HARDWICK – The Hardwick Select Board held a mostly routine meeting October 16, with discussions ranging from police needs, Lamoille River flood modeling, road brine and deficiencies in the town’s trash ordinance.
Hardwick Police Chief Mike Henry hopes to retain employees for a period of at least a year or two, based on previous discussions with the board. New contracts for Hardwick Police Department (HPD) trainees, developed with in mind, are being reviewed by legal counsel, he said.
Chief Henry said he’s received mixed messages concerning motor vehicle complaints. Some feel HPD patrols too frequently, whereas others say it’s not enough. Some like the radar signs and some don’t, with Chief Henry reporting that he’s trying to balance it all.
He has been working with Hardwick Business Manager Casey Rowell to purchase new equipment such as new shields and handguns. Current HPD firearms are 12 to 13 years old.
Chief Henry also reported that the Children’s Advocacy Center in St. Johnsbury is looking for a new director.
David Upson began the town manager’s report by thanking staff for their hard work during the annual town audit. He updated the board on ongoing projects, noting a recent sanitary survey that flagged the wooden roof at the Hideaway Reservoir as a potential problem. A short term fix has been put in place, with a longer term solution in the works, tied to grant funding via a Vermont Bond Bank grant program.
Upson reported that progress is being made with FEMA on a project to relocate the fire station. There are no updates on the wastewater treatment facility yet.
Upson said he met with SLR Consulting regarding flood modeling and how floods impact the Lamoille River from Hardwick to the Greensboro town line. A preview of the report shows the potential effects on riverbanks and surrounding areas within the next 5-, 10-, and 15-year flood events. The report, which includes predicted changes to local topography, will be released to the public soon.
Upson had two announcements. First, there will be a presentation on the Mill Street/Main St. scoping and feasibility study at 6:30 p.m, November 5, on the third floor of the Memorial Building, at which Vanasse Hangen Brustlin consultants will present three sets of concepts to improve sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic flow in that area.
Secondly, he announced that Hardwick Neighbor to Neighbor will be meeting on November 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Jeudevine Memorial Library in the Parker Ladd Community Room, to review and celebrate their efforts, brainstorm next steps and share volunteer opportunities.
Road Foreman Tom Fadden reported that grading is complete on Porter Brook Road, Montgomery Road, Cobb Road and Hardwick Farms Road.
Ditching work on Marsh Road is almost completed, with hazard mitigation work on Tucker Brook Road now completed.
Fadden said he’s looking into the cost of using brine for road maintenance this upcoming winter. Four yards for salt cost about $500. For roughly $568 Fadden said he could produce about 3,500 gallons of brine, which is enough to brine the roads throughout the village about 7 times. Fadden says it would cost about $34,000 for equipment that fits his truck and the Toolcat, and would require 10 tanker fill-ups to brine the roads. The board discussed the potential savings versus the inconvenience of filling up frequently.
Fadden mentioned that Johnson and Hyde Park both are using brine and he would like to get more information from them, such as whether Hyde Park would sell brine in order to try it out. That raised concerns about adding significant travel time. Discussion continued, with Fadden explaining the goal is to use the brine before each snowfall in order to reduce the amount of salt used on the roads.
Chair Eric Remick asked for the item to be placed on the next agenda for more discussion. Upson will talk to Greensboro in the meantime to see if they would like to use brine as well.
In other business, the board approved a number of motions.
A second class liquor license, a tobacco license and a tobacco substitute endorsement was approved for M&M beverage.
Assessor Matt Krajeski presented an Errors and Omissions Request to add the $220,000 value of Vermont Transco (VELCO) communications equipment that had been omitted from the final grand list filed on June 2. The revision happened on June 26 and the select board approved adding it to the Grand List.
Upon motion by Tim Ricciardello, the select board voted to authorize the town manager to apply for a Small Systems Capacity and Resiliency Program Tier 2 grant through the Vermont Bond Bank in order to replace the tank at the Hideaway Acres reservoir.
Shari Cornish reported the Hardwick Downtown Partnership has hired Heidi Krantz as their new director.
Ceilidh Galloway-Kane was approved as the town’s alternate for Conveyor of Real Estate for the Town of Hardwick.
Danny Hale asked about moving a shed that is currently blocking the snowmobile trail along the Hardwick/Woodbury rail trail near Carey Road. The trail had been previously rerouted due to a change in ownership, but it should now be restored to its original path, as outlined in the agreed right-of-way, he said.
Upson said that he spoke with the owner of the shed, showed him the signed agreement, and informed him the shed needs to be moved.
Currently, the trail is closed due to the obstruction. Remick said he will visit the site before the next meeting to assess the situation, and Upson stated that he will also follow up to discuss a specific date for the shed to be moved.
Hale also expressed concerns about the trash ordinance, saying he has noticed abandoned cars in the right-of-way.
Upson stated that he has received two complaints this week regarding trash. Hale says that the town can’t enforce the ordinance, and it shouldn’t be Upson’s responsibility to handle these complaints. Galloway-Kane suggested that, since the town has the money for the Public Works Director position, and hasn’t hired anyone yet, they could use some of that money to place dumpsters once a month to help eliminate the trash problem.
Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District came to a Select Board meeting on September 18, and the Town discussed this ongoing issue, but didn’t move forward with revising the ordinance. Hale volunteered to revise the ordinance and bring a draft to the next meeting for discussion.
Following an executive session at the end of the September 4 meeting, Danny Hale was approved for a loan request from Hale Transport LLC in the amount of $50,000.
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.
