EAST HARDWICK – I just watched the recording of the January 8 select board meeting. Of particular interest were discussions about funding for NEK Arts related to Town House improvements and funding for the Equity Committee. Given the national discourse about the word “equity” the discussion was civil and I commend all of the members of the select board on setting that tone. I also think the decision, to cut the $1,500 budget of the Equity Committee to $500 was reasonable as measured against the stipends given to other committees. However, the discussion about disbanding the Equity Committee altogether came off as petty and political. It was disconcerting to hear negative views expressed by some members of the Hardwick Select Board who demonstrated a lack of understand of the purpose or benefits of an Equity Committee.
More troubling is the disconnect in the select board about the role of town government when it comes to soft services. Unlike larger towns and cities Hardwick does not have functioning full-time social services or health departments, a department of arts and culture or a fully-funded parks and recreation department. We have a volunteer fire department and we have only recently hired a part-time planning and development coordinator. That’s all okay, given our size and budget, but it doesn’t diminish the need for these skills and services.
There is a void between what the town can provide and what is needed. Hardwick is extremely lucky to have a history of organizations and individuals who, in partnership with the town, step into that void.
Unfortunately, the cost in goodwill and appreciation towards all volunteers who serve on town committees and civic organizations in Hardwick was embarrassingly damaged with a long discussion at the select board meeting over cutting the Equity Committee’s $1,500 stipend from the town’s budget of over $4.million.
This year, the members of the Equity Committee, in addition to other work, brought a grant of $10,000 to the town. The purpose of the grant was to train Town personnel and members of those committees and organizations who receive town funds. The majority of the grant money was distributed directly to the local organizations who participated.
NEK Arts volunteers manage, maintain and improve the Town House, a historic building owned by the town. Unlike the usual landlord/tenant relationship, NEK Arts raises funds and provides any hours of volunteer time to benefit the property. When the organization asked the select board for assistance with unexpected costs related to a NEK Arts’ funded addition to the building one select board member simply dismissed the request as “not our problem.”
Other examples of volunteers working to provide town services include Friends of the Jeudevine Library who brought in funds to improve the town-owned building; the East Hardwick Neighborhood Organization who brought $50,000 in grant funds to Hardwick in order to develop a park on the rail trail on land leased by the town; and Neighbor-to-Neighbor who put together an extensive disaster recovery plan, a municipal responsibility.
The Conservation Committee, Recreation Committee, Hardwick Downtown Partnership, Hardwick Historical Society, Center for an Agricultural Economy as well as AWARE, churches, veterans and benevolent organizations and more, bring skills, time, grants and community donations to benefit the town and people of Hardwick. Without volunteers we would not have Hardwick Trails; The Old Firehouse (NEK Arts); The Civic Standard; Hardwick Food Pantry; Atkins Field; Jeudevine Library; the Depot; the Town House; the Yellow Barn; Memorial, Overlook, Peace or Idle Hour Parks; Mill Street Murals; the Swinging Bridge restoration project; the Farmer’s Market; Spring Fest, Children’s Parade or an ambulance service.
Look at the list above. It’s a testament to the people of this community. With two open seats on the Hardwick Select Board this year, I am hopeful the new board members will recognize the monetary value that a strong history of volunteer committees and town partnerships with non-profit organizations, has brought to Hardwick.
