HARDWICK, Kristen Leahy, the town's zoning and floodplain administrator, has been named the first-ever New England recipient of an award from the Association of State Floodplain Managers. The announcement came during the select board's June 4 meeting, which also covered ongoing flood mitigation, budget approvals, and a new task force on voter accessibility.
Leahy reported that a request for proposals for demolition of two flood-buyout properties, 40 and 52 East Church St., is now available on the town website. The Federal Emergency Management Agency funded the buyouts after back-to-back flooding events. Future stormwater projects may be considered at the sites.
Regarding the Jackson Dam study, the board approved the Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District to proceed with a scope of work and cost proposal. Chair Ceilidh Galloway-Kane said the board's support letter reflects only an interest in “continued information gathering, coordination, technical evaluation and exploration of potential future pathways”, not a decision on the dam’s future. Leahy said the goal is to place a non-binding question on a future town meeting warrant, a process that could extend over the next decade. The district is not seeking a financial commitment from the town.
Finance Director Casey Rowell presented the proposed FY2027 water and sewer enterprise fund budgets, which the board unanimously approved. Town Manager David Upson said customer rates will be set in the fall after meetings with an ad hoc group that includes the public and the equity committee. “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,” Upson said.
During public comment, resident Maureen Demers noted that only about 10 percent of Hardwick's 2,333 registered voters cast ballots on the 2025 town budget. She and other residents urged the board to form a task force to examine voter accessibility and Town Meeting Day procedures. The board agreed to post a notice on Front Porch Forum seeking interested candidates. Appointments are scheduled for the June 18 select board meeting.
The board also made appointments to the Buffalo Mountain Steering Committee and approved the 2027 Lamoille County Sheriff's Department dispatch contract.
Originally reported by Hardwick Gazette.
Photo: Roman Biernacki via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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