HARDWICK – Registered voters of Hardwick will have the final say in whether a horse track comes to town.

During the Nov. 21 Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, members voted 2-1 to call a special election on Jan. 7, 2023, regarding the Commonwealth Equine and Agricultural Center (CEAC) LLC race track location at 228 Barre Rd.

Two citizens’ petitions are what ultimately led to the board’s decision because on Oct. 27, they initially unanimously voted against the proposal. On Nov. 7, however, the BOS received a citizens petition with over 420 signatures from residents asking the board to reconsider their vote. After calling a meeting on Nov. 9 to discuss the petition and hear from Devon Ruud, the designated petitioner to speak during the meeting, the board reversed their initial decision and approved the proposal.

Residents opposed to the track also had the opportunity to submit a citizen’s petition requesting the board reconsider their approval. Town Clerk Ryan Witkos explained that those opposed had to file a petition with 12 percent of the registered voters with his office within 20 days from the Nov. 9 decision. The board then must reconsider their vote.

On Nov. 14, a petition with 438 signatures, 335 of which are certified, was submitted by Hardwick residents opposed to the proposal. As done with the previous petition, the BOS decided to vote on this matter during their Nov. 21 meeting.

Approximately 100 people joined the Zoom meeting to hear what the outcome would be.
Julie Quink, BOS chair, asked Cara Wilczynski, one of the petitioners, to speak on behalf of the opposed residents. Wilczynski began by thanking the BOS for allowing their voices to be heard.

“Firstly, a handful of dedicated town residents and I hit the streets on Nov. 11. During that time, we had many conversations with people and what the petition was for, more information about it and some had questions why they were even signing a petition in the first place because they thought the decision had already been made,” said Wilczynski.

She continued, “One thing that really carried through in a lot of these discussions was general confusion on the topic.” To help residents understand, Wilczynski said herself and others explained that the BOS did initially vote down the proposal on Oct. 27, but following a petition, reconsideration and vote on Nov. 9, they voted 2-1 in favor of the proposal.

With a lot of information to unpack, Wilczynski said they also shared facts about race days, state regulated agricultural preservation restriction land, traffic and more.

To encompass other concerned voices – aside from her own – Wilczynski shared a few quotes from Hardwick residents. One of those individuals was Dana Prouty who said, “Men in denim built this town, men in suits will destroy it.”

Wilczynski went on to read a quote from Kim Wright who said, “Every member of every village care about the health, wealth and wellbeing of our community. We all want to see Hardwick thrive for generations. The CEAC is not about community [but is] rather a small group capitalizing on the natural beauty of our home and making a benefit as a detriment to it.”

Since submitting the petition, Wilczynski said the discussions and sentiments from the people of Hardwick have not stopped.

“Every person that has logged into this Zoom meeting tonight has only a small slice of information about the applicant, including myself,” said Wilczynski. While she agrees that everyone has a right to vote, she asked the BOS that if this goes to a town vote, that they prioritize honest and comprehensive information so that everything will be fair. Wilczynski explained that her request stems from a perceived lack information.

“Every town resident deserves the time and respect to truly evaluate the entire scope of this proposal completely before committing either way,” she added.

Following her remarks, Quink brought up the Nov. 9 meeting, at which Robert Ruggles, vice chair, asked if the proposal were to go to a town election, if the applicant would be willing to pay for it.

However, Quink said, “It’s not appropriate” for the proponents of Great Meadowbrook Farm to pay for a special election if it were to go to that. “I personally think it muddies the waters, it adds more confusion perhaps or negative feelings surrounding the election,” said Quink. After speaking with Town Administrator Nicole Parker, Quink said they should not be asking that of the applicant and noted that it was simply a question raised by a board member who is looking to gather as much information as possible.

Quink went on to say that if the proposal stayed in the affirmative and moved to a special election, it is her recommendation as the chair to develop a seven-to-nine-member committee made up of various board and committee chairs and perhaps someone on each side of the petition. She noted that the appointed members would evaluate the host community agreement as they move through the process. Quink also recommended hosting public information sessions with the appropriate people and experts on the topic, so that residents can gather all the information they need to make an informed vote.

Kelly Kemp, board member, said it may be difficult around the holidays to bring those crucial parties in to obtain answers.

Parker agreed and said it would be prudent to make a committee after a special town election because if the town votes no, the committee would be pointless. Quink said there are many questions that people have and although she understands it may be difficult during the holiday season, there are a lot of ways they can share accurate information with people.

“My thought on the committee is that there are a lot of questions that I’m seeing that come from the host community agreement. [There is] a lot of uncertainty surrounding that,” said Quink. “My thought with regard to the committee is they can start looking at the host community agreement and come up with questions.”

Before bringing it to a town vote, she said these questions should be answered. “The committee could help put some of that information together and figure out with the board how to get that disseminated,” shared Quink.

Parker reiterated that the host community agreement is a draft and was the initial proposal that was submitted.

When it came time to vote on reconsidering the board’s vote on Nov. 9, Ruggles and Quink voted no, Kemp voted yes. The motion to reconsider failed.

Ruggles then made a motion to call for a special election on Jan. 7, 2023, from 12 to 7 p.m. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.

Quink shared that she voted the way she did because she feels that everyone is entitled to the same information, and everyone deserves a fair shot. Regardless of what side people are on, she asked everyone to be mindful of the information they are disseminating.

Quink asked for those who have questions to send them to Parker and she will forward them to the appropriate people to receive answers. Parker encourages residents to abstain from sending their opinions on the matter, but instead to strictly send questions.

With various “propaganda” going around, Quink asked the proponents of Great Meadowbrook Farm to work with the committee – or whoever the board decides will be distributing the information – to ensure that all information is accurate.

The board hosted a meeting on Nov. 29, after Reminder Publishing’s deadline, to appoint the committee. Quink said herself and Parker will be working to establish the committee but recommended including the chair of the Board of Health, chair of the Planning Board, chair of the Conservation Commission, a BOS member, Parker, a representative from the Police Department, a Finance Committee member and one person from each side of the petition.