HARDWICK – The select board had an extensive agenda at their April 17 select board meeting, with discussions ranging from a delay in the potential sale of town real estate, the pedestrian bridge replacement, flooding and FEMA matters, to an update from the Jeudevine Library.
Town Manager David Upson reported the environmental review for the vacant town-owned lot adjacent to 9 Main St. has been delayed by the oil spill in recent months. VT Huts, the prospective buyer, asked for an extension on their purchase option agreement with the town. The agreement has been signed and extended, Upson told the board.
The town does not yet have a notice from USDA to proceed with the pedestrian bridge construction. While USDA has the required documentation, they have remaining questions, said Upson.
He said the town recently received notice that USDA will rescind $200,000 in grant funding if it’s not spent soon. However, Business Manager Casey Rowell said the town was approved for an extension. The board agreed to follow up on the matter right away.
Road Foreman Tom Fadden said the crew is caught up on grading, having completed Hardwick Farms Road, Hopkins Hill, Mackville and Mountain View Roads. Bridgman Hill and West Hill are in progress. Fadden said they were focusing on the main roads more so than the side roads. Summer hours begin April 28, when the crew begins working four 10 hour days, Monday through Thursday.
Police Chief Mike Henry said Officer Joe Donna has completed yet another week of training.
In comparing this year’s statistics to last year, Henry said complaints are up, but arrests are down. The department has been very busy with fingerprinting, 100 more than last year.
Hardwick Electric Department [HED) Commissioner Myles Kamisher-Koch provided an update, saying a rate increase request of 13.24% has been submitted to the Vermont Public Utility Commission. The increase is primarily driven by inflation, in an amount to balance the budget. Maisher-Koch explained that, with Wolcott Hydro Dam in need of repair and not producing power, HED must purchase more power, thus increasing costs. Work on the dam is proceeding, he said..
Jeudevine Library Director Diane Grenkow said they have moved into temporary space in the Memorial Building for the next two weeks while the floors are refinished in the original library. Grenkow reported they hope for a soft opening by Springfest, with a grand opening sometime in July.
Peter Fairweather, with Fairweather Consulting, presented the draft of his final report on the Better Connections grant project for East Hardwick. Fairweather explained the process involved and then provided details of the findings and recommendations for future action items.
Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Kristen Leahy was present for her regular flood update, announcing the town has received $3.1 million in grants for flood resiliency projects since the 2023 flood. The amount includes buyouts, mitigation efforts and funds for future planning. With the current administration canceling Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funds, some projects may be affected, she said. Vermont Emergency Management is currently looking for funding that may help replace the lost federal funding. Notably, the town has not borrowed any money for flood repair because it’s been able to borrow from fund balances pending reimbursement. Leahy’s full report is available on the town website.
The board discussed the purchase of a new trailer to be used for transporting town equipment. After some debate about repairing the current trailer versus purchasing a new purchase, the board agreed to purchase a new trailer for up to $31,342, using some of the budget adjustment act funding.
The board voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB), a civil engineering company, for the Mill Street transportation scoping study, to evalluate safety issues through the downtown area..
Business Manager Casey Rowell presented the FY25 quarterly budget update. The town is slightly ahead in revenues, primarily due to FEMA reimbursement from the 2023 flood.
Upson said the town water and sewer department has $135,000 capital funds for new meters. After some discussion regarding the logistics, the board agreed to install more meters this summer.
The board discussed the job description for the new public works project coordinator job, agreeing to continue to work on it and try to have a final version at the next meeting.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree 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.
