2026 Town Meeting Open Office

 in Elections / Town Clerk

Notice to all Hardwick Voters who are interested in running for office that the following seats will be up for election at Town Meeting 2026 Australian Ballot:

For the Hardwick Select Board:
One 3-year Term
Two 1-year Term

For the Hazen Union District #26 Board:
Two 3-Year Term

If you are interested in running for any of these positions, please pick up a Nominating Petition and Consent of Candidate form from the Town Clerk’s Office. You must have at least 24 valid signatures of registered Hardwick Voters (we suggest 30 to be certain) and the original petition and consent must be submitted to our office no later than 5 p.m. on January 26, 2026.

Please contact our office at 802-472-5971 if you have any questions.

Below are a list and descriptions of Open Offices to be voted from floor at 2026 Town Meeting.

Moderator – A Vermont town meeting moderator presides over town meetings, serving as the referee to ensure order, fair participation, and adherence to parliamentary procedure, primarily Robert’s Rules of Order. Key duties include putting motions to a vote, ruling on questions of order, declaring the results of votes, and ensuring that business is conducted in an efficient and fair manner. The moderator is an impartial officer who does not take sides on issues and has the power to remove unruly participants. 17 VSA 2658

First & Second Constables – (elected or appointed) Hardwick voted several years ago to repeal the powers of the First and Second Constables as Vermont Law was requiring them to receive training from the Vermont Police Academy and certain certifications that were deemed unnecessary. In some towns the constable is the town’s local law enforcement officer, with all powers to search, seizure, and arrest within the town. In other towns, the constable only has the power to serve civil process, assist the health officer in the discharge of his or her duties, destroy unlicensed dogs, kill injured deer, remove disorderly people from Town Meeting, and, if the first constable, to collect taxes if no tax collector is elected. 17 VSA 2646 (7); 2651a.

Town Agent – Agent to convey real estate- Executes deeds on behalf of the Town. 24 VSA 1601
Surveyor of Wood Bark & Lumber – Appointed, upon request, to examine, measure, and classify the quality of lumber, shingles and wood sold within a town. 24 VSA 871

Town Tree Warden – Plans and implements a shade tree preservation program for the purpose of shading and beautifying public spaces. Removes diseased, dying or dead trees, which create a hazard to public safety or threaten the effectiveness of disease or insect control programs. 24 VSA 871

Grand Juror – The board may appoint a Grand Juror who shall inquire into any person’s offenses under the Authority’s rules or applicable law and present them to the proper authority. If the Attorney General or the State’s Attorney is unwilling to prosecute such offenses, the Grand Juror may do so. For these purposes, the Grand Juror shall have the same authority within the Authority as the State’s Attorney. 24 VSA 901 & 22.

HPC – Warning of Zoning Bylaw Update Public Hearing

 in Uncategorized / Zoning

Warning of Public Hearing

The Hardwick Planning Commission hereby provides notice of a public hearing being held pursuant to 24 VSA §4444 (Public Hearing Notice) for the purpose of hearing public comments concerning proposed changes to the Hardwick Unified Development Bylaws.  The public hearing has been scheduled for December 9, 2025 (Tuesday) at 6:30 p.m. on the third floor of the Memorial Building and by Zoom.  To join the Zoom hearing, sign up for a free Zoom account anytime (zoom.us), then at 6:30 on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, go to Zoom and click on “join a meeting”.  The meeting number is 871 8541 0510.  The passcode is 439879. 

To join the Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87185410510?pwd=urQ12SZUJ1TcE56MU1PMTVorKOuoqX.1

Statement of Purpose:

The proposed changes to the Hardwick Unified Development Bylaws (known hereafter as “Bylaws”) will serve the following purposes:

  1. Align with state statutory requirements regarding dwelling units, including provisions enabling the conversion of hotels and motels into permanently affordable housing.
  2. Remove references to local Act 250 review in accordance with updated guidance under Act 181.
  3. Establish and implement a River Corridor Overlay District to protect floodplains and flood erosion areas.
  4. Create and integrate a new Village Center Zoning District for East Hardwick to support historic village character, housing opportunities, and pedestrian-oriented development.

Geographic Area Affected:

The Bylaw changes shall apply to all areas in the Town of Hardwick, Vermont.

Table of Contents:

Article 1: Authority and Purpose; Article 2: Zoning Districts; Article 3: General Regulations; Article 4: Specific Use Provisions; Article 5: Development Review;  Article 6: Subdivision Review;  Article 7: Administration and Enforcement;  Article 8: Definitions.

Location Where Full Text May Be Examined:

The full context of the proposed changes can be viewed at the Hardwick Town Offices or on the Town of Hardwick website – www.hardwickvt.gov.

The meeting is open to the public.  Interested people may attend the meeting in-person or on Zoom or send a letter or email to the Hardwick Planning Commission c/o the Zoning Administrator’s office to comment on the proposed update.  Emails can be forwarded to the zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov address.    

Zoning Bylaw Update – 2025 – December 9, 2025 Public Hearing at 6:30 pm on the 3rd floor of the Memorial Building.

2025 Updated Hardwick Unified Development Bylaws

Hardwick Planning Commission Report

December 9, 2025 Hearing Notice

Proposed Map for the new Village Center Zoning District

Proposed Table of Information for the new Village Center Zoning District

FAQs for the River Corridor Overlay

What is a River Corridor?

Seeing the Lamoille River and Cooper Brook Differently

 in Uncategorized / Zoning

Seeing the Lamoille River and Cooper Brook Differently: a community presentation on Hardwick’s New River Flood Modeling Project

Exploring Flood Mitigation Alternatives

Wednesday, December 3 – Two Sessions
1:00–2:30 PM (In Person + Zoom) Hardwick Memorial Building – 3rd Floor

5:00–6:30 PM (In Person, Recorded by HCTV)
Parker Ladd Room in the Jeudevine Memorial Library (Note: Venue change)

Zoom link – Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89902731915?pwd=SanuBi66ajmIN40fEWPnBdPtNepMZN.1

Meeting ID: 899 0273 1915
Passcode: 097875

Learn how new river models will help Hardwick plan smarter, safer, and stronger.

Project funded by the US Economic Development Administration through the Northern Vermont Economic Development District.