HARDWICK – The regular select board meeting, June 4, saw a wide berth of topics with communication from the audience, flood-related project updates and budget discussions.
Town Manager David Upson began with updates, mentioning an opening for an animal control officer. Contact the town manager’s office if interested. Expansion of the public parking lot at Treatment Plant Road is complete.
Upson said he met with the staff of Bernie Sanders office to discuss the process for congressionally-designated spending funds for the Hardwick Rescue Squad (HRS) building.
Road Foreman Tom Fadden has returned from leave. The road crew painted the downtown crosswalks, aside from the post office, as well as grading in the East Hardwick Area and on various other roads as needed. The crew was recently working on flood hazard mitigation items on Belfry Road.
Fadden shared it has been challenging to find a street sweeper. The previous equipment did not work for long.
Zoning and floodplain administrator Kristen Leahy was present to review ongoing activities and initiatives, including two East Hardwick flood buyout properties at 40 and 52 East Church St. The request for proposal (RFP) for demolition is now available via the town website. Leahy noted there was potential at the site for future storm water projects.
Leahy said 43 responses to the School Street stabilization survey have been received. Concerns centered around the sightline and safety of exiting that street to Vt. Rte. 16. The hope is to work with the state and regional planning on the safety of that intersection, she said.
Notably, Leahy won an award from the Association of State Floodplain Managers, the first ever New England recipient.
Emily Finnegan from the Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District (CC-NRCD) was present, asking the board if they had any questions about the Jackson Dam study. Letters were submitted for the board’s approval, outlining what each organization would be responsible for in the next phase. There was also an outline for a steering committee.
Chair Ceilidh Galloway-Kane read aloud a specific excerpt from the support letter, clarifying that no decisions have been made about the future of the dam, “Rather, it reflects the select board’s support for continued information gathering, coordination, technical evaluation and exploration of potential future pathways related to the site.”
Leahy commented that this is the path to getting the answers about the town’s options. The goal would be to have a non-binding question at town meeting to get input from the community. In addition, she said, this is a phased approach that would potentially take place over the next decade.
Galloway-Kane, chair, also commented that CC-NRCD is not looking for any monetary commitment from the town. There are a few different funding sources they will seek for the project.
The board approved CC-NRCD to proceed with the Jackson Dam scope of work and potential cost proposal to obtain more information, as well as voting to have Finnegan move forward with the organization and structure of a steering committee.
Finance Director Casey Rowell presented the proposed FY2027 water and sewer enterprise fund expense budgets and associated capital improvement plans. The board reviewed the proposed budgets, including anticipated operating, maintenance, debt service, and capital expenditures, and discussed the timing of future water and sewer rate recommendations.
According to Upson, customer rates will be set in the fall. “We have several meetings, like an ad hoc group, and we invite members of the public to participate in those meetings, and that’s where we set the rates.”
For those worried about potential increases, the town considers certain provisions. “We do look at the different user groups, so we’re trying to be as equitable as possible in setting rates, but again, the rates haven’t been set.” The equity committee will be consulted, as well. “We’ve always asked them [the equity committee]. This is one of the main drivers with us, the town, at the town managers office, this is where the equity committee could come into play, looking at how water rates are set. We’ve given them this task before.”
The board unanimously approved the FY27 water and sewer expense budgets, as presented.
The board heard some communication from the audience, centered on forming a task force to evaluate voter accessibility and Town Meeting Day procedures. Resident Maureen Demers shared data from the Vermont Secretary of State based on 2025 data. According to Demers, there were 2,333 registered voters in Hardwick, with 239 votes cast for the town budget, which is roughly ten percent of the registered voters. Demers expressed that she feels it does not matter when the meeting is held, but the reality is more voters participate when the vote is done via Australian ballot.
She said she does not think sitting for a meeting for hours is productive, and people should be able to vote privately.
Resident Sue Rivard expressed her frustration with people being unable to wholly speak their minds, when rules seem to change mid-meeting and they are cut off from speaking. Galloway-Kane responded that Robert’s Rules are complicated, and it might be helpful to provide a cheat-sheet about what actions mean.
Demers added the town is isolating voters with the current procedures, and feels business owners will not necessarily speak freely at town meetings as they do not feel comfortable speaking up.
After a lengthy discussion, it was reiterated that the task force will include a couple of board members as well as community members, with the town manager’s office drafting a notice to be posted on Front Porch Forum. The town is seeking interested candidates to serve on the task force that will evaluate the process. Interested candidates should send letters or emails to the town manager’s office to express their interest. Appointments to the task force will take place at the June 18 select board meeting.
The board appointed several candidates to the Buffalo Mountain Steering Committee: Dylan Laflam, Eric Remick, Tyler Buswell, Margie Prevot and Marie LaPre Grabon.
In other business, Sullivan Powers and Co. was engaged for the town’s FY26 audit.
The board voted unanimously to sign the 2027 Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch contract.
Member Shari Cornish reported the floors in the new addition of the town house are getting coated with polyurethane, paid for by NEKarts.
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.
