Submitted
By Curt Peterson
The Hartland town budget and warning are set for the March Town Meeting. Interim Town Manager and Finance Director Martin Dole said a copy, including proposed budget figures, will be mailed to residents shortly.
The proposed General Fund budget, which doesn’t include appropriations, as they are voted separately, is $2,055,243, 6.41% more than the FY2024 budget.
The proposed Highway Fund budget is $1,624,137, 4.65% more than the FY2024 budget.
Phil Hobbie, select Board chair, told the Mountain Times three budget areas represent the largest budget increases: policing, healthcare and benefits, and paving.
The proposed policing budget is $140,000, as the town replaces the state police, who can no longer provide contracted services. The town has approached four entities about becoming Hartland’s contracted police: Hartford, Woodstock, Windsor, and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Dept.
Tom Yennerrell, who led the search for the new town manager, is helping the board with this and other challenges.
“Hartford said ‘no,’ the sheriff has given us a proposal, Woodstock’s proposal was too high, and Windsor is working on a proposal,” Hobbie said. “We hope to have a firm figure well before Town Meeting.”
The healthcare, insurance and other benefits are determined by statutes and cost is out of the town’s control, Hobbie explained.
The town plans to pave one mile of road each year.
This year Quechee-Hart land Road is also going to be “re-engineered” in addition, and paving prices have risen significantly.
The warning will include two independent spending articles, Hobbie said.
Voters are asked to approve $150,000 for installation of lights at the new intersection. VHB Engineering Consultants omitted the new lights when designing the project.
VHB has agreed to provide extensive engineering services at their cost, leaving only the labor and materials, which Hartland would have had to pay for if lights were in the plan.
“We expect to receive grants to replenish the capital fund,” Hobbie said.
Article 10 asks voters to commit up to $100,000 for purchasing 75 acres, and a conservation easement preventing development, of the Pohl property on Bischoff Road. The Conservation Commission hopes to raise part or all of the $100,000 in time to cover the town’s part in the possible purchase.
Meanwhile, John Broker-Campbell will start as Hartland’s new town manager on Feb. 5, relieving Dole of his interim additional duties.
“Martin and the Select Board have performed the town manager job since previous town manager David Ormiston was put on leave in March 2023,” Hobbie said. “John will shoulder the burden that the board and Martin have carried, and we’ll become his support team rather than town managers.”
“There will be a ‘honeymoon’ period during which Broker-Campbell can rely on us for support,” Hobbie said, “but in diminishing amounts over time.”
