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Hardwick select board approves three‑year MOU with Downtown Partnership after funding clarifications
Summary
The Hardwick Select Board voted to approve a three‑year memorandum of understanding with the Hardwick Downtown Partnership, authorizing the town manager to sign the agreement pending agreed edits after board members clarified language around a $2,800 annual line item and $1,500 in‑kind support.
The Hardwick Select Board on June 18 approved a three‑year memorandum of understanding with the Hardwick Downtown Partnership and authorized the town manager to sign once minor edits are agreed.
The agreement updates an annual MOU into a three‑year term to provide stability for the partnership’s work downtown and formalizes ongoing town support. Heidi Grama, the partnership’s coordinator, told the board the change is intended to reduce turnover disruptions: “I’m the coordinator for the Hardwick Downtown Partnership … we proposed extending it to a three‑year term in part just to help with the stability of the relationship,” she said.
Board discussion focused on how the MOU describes the town’s financial support. The draft cites a $2,800 annual amount tied to the Downtown Beauty/Downtown Maintenance budget line and also references an approximately $1,500 in‑kind contribution (office space and supplies). Several members asked that the phrase “or as appropriated by voters” be removed from the funding paragraph to avoid implying a separate voter appropriation beyond the existing budget line.
Select Board member Sherry urged clearer wording: she recommended striking the “appropriated by voters” phrase and making the MOU state that the town will “continue to provide support for HTP with town funding through the Downtown Beauty line item in the amount of at least $2,800 a year,” which the town manager confirmed is already budgeted. The board and staff also discussed how the in‑kind value is counted alongside the cash contribution.
The MOU includes other operational language — a brief description of partnership goals, a role for town staff as liaison, and optional language about promoting economic development resources such as revolving loan funds. Board members asked for minor clarifying edits about expectations for the partnership’s promotion of loan programs and requested an option to reopen the MOU if either party needs changes during the three‑year term. The town manager said the MOU may be terminated by mutual agreement.
After amendments were proposed, the board approved the motion to accept the MOU pending agreed edits and to authorize the town manager to sign. The motion passed on a voice vote.
The town manager’s office will circulate the edited language and post the final MOU as part of the town records. The MOU’s funding elements remain tied to the town budget process and the Downtown Beauty/Maintenance line item.
