HARDWICK – The March 5 regular select board meeting consisted of select board appointments, construction updates and discussing the proposed Buffalo Mountain Town Forest purchase.
photo by Paul Fixx
To kick off the meeting, the board voted unanimously to elect Ceilidh Galloway-Kane as chairperson. Galloway-Kane was re-elected for a three-year seat on Town Meeting Day, March 3. Shari Cornish was unanimously voted vice-chair. Galloway-Kane assumed control over the proceedings, welcoming newly-elected candidates Derek Richardson and Larry Fliegelman to their first meeting since being elected to the board.
The board discussed forming a steering committee or task force for the potential purchase of the Buffalo Mountain Town Forest property, but ultimately decided against appointing members at the meeting.
Galloway-Kane noted the town of Wolcott recently underwent a similar process, suggesting the board gather information about how their current town forest committee is structured, noting Wolcott currently has sixteen members serving on their committee. After some discussion, Kristen Leahy will begin working on the process of committee development in relation to the town forest. Galloway-Kane will reach out to the town of Wolcott to gather information about their process, including hearings, committee structure as well as how management decisions were developed.
Moving on, Galloway-Kane noted some downtown businesses expressed concerns about traffic conditions due to the construction. Town Manager David Upson provided a brief update on the situation. Upson informed the board that he as well as the chief of police are collaborating with the contractor, CCS, to adjust traffic signal timing during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times at the schools, to improve the flow of traffic.
Barriers on Main Street are also being moved to allow for oil deliveries to businesses. Upson noted work on these issues is ongoing, and residents or businesses with concerns are encouraged to contact the town managers office.
The board reviewed recommendations for a consultant for the requisite environmental assessment for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant. The town received seven proposals, which were narrowed down to the top three candidates. VHB was recommended for selection because they have staff in-house to perform all necessary components of the work, whereas other firms would need to subcontract for certain elements, such as wetlands delineation. The cost of the work will be covered by the grant. Motioned by Tim Ricciardello, seconded by Shari Cornish, the board voted to authorize the town manager to enter into a contract with VHB for the environmental assessment.
After reviewing each appointment individually, the board approved the following town appointments: David Upson, Civil Defense/Emergency Management Coordinator; Ceilidh Galloway-Kane, CVSWMD Representative; Tim Ricciardello, Town Service Officer; Elizabeth Dow, as Agent to Convey Real Estate; Shari Cornish, as Board Representative to Sign Warrants; Shari Cornish, as NEKarts Board Representative; Paul Fixx, as NEK Communication Union District Representative; Linda Markin, as NEK Communication Union District Alternate Representative; Eric Remick, as Hardwick Trails Committee Rep.; Danny Hale, Hardwick-Woodbury Rail Trail; Derek Richardson, Jackson Dam Study Committee Select Board Representative; David Upson, as Town Safety Officer; Maya McCoy, Town Website Coordinator; Kristen Leahy, Town Representative for NVDA; Larry Fliegelman, Select Board Representative for NVDA; Ceilidh Galloway-Kane, Town Health Officer; David Upson, Deputy Health Officer; Shari Cornish, as Hardwick Downtown Partnership Board Representative.
Two appointments were left vacant for the time being: Town Energy Coordinator and CVSWMD Alternate Representative.
The appointment of the health officer is through the Vermont Department of Health by a recommendation by the select board. Ceilidh Galloway-Kane will be the health officer by default as the select board chair and David Upson, town manager, is the deputy health officer. The recommendation form will need to be completed at the next meeting.
In other business, Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Kristen Leahy informed the board she will be on medical leave from March 27 through April 27. Leahy provided an overview of the planning commission’s proposed update to the Hardwick Unified Development Bylaws. The update modernizes the bylaws and aligns them with the Municipal Plan, recent state legislation, and issues identified through flood recovery, housing needs, and infrastructure planning.
The select board scheduled a public hearing on the proposed bylaw update for March 19, at 5 p.m.
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.
