By Curt Peterson
HARTLAND—In mid-April, Town Manager John Broker-Campbell met with four representatives of the Ladies Benevolent Society (of the First Congregational Church of Hartland—UCC), a.k.a. “the Hartland Bees.” Responding to (very) small group dynamics, the women were able to get Broker-Campbell to relax and say a little about himself.The young town official has lived in Weathersfield for 20 years, following a short stint in a rural area near Juneau, Alaska. He’s been in his present role for 14 months.
“My wife and I hadn’t planned to have children for a while, but fate had other ideas, and we found ourselves expecting,” he said. “With the only hospital a three-hour plane ride away, we decided to move closer to medical services readily available.”
The discussion topic was “A Day in the Life of the Town Manager.”Broker-Campbell said his responsibilities are “varied – very varied. Everything but the roads.”
But there are highway-related issues in which he has to be involved. Hartland has about 75 miles of town roads, 60 of which are unpaved. Heavy trucks take a toll on village roads, and posted weight limits “are just empty words,” as propane and oil trucks have to get to customers on the posted roads. The expense of maintaining Hartland’s roads absorbs half the annual budget.
The estimated cost of reconstructing the worst stretch of the notorious Ottauquechee Road would be $5 million. Ripping up paving and recovering as a gravel road might save short-term money, Broker-Campbell said, “but then we’d have to grade it once a week.”
Roads foreman BJ Mattson and his crew are currently patching potholes that have actually flattened tires on the road.
Asked about his impressions of Hartland, Broker-Campbell said the town has an unusual community network, including Hartland Community Arts, the resurrected monthly Hartland Community Breakfast, and the new town free newsletter, the Hartland Voice.
“Many Hartland people are unique and talented,” he said. “Every day, I go home with a new, good story to tell [my son] Benjy.”
Asked what he thinks of the Hartland listserv, he said finance director Martin Dole advised him on his first day to join the listserv ASAP. “I’ll never forgive him,” Broker-Campbell quipped.
The Hartland Bees was founded in 1840 by UCC church member women who wanted to raise funds to make up a deficit in the minister’s salary. Other than a half-dozen years when the organization was inactive, its mission continues to contribute financial support for the church and for local non-profit groups in town.
The Bees’ fund-raising events have included a roast beef supper, a white elephant sale, a quilt raffle, and a bazaar. Bees members also serve as volunteer staff for post-funeral receptions.
Carol Williamson, a long-time Bee member, said membership has fluctuated, lately about 6-8 members. “In the old days, when women did not work outside the home, they found community participation good for socializing and a release for their skills.” The church arranged day trips as social events for the group.
Pat Richardson, Bees treasurer since 1989, told the Mountain Times, “I have to say we are fewer and older, … so we struggle to stay together and to remain relevant. It’s social contacts and fund-raising that bind us together today.”
