HARDWICK – The board had a mixed agenda last Thursday evening, Dec. 5, with budget discussions again taking the forefront.
Business Manager Casey Rowell recapped the entire budget for all departments except Recreation, who are working on potential changes.
The Hardwick select board discusses budget items, Thursday, Dec. 5 with (from left) Business Manager Casey Rowell, Town Manager David Upson, members Tim Ricciardello, Ceilidh Galloway-Kane and Danny Hale, with Eric Remick connecting via Zoom.
courtesy HCTV
The current draft showed an increase of 11.89% in expenses, and a 7.61% increase in revenues. The capital equipment schedule was discussed at length, with Chair Eric Remick suggesting they consider extending the trade period of the dump trucks from every eight years to every 10 years.
Danny Hale expressed concern about the size of the library budget. Fellow board member Ceilidh Galloway-Kane said they are asking for minimal staff increases, and to provide a livable wage for their current staff members, which is not unreasonable. Rowell then offered to bring the building fund activity report to the next meeting, a separate fund from the library’s operating budget.
The board moved on to make some changes to see how they would affect the bottom line. They included a reduction in the capital equipment set aside, designating the $75,000 of Budget Act adjustment funds as one-time revenue, adding $1,000 to the Equity Committee budget, and reducing police department overtime by $5,000.
With the proposed changes, the budget showed an improved 15.7% increase in revenue, and a lower, 9.91% increase in expenses.
Town Manager David Upson reported the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail Council is looking into purchasing bike racks and picnic tables. The preliminary plan looks like it would be a 20% match from participating towns, including Hardwick, Danville, St. Johnsbury and Walden, all of which the council has worked with before on scoping studies for trailheads.
Upson said the Red Cross was unable to make it to Hardwick to assist in the housing crisis created by the multi-unit apartment fire in East Hardwick earlier that day due to inclement weather,
The pre-bid meeting for the pedestrian bridge was held, with seven interested companies attending. The board hopes to see some competitive bids for this third round of bidding for the project.
To conclude his report, Upson informed the board the plowing and maintenance work Hardwick does for West Woodbury came out to around $8,400. That exceeds the current fixed amount of $6,000. After some discussion, the board decided Upson should continue to work with Woodbury to create an agreement suiting both Hardwick and West Woodbury.
The town was awarded $75,000 from the State of Vermont under the legislative Budget Adjustment Act. The funds do not need to be repaid and there is no formal grant agreement. The funds have already been received and carry only two restrictions; they cannot be spent on projects already eligible for FEMA assistance and records must be retained for all expenditures to demonstrate to FEMA there has been no duplication of benefits. The board discussed several suggestions, but did not decide how the funds will be allocated yet.
The board voted to provide a letter of support to Vermont Fish & Wildlife (F&W) in the process of buying out two properties on Route 15. F&W would provide payment in lieu of taxes.
They then voted to have the town manager’s office proceed with officially laying out Perry Lane Hill as a road adjacent to the town-owned parcel on Mill Street that Vt. Huts has the option to buy. Apparently the area was never laid out as a road and there is no existing right-of-way. The sale cannot proceed until the issue is resolved.
Three new policies required by the Vt. Department of Libraries and needed for federal grants were approved. Five, in total, are mandatory. Property Management, Financial Management and Cost Principles were among the newly adopted policies, the library having already fulfilled the remaining two.
The meeting ended with an executive session and no further action was taken.
A video recording of the meeting is available from HCTV at hctv.us/hardwick-select-board-december-5-2024/
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.
