HARDWICK — The annual meeting at Hardwick’s Elementary School drew a somewhat smaller crowd than in recent years according to Moderator Orise Ainsworth.
The meeting got off to a smooth start until it came time to consider approving the proposed 2024-25 budget of $4,018,083. A 7.55% increase over the 2023-24 budget was explained by Select Board Chair Eric Remick, who, along with Town Manager, David (Opie) Upson, had expected some pointed questions. Those expectations were realized when former Town Manager Rob Lewis suggested the town’s fund balance be used to reduce the tax rate. Lewis proposed transferring $300,000 from the fund instead of the $50,000 budgeted in the select board’s proposal.
Hardwick Elementary School, site of Hardwick’s 2024 Town Meeting.
Lewis’ proposal and call for a straw poll drew plenty of comments from those opposed to the suggestion, but Ainsworth recognized Lewis several more times because he wasn’t yet ready to drop the issue. Eventually Hardwick’s Business Manager, Casey Rowell, was authorized to speak, though she doesn’t live in Hardwick. Rowell explained that her quick calculations showed increasing the allocation from reserve funds would change the estimated tax rate on a $100,000 home from an increase of 8.8% to a decrease of 1.99%
Select Board member Danny Hale then took the mic and suggested that those with significant concerns about town budgets ought best attend one or more of the many select board sessions in the fall and early winter that are devoted to budget considerations. Hale, always direct, made the point that comments are welcome as the budget is being developed suggesting that asking for amendments from the floor at Town Meeting wasn’t his preferred choice. Hale went on to talk about the importance of having a fund balance, especially when the town needs to deal with emergencies, like this past summer’s flooding.
After well over 30 minutes of discussion, a straw poll showed Lewis’ proposal didn’t garner enough support to encourage his making a motion and he dropped the proposal.
That was not the end of trying to reduce the tax consequences of the budget increase that will cause tax rates to increase. Larry Hamel next suggested voters reject the budget entirely and leave cutting it to an acceptable level up to the select board.
Hamel’s proposal received little support. The budget finally passed as proposed.
Ainsworth entertained a motion to take up all appropriations as one item, but couldn’t determine whether the vote to take them all up at once passed, so they were taken up one-by-one. Most passed smoothly by with approval, except for a bit of discussion about the North Country Animal Hospital appropriation. That one passed too.
Rep. Chip Troiano reported on his Statehouse activities. Town Manager Opie Upson was commended for his support of residents dealing with flooding and FEMA assistance. Wiz Dow received appreciation for her term on the board, which ends with this meeting.
Paul Fixx reported on several areas of town that are expected to be served by NEK Broadband with high speed fiber internet before 2024 is out. Service will be coming to areas along and near West Hill Road, Bridgeman Hill Road, Route 16 to Pumpkin Lane, Brown Farm Road onto Hopkins HIll, and a few homes coming in from Walden along Catamount and Belfry Roads.
The final question from the floor asked voters to take a straw poll about studying the possibility of having Hardwick Elementary School withdraw from Mountain View Union Elementary School District.
The three school district has been the subject of much heated discussion since an unofficial petition circulated some months ago with the question of closing Greensboro’s Lakeview Elementary School.
The school merger creating the Mountain View Union District several years ago was referred to today as “the forced creation of the union district.” An initial voice vote sounded too close to call, but a standing count then showed clearly that those in favor of contemplating the withdrawal far outnumbered those opposed. It wasn’t clear at the meeting how the poll results might be taken up later.
Near noon the meeting adjourned.
On the way out, the Civic Standard manned a table offering tuna or egg salad sandwiches and a variety of baked goods or chips for whatever donation might be offered.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
