This meeting had been moved to Monday to allow Board Members to help work at the election on Tues. Aug. 11, especially with counting ballots. We would like to send out a special thank you to Lisa O’Neil and Sherry West from the Town Clerk’s Office, the Board of Civil Authority and all who volunteered at the polls on Tuesday. It is a huge undertaking and requires coordination and collaboration to pull off under the best of conditions, never mind during a pandemic.
We appointed Emily Clough to the West Hartford Library board and are thrilled to have any interested residents serve on committees and boards that need additional members. The Hartford Town Charter committee is one such committee that is looking for volunteers. If you are interested in applying, please find the application by clicking the Job Opportunities/ Vacancies tab on the left side of the Town’s Website.
We welcomed Interim Town Manager, Pat MacQueen who attended his first Selectboard meeting with us Monday night.
We will be entering budget setting season soon and are preparing for this by discussing the Boards funding priorities for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. This has provided new Board Members a good chance to get up to speed on projects and Capital Improvements that we have been working on or considering in recent years.
One of these that bears some discussion here, is the possibility of transitioning to Municipal Curbside Solid Waste Collection. This is a difficult conversation as there are significant benefits and significant drawbacks to making this change. The benefits include reduced cost to Hartford Residents, increased efficiency, increased service to residents and reduced carbon emissions. Some of the drawbacks include increased costs to the Town, reduced choice regarding solid waste haulers, reduced revenue for existing haulers and the consolidation of the hauling business to a single business. This discussion was motivated by a need to reconsider the Hartford Transfer Station business plan to respond to various forms of revenue loss. The Selectboard will continue to consider which are the best options for the Town. Please bear in mind that if this Selectboard decides in favor of a change, the final decision will come before the voters in March of 2021.
The first installment of taxes was due on Aug. 14. We are watching receipts carefully so that we will be able to respond to any unforeseen shortages due to the Pandemic’s impact on the local economy.
We authorized a Realice System for the Wendall A. Barwood Arena- this fairly new technology in ice making is rapidly becoming the new standard and should save the town money while also lowering carbon emissions.
With consultation from the Assistant to the Town Manager, Paula Nulty; and Interim Town Manager, Pat MacQueen, we reviewed the contract language and personnel policy to consider a vacation compensation request from former Town Manager Brannon Godfrey.
The board will continue with budget planning as the major focus in the next few meetings.
If you would like to watch the entire Selectboard meeting, the link can be found on the Town website or on CATV8.Org.
Keep wearing masks and social distancing as these are the 2 most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Thank you,
Dan Fraser
Chair, Hartford Selectboard
Simon Dennis
Vice-Chair, Hartford Selectboard