Board Discusses New Locations for Rescue Squad, Fire Station, and Town Garage
by Gazette Staff
HARDWICK – At its November 2 regular meeting, the Hardwick Select Board heard from representatives from the Hardwick Rescue Squad, approved a license renewal application, and discussed several grant applications.
The first item for discussion was a proposal introduced by Tim Nisbett and Mary Hall representing the Hardwick Rescue Squad.
The proposal is to exchange Hardwick Rescue’s current building for a different parcel of land to build a new headquarters for the squad. Board member Shari Cornish suggested setting up a separate meeting between November 20 and Christmas to discuss the proposal.
Next, the board voted to approve the tobacco-liquor license renewal application from NU Beverage, LLC, which operates as M&M Beverage.
The next agenda item was applying for a Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) grant for climate change mitigation and resilience. The work funded by the grant would include the relocation of the fire station. Board chair Eric Remick said that the grant would fund an assessment of the feasibility of relocating the fire station out of the floodway and up to Creamery Road, possibly combined with replacing the town highway garage. He thinks around $7,000 is available to fund a feasibility study on moving the fire department. The board voted to pursue the grant.
The board then discussed a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant application for traffic flow on Mill Street and Main Street. Remick reviewed a memo from Tracy Martin, Hardwick’s community development coordinator, discussing pedestrian and bicycle access and traffic flow on Mill Street. Board member Ceilidh Galloway-Kane asked if the funding was for physical work. Board member Cornish indicated that it is just for the feasibility study.
The board generally agreed that it is a good idea to pursue, but they would like to know where the matching funds will come. Further discussion was tabled until the next meeting.
Galloway-Kane said that the Equity Committee, in partnership with the Northeast Kingdom Rainbow Coalition, is having an event on November 10 at the Memorial Building from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to watch a short film about pronouns.
Cornish reported that the Town House is closed for the season. She also gave an update on the Town House renovation project, reporting that the bid documents are almost ready and the project should go out to bid around mid-November. Construction would start in the spring.
Remick gave an update on the Yellow Barn project, noting that the Hardwick Electric Department is upgrading a circuit to accommodate the power needs of the project. He also mentioned that the library expansion has resumed construction.
