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Hardwick select board candidates emphasize housing affordability and flood recovery infrastructure ahead of March 3 vote
Summary
Seven candidates seeking two select‑board seats used a public forum at the Judah Vine Memorial Library to prioritize housing affordability, downtown revitalization and flood‑recovery infrastructure; several urged contingency planning for grant funding ahead of Town Meeting Day on March 3.
Seven candidates for two Hardwick select‑board seats outlined largely overlapping priorities at a public forum at the Judah Vine Memorial Library, front‑loading concerns about housing affordability, downtown vitality and post‑flood infrastructure needs.
Miranda Davison Brown, a candidate who said she has lived in Hardwick since age 8, told the audience, "we can't afford to live here," and urged the town to seek creative resources and better project planning. Andrew Gilbert proposed a numeric goal, saying, "80 more houses," and said additional residents and businesses would help expand the tax base and relieve cost pressures. Tyler Labeaux, a volunteer firefighter and EMT, emphasized both lowering taxes and attracting businesses and new residents through housing and grant programs.
Several candidates pointed to vacant storefronts and small‑business supports as levers to revive the downtown. Joe Nadell noted the town has a small‑business loan program and said, "we have got a lot of vacant storefronts downtown" that the select board could help connect residents with.
The forum repeatedly returned to flood recovery. Candidates described a slate of projects — moving the wastewater treatment plant to higher ground, completing an Essential Services Complex, and implementing river‑corridor measures — as expensive but necessary. Larry Fliegelman, who serves on the planning commission, said recent zoning work and a tier‑1b designation could make housing growth more feasible over time.
Candidates also praised town staff and volunteers while warning that retirements and heavy workloads mean capacity is strained. Across answers and closing remarks, speakers urged turnout for Town Meeting Day on March 3 and framed their campaigns as commitments to pragmatic planning and community resilience.
The forum was moderated by Audrey Grant and recorded for public access by HCTV; organizers invited attendees to continue discussions after the event and reminded voters about March 3 logistics.
