HED Settles Lawsuit Against Auditors
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HardwickTHE Gazette Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Volume 132 Number 18 HED Settles Lawsuit Against Auditors by Doug McClure time former employee Joyce Bel- levance [sic] including luxury livan said in an interview, “HED lavance embezzled $1.26m from vehicles, furniture, jewelry, IRAs, and our Board of Commissioners HARDWICK – In a press re- the utility. Bellavance embezzled and her Mackville Road home in could not be happier with this lease, Hardwick Electric Depart- $1.67m in total from HED, the re- Hardwick.” HED also successfully settlement, primarily because it ment (HED) announced that it lease said, which reports at the time sued for half of her municipal pen- makes our ratepayers 100% whole has settled its five-year lawsuit for described as the largest-known sion. The utility said that the law- for all the monies stolen by Joyce professional malpractice against government embezzlement in Ver- suit against KBS was “the last of Bellevance – but also because it St. Albans-based auditors Kittell mont history. these efforts” to recover the stolen brings final closure to what has Branagan & Sargent LTD (KBS) In its release, HED said that moneys. been a very long ten-year process. for $960,000. in the ten years since Bellavance’s General Manager Mike Sul- See LAWSUIT, 3 KBS was HED’s auditor from sentencing “HED recovered assets 2006 through 2010, during which worth over $700,000 from Bel- Hardwick Budget Tightens After Contract Cancellation by Doug McClure HARDWICK – The pandemic’s ripple effects and Greensboro can- celing its contract with the Hardwick Police Department (HPD) have created financial concerns for the town. Vice chair Ceilidh Galloway-Kane wanted to assure residents that losing the Greensboro contract would not result in higher taxes. Chief Aaron Cochran said, “without drastic changes, I think we’re looking at the rainy-day fund or COVID money.” The latter are funds the town will receive from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The amount of the funds and parameters for how it can be used are unclear. Chief Cochran said he wanted to “keep the coverage that I feel is courtesy photo See CANCELLATION, 2 Joe Young (left), once a little leaguer, and Mark Royan work on the Craftsbury Little League ball field on the Common in preparation for opening day on Hazen Union Announces Graduation Date Saturday, May 15. Craftsbury Little League has been organized again after a by Doug McClure hiatus of decades. HARDWICK – Hazen Union has announced a date and initial “Play Ball” Heard on the Common plan for the Class of 2021 graduation ceremony. The ceremony is slated for June 12, at 10 a.m. for the First Time in Ten Years The school will set up a large tent on the soccer field, and gradu- is under the aegis of the Hardwick by June Pichel Cook ating seniors will receive two tickets for family members to join them Area Little League and has four under the tent. The school is not limiting attendance for others, but CRAFTSBURY – The teams. Over 60 children, almost noted: “there will not be seating or coverage from any unexpected Common will be filled with ex- evenly split between boys and girls See GRADUATION, 2 cited children, cheering, and lots aged 4 to 12, signed up in 72 hours. of laughter on Saturday morning On Saturday morning, former when the Craftsbury Little League Red Sox Pitcher Bill “Spaceman” holds its opening game at 10 a.m. Lee, will be umpiring. The Crafts- It has been a decade or more since bury Academy Middle School young athletes played ball on the Chorus will open the proceedings Common. with the national anthem. School Commissioner April Royan Board chair and president of said the Craftsbury Little League See BALL, 4 Emergency Broadband Benefit Now Available by Doug McClure HARDWICK – The Federal ble for an up-to-$50 per month dis- Communications Commission count on services and up-to-$100 (FCC) has announced that start- one time discount for the purchase ing today people can register for of a computer, laptop, or tablet its Emergency Broadband Benefit “with a co-payment of more than (EBB) program, which is aimed at $10 but less than $50 through a helping people better afford broad- participating broadband provider.” photo by Vanessa Fournier band service during the pandemic. In this area, Charter, Com- Hardwick Elementary third grade teacher Stephanie Appleton (right) listens Customers of EBB-participat- cast/Xfinity, and VTel Wireless are as Nathaniel Leach (left) reads a story during Educating Children Outdoors ing providers who qualify are eligi- See BROADBAND, 3 time May 7. The Hardwick Gazette, Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Page Two Contents Cancellation The main focus of the $350,000 Police Reports ....................................................................................3 Continued From Page One application will be upgrading venti- Hazen Union Students Learn While Nourishing Community .......5 really important and still maintain lation and air handling systems. May Town Meeting Draws Usual Number of Voters .......................6 24-hour coverage.” He said he thor- Bledsoe said that “like many of the Morrisville Man Wins Craftsbury Bike Raffle .................................6 oughly reviewed the department’s facilities, [the CCCC] realized they Jeudevine Falls to Open New Section..............................................7 budget and found nothing to cut. are at more risk than they thought they were.” The CCCC will apply Wolcott Road Paving Schedule is Tight ...........................................8 HPD is down two officers after $100,000 of its funds for a required Care Center Seeks Board Support for Grant ..................................9 one left for another agency and match. The CCCC requested a letter Board Approves Purchase of Trailer ................................................9 another deployed. A third officer of support from each town it serves. Dow Appointed to Select Board ......................................................10 will leave soon for basic training. The fireworks display is set to Children 12 and Up Can Soon Get Vaccine ...................................10 Chief Cochran said he would not ask go forward. A major concern raised Our Communities ............................................................................11 his officers to work shifts alone, as once more is that Hardwick is in a Cabot Launches Yogurt Line with Six Flavors ..............................12 it might hurt the town’s ability to drought. If the fireworks display is Obituary ..........................................................................................12 recruit. As for the town’s budget, not able to go forward for Memorial This Week’s Events .........................................................................13 Day, suggestions were made to Yankee Notebook: Fraught and Complicated Relationships ........14 business manager Casey Rowell said revenues were “on track at this postpone festivities until the Hazen In the Garden: Insects: Friends or Foes ........................................16 point.” A milder winter than usual Union graduation ceremony or set Hilly Half Marathon Inspires Local Runners................................18 saved some money on road salt and off the fireworks over Hardwick Letters from Readers ......................................................................17 overtime. The outlook will become Lake. Chair Eric Remick said the Golf League Gets Early Start to Season ........................................19 clearer after May 10, when water board and the town still wanted a Bolduc Heats up as Track and Field Season Nears Finish Line ..19 and sewer bills are due, as currently show where it could “explode some Rooney Continues to Turn Heads in Big Week for Wildcats.........20 $57,000 of those are delinquent. stuff so we can watch it.” Sicard Opens White Mountain Season with Triple Crown Win ...21 Jeudevine Library board Board member Shari Cornish Lady Trojans Struggle Against Top of the Division.......................22 chair Jodi Lew-Smith said that the has been a proponent of porta- Purrier Breaks Four-Minute 1500m Barrier for First Time ........22 trustees opened the bids for the potties in previous proceedings. library expansion on April 8 and Their absence in the village had been experienced “sticker shock,” with “a problem in downtown forever,” amounts 50% over what the library she said. There were more ques- raised. Materials costs have soared tions than answers regarding how due to shortages caused by the much the facilities would cost, how Craghoppers May 12 - May 18 pandemic. frequently cleaning would occur, and Insect Repellant Extra Tuf The trustees split the locations. Town Manager Shaun Fielder Clothing expansion plan into two phases Boots said, “Let’s face it, when it’s 90 for men, women & kids back in stock to ensure that construction could start in 2021. Some funding sources degrees out, a porta-potty is not a require current-year construction, pleasant thing to have next to a given Glutino Crackers Raos Green Mt. and a “big donor” recently pledged location.” Cornish said suggested the or Wafers Pasta Sauce Coffee $200,000, but wanted construction Peace Park as a possible location, $ $ $ to begin this year. Lew-Smith noted or “the Poop Park,” named for the 4.4-4.6 oz. 4.99 24 oz. 5.99 12 oz. or 12 ct. 3.99 there was “no guarantee prices waste left there by residents who do Dole Canned are not going to keep going up.” not clean up after their pets. Board Food Club G.M. Lucky Charms, Honeynut The contractor, Middlebury-based member Elizabeth Dow suggested Pineapple Beans Cheerios or Cinn. Toast Crunch Breadloaf Construction, advised the coin-operated facilities, which are $ ¢ $ common in Europe. 2/ 3 20 oz. 59 15.5 oz. 2/ 5 10.5-12 oz. library that it wanted to buy and store lumber now to ward off that Dow also had an update of a Post Honey Kellogg's Rice Krispies, Honey Pringles possibility. more troubling nature. She said Lew-Smith said that the goal of someone attempted to break into Bunches of Oats Smacks or Corn Flakes Potato Crisp the Historical Society the previous $ $ $ Phase I is “to take out everything we 2/ 4 13-14.5 oz. 2/ 5 12-15.3 oz.