Select Board appoints steering committee for Buffalo Mountain town forest and sets first meeting

The Hardwick Select Board voted to appoint 13 nominees to a Buffalo Mountain town forest steering committee and directed staff to notify appointees and organize an initial meeting.

Board members reiterated that voting membership must meet the residency or taxpayer requirement set by the Select Board and the land‑trust easement. The board asked staff to be explicit to nominees about the expected early time commitment: presenters and partners said the first months may require roughly two evening meetings per month of about two hours each while a management plan is developed to meet a year‑end timeline.

Paul (speaking for partners) and a representative from a regional land trust said partners including Northern Rivers and The Trust for Public Land will provide staff support and assist with drafting a management plan and public engagement. The board discussed reserving spaces for representatives from conservation and trails groups and confirmed the committee's meetings will be public and can include invited partners as nonvoting participants.

After debate over whether to withhold any appointments pending Springfest applicant outreach, a motion to appoint the 13 nominees passed by voice vote with one member recording an abstention. The board asked staff to include a clear agenda in appointment letters and to propose a first meeting in the first week of June (June 1 was suggested, pending library availability and logistics).