Thumbnail for Hardwick, MA. Board of Selectmen Meeting 10/27/22

Hardwick Board of Selectmen Vote on Equine Race Track Proposal

Original title: Hardwick, MA. Board of Selectmen Meeting 10/27/22

These meeting notes are AI-generated and unofficial. They are provided for convenience and are not official Town records or approved municipal minutes. Verify all details using the source video and official Town documents.

Meeting details

Date

March 7, 2023

Duration

Decisions

2 recorded

Action Items

1 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen convened a special meeting on October 27, 2022, primarily to vote on the proposed horse race track location at Great Meadowbrook Farm. After a discussion where the Chair expressed personal reservations about the timing and divisiveness of the project, the motion to approve the race track was defeated by a unanimous 'no' vote from the three Selectmen. The Board also approved a contract with Charity Brothers for the Hardwick Road pumping system upgrades project.

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Discussion Highlights

The meeting's primary purpose was to vote on the horse race track proposal, with no public comments entertained.
The Chair addressed allegations of bribery against local officials and the Board, expressing disappointment and stating that no one had directly inquired about such concerns.
The Chair shared her personal opinion that the race track project was 'not good for the town' and that the town was 'not ready' for it, citing the ongoing significant sewer project.
The Chair clarified that her 'no' vote was 'not never, just not right now,' indicating a potential for future consideration.
Concerns were raised about the divisiveness the project had caused within the community.

Transcript (1,525 words)

Lightly cleaned for readability. Each timestamp opens the video at that point.

00:00:00
Foreign meeting for Thursday October 27 2022 to order at 6 32.
00:00:17
On the agenda discussion and remote on Commonwealth equine and Agricultural Center LLC Race location for someone to Mass General Law chapter 128a section 13 a adjourn and there is another item of business that the Board needs to discuss
00:00:35
The board's approval we will put the contract approval for for charity Brothers on the agenda following our vote okay so a format for tonight's meeting this is a selectments meeting in the
00:00:53
Past we have entertained comments from attendees we are not doing that tonight we told you last or it seems like last week but it was Monday that we are voting that is the purpose for this meeting we are voting on The Proposal tonight we've heard lots of comments
00:01:14
And feedback and appreciate that and thank you for all of the input but the purpose of tonight's meeting is for the vote anything that Robert Kelly that you want to say prior to us oh we can do the Pledge of Allegiance
00:01:35
I pledge allegiance to the black the United States of America and to the Republic which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all true I guess I would say one thing
00:01:53
I would ask that regardless of how the board votes that would be respectful I think we've tried to be really respectful of everyone's opinions here We've listened to kently you may not agree on how we have approached things and you may not
00:02:12

[00:00:00] foreign [00:00:09] meeting for Thursday October 27 2022 to [00:00:15] order at 6 32. [00:00:17] on the agenda discussion and remote on [00:00:21] Commonwealth equine and Agricultural [00:00:22] Center LLC Race location for someone to [00:00:25] Mass General Law chapter [00:00:26] 128a section 13 a adjourn and there is [00:00:31] another item of business that the Board [00:00:33] needs to discuss [00:00:35] um the board's approval we will put the [00:00:39] contract approval for for charity [00:00:41] Brothers on the agenda following our [00:00:43] vote [00:00:46] okay so [00:00:49] um a format for tonight's meeting um [00:00:51] this is a selectments meeting in the [00:00:53] past we have entertained comments from [00:00:56] uh attendees we are not doing that [00:00:58] tonight [00:00:59] um we told you last or it seems like [00:01:03] last week but it was Monday that we are [00:01:04] voting that is the purpose for this [00:01:06] meeting we are voting on The Proposal [00:01:08] tonight [00:01:10] um we've heard lots of comments [00:01:14] um and feedback and appreciate that [00:01:17] um and thank you for all of the input [00:01:19] but the purpose of tonight's meeting is [00:01:21] for the vote [00:01:23] um anything that Robert Kelly that you [00:01:26] want to say prior to us [00:01:29] oh we can do the Pledge of Allegiance [00:01:35] I pledge allegiance to the black the [00:01:38] United States of America and to the [00:01:41] Republic which it stands one nation [00:01:44] under God indivisible with liberty and [00:01:47] justice for all [00:01:49] true I guess I would say one thing [00:01:52] um [00:01:53] I would ask that regardless of how the [00:01:57] board votes that would be respectful [00:02:01] um I think we've tried to be really [00:02:03] respectful of everyone's opinions here [00:02:05] uh We've listened to kently [00:02:08] um you may not agree on how we have [00:02:10] approached things and you may not [00:02:12] understand why we've done things the way [00:02:14] we've done but we've respected and [00:02:17] listened to what you have to say so I [00:02:20] would just appreciate it regardless of [00:02:21] how the vote goes [00:02:23] um that you'd be respectful of us as [00:02:25] well this is not an easy decision for [00:02:27] any one of the three of us as you might [00:02:28] imagine [00:02:30] um [00:02:32] yes [00:02:36] it's not streamed [00:02:39] so that's the other issue um or the [00:02:41] other concern we are not streams tonight [00:02:44] um because uh Hardware TV who does our [00:02:48] um streaming um unfortunately had a [00:02:51] death in his family which we understand [00:02:52] it is being recorded the zoom recording [00:02:55] will be available but it is not going to [00:02:57] be available [00:02:58] um ultimately I'll go up on our YouTube [00:03:00] channel but it is not being streamed [00:03:01] thank you Ryan [00:03:04] Robert Kelly is there anything that you [00:03:06] want to say before [00:03:07] we entertain the motion [00:03:10] I said what I was I I'll just forget [00:03:13] that I said what I wanted to say the [00:03:15] other night so I'm good [00:03:20] [Music] [00:03:22] are we ready okay [00:03:25] so do I have a motion [00:03:29] I'd make a motion to approach persuade [00:03:33] to General Law chapter 128 a section 13A [00:03:37] the location of a horse race track at [00:03:40] the property located in the town [00:03:42] Department known as great Meadowbrook [00:03:44] Farm 228 very rarely more fully [00:03:49] more fully described and indeed recorded [00:03:52] at the Worcester South District registry [00:03:54] of deeds at books 66167 page 367 said [00:04:00] approval shall be subject to the [00:04:02] following conditions execution of a host [00:04:04] Community agreement [00:04:06] applicant obtains all necessary local [00:04:08] permits and approvals and the [00:04:10] agricultural land preservation committee [00:04:13] determines that the project is [00:04:15] consistent with the local EPF [00:04:20] [Music] [00:04:22] so it's been moved inside [00:04:28] well [00:04:31] okay so I'm happy to um have a [00:04:34] discussion [00:04:36] um [00:04:36] I'm gonna honestly tell you that um I am [00:04:39] considering unsubscribing from the [00:04:41] virtual common I read every comment that [00:04:45] is [00:04:46] um put up there [00:04:48] um I understand how people feel [00:04:52] um [00:04:53] my our reputation has been called into [00:04:56] question over this process [00:04:58] um alleging that we've accepted bribes [00:05:01] um no one has come to us and asked us [00:05:04] that it's just an assumption that's made [00:05:06] other local officials have also been [00:05:09] accused of accepting drugs [00:05:12] um very disappointing anyone who knows [00:05:15] me in this room should have come forward [00:05:17] and asked if you had a concern or a [00:05:20] question so I've also [00:05:23] um read that nobody knows my personal [00:05:25] opinion [00:05:27] so I'm going to give you my personal [00:05:29] opinion before I vote [00:05:30] all your no signs aren't going to change [00:05:33] my personal opinion understand that's [00:05:35] how you feel because I've already formed [00:05:37] my personal opinion [00:05:38] my personal opinion is not what matters [00:05:40] here it's the opinion of the town and [00:05:44] doing what's in the best interest of the [00:05:45] town [00:05:46] that's what matters [00:05:49] um [00:05:50] there is a reason why very similar to [00:05:53] for those of you that were around during [00:05:54] the landfill [00:05:56] I walked in I was on the landfill [00:05:58] commission and I walked in and somebody [00:06:00] said you're for the landfill and I said [00:06:03] really how do you know that I've never [00:06:05] publicly said my opinion because I [00:06:07] didn't think that was my role I was on a [00:06:10] I was on an appointed board to look at [00:06:13] all the uh and evaluate all the options [00:06:15] with regards to the landfill same here [00:06:17] as a member of the board [00:06:19] I'm here to look at all opinions and [00:06:23] come up with what I think is the best [00:06:26] option for the town in addition to [00:06:27] getting input from people [00:06:29] so my personal opinion is I don't think [00:06:32] this is good for the town [00:06:34] that's my personal opinion [00:06:38] I've never publicly said that I'm voting [00:06:41] for or against I don't think we're ready [00:06:44] personally my opinion [00:06:46] um but that's just my opinion I also [00:06:49] don't like the divide that has happened [00:06:52] already [00:06:54] there are people I can tell you that [00:06:56] after this process we probably will not [00:06:59] be speaking [00:07:00] and that's really sad [00:07:02] very sad [00:07:04] um so there it is there's my personal [00:07:06] opinion you asked for it I gave it to [00:07:08] you [00:07:10] um but again just my personal opinion [00:07:12] doesn't mean that that's what's in the [00:07:14] best interest of the town and that's [00:07:16] without people in town want [00:07:20] so [00:07:21] um I've said my piece so we are going to [00:07:24] call the rule I'll be ready to vote [00:07:27] so I would call the roll [00:07:30] Rob [00:07:32] Kelly no Julie is a no so [00:07:37] um there it is for all of you who [00:07:39] thought so the motion is defeated for [00:07:42] all of you who thought you knew who we [00:07:44] were clearly you're wrong and that's I'm [00:07:46] sorry for that and [00:07:49] um maybe next time people will take the [00:07:51] chance to really understand who we are I [00:07:54] think all three of us have the best [00:07:55] interest of the town and I would say to [00:07:57] the applicant [00:07:58] um [00:08:00] my my reason for no is not never just [00:08:04] not right now [00:08:06] not right now we have too much going on [00:08:08] we have a significant sewer project [00:08:10] going on and [00:08:13] um [00:08:14] it's in my mind I don't think it's not [00:08:17] no forever but I think it's no in my [00:08:19] opinion for now [00:08:37] all right we still have a meeting we [00:08:39] still have our meetings we just have to [00:08:41] award um the contract so I'm also going [00:08:44] to make a motion to [00:08:47] um you will have to sign emotions have [00:08:51] to really sign yeah [00:08:54] um I will make a motion to approve for [00:08:56] charity Brothers in the town of Hardwick [00:08:58] to enter into a contract relative to the [00:09:02] town of Hardware project number one [00:09:04] Hardwick Road pump pumping system [00:09:06] upgrades project [00:09:08] can I in the about uh I'm sorry you [00:09:11] voted for this already what you're [00:09:12] voting tonight [00:09:14] okay I'm sorry you already voted for it [00:09:16] so it is only about [00:09:18] 1774 498 and it's to approve Julie to [00:09:22] sign the contract for the board that's [00:09:24] what it's for a second [00:09:29] uh any other discussion all in favor I [00:09:34] have thank you motion carries [00:09:37] anything else that we need to discuss as [00:09:39] a board recording your journey [00:09:42] um [00:09:48] [Applause]