
Upson said the TextMyGov widget is now posted on the town website, to show people it is coming soon. The rollout will take place in a couple of weeks.
Upson took a moment to remind community members with a report to submit for the town’s annual report, to please get it in as soon as possible.
A Better Back Roads grant for $20,000 has been applied for covering a section of Mackville Road, said Upson. He told the select board that all members will be required to attend a Code of Ethics training course, which needs to be completed this year. The town will need to update its current code of ethics policy to follow Act 171, the Statewide Municipal Code of Ethics, enacted in June 2024.
Member Shari Cornish asked for an update on the reopening of 9 South Main St., where the Clip Joint is located. Upson said they are collaborating with several people including the state fire marshal and managing entity to move things along.
Upson mentioned the pedestrian bridge bids are due January 22 and a special meeting will likely be held to review those bids.
Three proposals have been received for the slope stabilization project on School Street in East Hardwick, added Upson,
Town Clerk and Treasurer Tonia Chase was present to discuss the location of the 2025 town meeting. While the board hoped to host it at the Town House this year, construction to make the building handicap accessible is not complete. The board decided to hold the 2025 town meeting at Hardwick Elementary again.
Chase reminded everyone of the open seats for this year. Information can be found on the town’s website. For those who wish to be considered for one of the open positions, petitions are due January 27, by 5 p.m.
Following up from the last meeting, the East Hardwick Neighborhood Organization (EHNO) is applying for grant funds from the State of Vermont’s Recreational Trails Program to undertake various improvements to the East Hardwick trailhead of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT). The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) discussed at the last meeting calls for the town to perform some of the preparation site work as in-kind work for the grant and provide construction management services. The select board voted to authorize the town manager to sign the MOU for the in-kind work needed for a grant match for improvements to the East Hardwick LVRT trailhead.
The board then discussed approving a Municipal Planning Grant (MPG) application, for flood resiliency planning in the Granite Street historic district and Atkins Field. The board also discussed a Flood Resilient Communities Fund (FRCF) grant in the amount of $460,189.47.
Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Kristen Leahy provided further details on the MPG for the Granite St. research with a handout to show current flood resiliency projects in town. Granite St. is one area that currently has no projects. The board approved the MOG application.
The board discussed applying for another FRCF grant for the buyout of two flood impacted properties. It would be similar to the other buyouts where the town is responsible for managing the purchase and demolition. Leahy was the project manager for the last round of buyouts and is prepared to do so again. The board approved applying for another FRCF grant, for just over $460,000 with no match.
The board then moved on to go through the FY26 draft budget. Business Manager Casey Rowell explained that the $75,000 Budget Act Adjustment cannot be put into the FY26 budget, because the state issued those funds prior to June 30, 2024. The board now must decide how to spend it since they already have it.
The board discussed at length the potential creation of two new positions the town wants to fund. One being a full-time police officer and the other a public works director to oversee projects. They also discussed the cost of trash and recycling disposal on Main Street and the LVRT trailheads. After some discussion, the board took $1,000 from the maintenance line of recreation and put $1,500 more in the “Downtown maintenance/trash line” in the Highway Department in order to account for the additional expense.
The board then approved the FY26 budget, in the amount of $4,417,725 to present to voters at town meeting.
In other business, board member Shari Cornish said she will be resigning as the Hardwick representative for the solid waste management district and is seeking her replacement. The position offers a small annual stipend from the town and meetings take place once a month, typically virtually.
Board member Ceilidh Galloway-Kane mentioned either having a future agenda item or perhaps a retreat about the buyouts and fire in East Hardwick. She emphasized the difficulty people face finding housing in Hardwick and would like to brainstorm on how the town could help mitigate the housing crisis, as well as both attracting and keeping people in Hardwick.
Raymobda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.