HARDWICK – The April 16 meeting of the select board had a mixed agenda with discussions about the town forest steering committee, the Jeudevine and road crew equipment.
Road Foreman Tom Fadden said the crew has been grading and hauling in sand and other materials as needed. Street sweeping is underway in the village, however, the current unit is not performing well, so another unit will be scheduled before Memorial Day.
There have been a few minor sewer issues, along with a water tap completed at the swinging bridge site. An issue at the Putnam Pump station has been resolved, with residents regaining their water pressure.
Crosswalks will not be painted on South Main Street until construction is finished. Depending on traffic, the crosswalk near the post office may still be completed. Crosswalks on Wolcott Street, North Main Street and near the Buffalo Mountain Co-Op are also planned to be completed.
The board discussed parking concerns, noting people are parking in the single lane as the existing white lines may give the impression that parking is allowed. Fadden says the lines will be painted yellow and he will look further into the matter.
Chair Ceilidh Galloway-Kane raised concerns about pedestrian safety near the Village Diner crossing point, as the area now presents a blind spot for vehicles and pedestrians both. Fadden and Town Manager David Upson will follow up with CCS Construction to determine what the appropriate measures are to improve safety.
The board also discussed options for replacing one of the town trucks, which is on schedule to be replaced in FY27. The board voted to authorize Fadden and town management staff to purchase the truck from Lamoille Valley Ford, with the platform body including the plow and wing coming from Allied Equipment for $48,500. For an additional $18,000, the town will purchase a sander and sprayer from Gravel Construction, making the total cost around $130,000.
The board reviewed the draft for the Buffalo Mountain Town Forest Steering Committee creation, outlining key components including the 17 member structure, scope of work, project timeline, as well as expectations for members and the community review process. After some discussion, the board added quarterly reporting to the select board to the draft, which was approved unanimously.
Library Director Diane Grenkow was present to give a quarterly update, reporting 6,563 patrons through the doors through January to March. Twenty-nine programs were held, with the meeting rooms borrowed 138 times. For further details more information is available at hardwickvt.gov.
The board approved liquor and tobacco licenses for: First class license for Hardwick Post No. 7 American Legion Inc; Second class licenses for Global Montello Group, Corp. (Jiffy Mart); third class licenses for Hardwick Post No. 7 American Legion; outside consumption permit for Hardwick Post No. 7 American Legion Inc.; tobacco license, Global Montello Group, Corp. (Jiffy Mart).
The board approved the banner application for Hardwick’s annual Springfest.
The board voted to approve the Landowner Permission Form to support the Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District in applying for and administering grant funding for the design and implementation of the clean water project at Caspian Lake beach.
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.
