HARDWICK – A mostly routine select board meeting was held January 8, with preparations for Town Meeting Day that included approval of an item to be warned for creation of a town forest on Buffalo Mountain, spirited discussion about $1,500 budgeted for the Hardwick Equity Committee and covering a cost overrun on the Town House renovation, where it was decided to hold town meeting, March 3, this year.
A public engagement meeting for the town’s Essential Services Project will be held at the library, January 21, at 6 p.m. The project involves moving the fire station to Creamery Road, near the current town garage, creating new quarters for the highway department and constructing a new building for Hardwick Rescue.
During twenty minutes of discussion about language in support of plans to purchase land for a town forest that includes the summit of Buffalo Mountain, most comments were in support of the plan, with only discussion about details, including the cost of maintaining it. Plans were made to move forward with creation of a steering committee, “sooner rather than later,” said Remick.
Wording approved for the Town Meeting Warning was, “To protect recreational access, fish and wildlife habitat, forestry, and Lamoille River water quality, and to provide outdoor educational opportunities for schoolchildren, shall the Town of Hardwick contribute $25,000, to be matched by more than $700,000 of other public and private funds, toward the acquisition of +/- 329 acres of land on Buffalo Mountain to become a Town Forest?
Discussion of how to pay a final invoice of $50,702.66 for work to renovate the Hardwick Town House, which included the addition of a lift to reach the ground floor and stage, led to a discussion about the cost overrun, during which Finance Director Casey Rowell suggested NEKArts should be responsible in the same way the library was for the cost overruns there. In the end the board agreed to cover the cost, putting the building’s capital fund into the negative and refilling it with the $5,000 allocated to it annually. Following the vote, Remick suggested NEKArts could help fund that account in the future.
At the final regularly scheduled meeting to approve a budget for consideration at town meeting, it was decided to approve adding an item to the town meeting warning for a vote on a local option tax on rooms, meals, and the sale of alcohol, but not retail sales. The tax is estimated to generate $50,000 in income for the town, to help subsidize the budget.
The budget for Spring Fest was reduced by $5,000 to $10,000 and the stipend for members of the Board of Civil Authority raised from $3 to $25.
A lengthy discussion of the $1,500 budget item for the Equity Committee began with the suggestion from board member Tim Ricciardello that the item be removed completely and its resolution be revised. He further suggested it become a stand-alone group, not affiliated with the town. In the end the budget was reduced to $500.
At the January 19 Equity Committee meeting, members expressed concern that what they see as an important function of town government was the subject of that discussion. The committee was more concerned about equitable process and whether the process to eliminate a town committee could be as simple as defunding it and eliminating it at a select board meeting.
That committee made plans to write a letter to the board, with some members planning to attend a future select board meeting to express their personal concerns.
The final FY27 budget was then approved for $4,741,600 to present to the voters at town meeting.
During public comments to start the meeting, Jamie Emmerson suggested the town use funds from its economic loan fund for accessory dwelling unit (ADU) housing projects. Remick said it could be considered, but Shari Cornish said those funds were to be directed more toward economic development. Town Manager David Upson mentioned that the State has $50,000 grants available for ADU’s.
Lydia Parker then offered her “tremendous support” for town forest, saying she could not stay until that item was to be considered, saying it would be a wonderful opportunity for the Town of Hardwick.
Road Foreman Tom Fadden said they’d been out 62 times doing the usual plowing, salting, sanding and repairs, being roughly halfway through the salt budget and sand pile.
Myles Tandy and Beth McIntyre were appointed as library trustees, until the March town meeting, when candidates to fill the remainder of both a 2027 and 2028 term will be voted for.
Discussion of options to help fund the cost of Black Dirt Farm composting pods in Hardwick led to no decision with Upson to investigate and bring the subject back for future discussion.
Loan documents were approved to fund work costing $1,700,000 for rebuilding lift stations at the sewage treatment plant that were damaged in flooding. He said undecorated Christmas trees can be brought to the town garage now for disposal.
A painting by Brent McCoy of Hardwick was selected as a cover photo for the 2025 Hardwick Town Report, and select board member Danny Hale said it could be anything other than the library. The dedication will be kept a secret.
At a special select board meeting, Friday, Jan. 16, that involved 20 minutes of rehashing consideration of where to hold town meeting this year, no change was made for this year, though an item was added to the warning for a vote to select either Hardwick Elementary School or the Hardwick Town House as the site of the 2027 town meeting.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
